Operations Manager - Food Manufacturing

ACS Performance; Haslemere; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

ACS Performance is seeking an experienced Operations Manager for a food manufacturing site in Haslemere. You will lead health and safety, ensure high quality standards and drive continuous improvement across production, procurement and inventory teams.

You'll own maintenance planning, equipment reliability and HACCP/GMP/BRCGS compliance, working closely with management to optimise efficiency and safety in a busy production environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in manufacturing or production, preferably in food FMCG.
• Strong Health & Safety knowledge; IOSH/NEBOSH preferred.
• Experience creating, implementing and maintaining SOPs.
• Proven track record delivering continuous improvement.
• Experience supervising maintenance and improving equipment reliability.
• Knowledge of HACCP, GMP and BRCGS.

Responsibilities

• Own Health & Safety across the site with safe working standards.
• Develop and maintain SOPs to ensure safe, efficient operations.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives and projects.
• Oversee maintenance programs and equipment reliability.
• Ensure food safety compliance and audit readiness (HACCP, GMP, BRCGS).
• Collaborate with management to drive operational excellence.

Skills

Manufacturing experience

Health & Safety knowledge

SOP development

Continuous improvement

Maintenance management

Equipment reliability

Food safety knowledge

Education

IOSH/NEBOSH qualification

Job description

Jobs - Operations Manager - Food Manufacturing

Job vacancy - Operations Manager - Food Manufacturing

Position: Operations Manager - Food Manufacturing

Reference: DHacs1978

Location: Haslemere

Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 per annum

Operations Manager - Food Manufacturing

Are you an experienced Operations Manager with a strong background in manufacturing, production or FMCG? Do you enjoy being hands-on, improving processes and driving operational excellence?

We are seeking a proactive and experienced Operations Manager to join a well-established food manufacturing operation based in Haslemere.

This is an excellent opportunity for a practical, improvement-focused professional to take ownership of health and safety, operational standards, equipment reliability and continuous improvement within a busy production environment.

Working closely with production, procurement and inventory teams, you will play a key role in identifying operational challenges, implementing effective solutions and ensuring the site operates safely, efficiently and to the highest quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

Health & Safety

• Take ownership of Health & Safety across the site, ensuring a safe working environment.
• Develop, maintain and continuously improve H&S standards and procedures.
• Identify and manage operational risks, ensuring appropriate controls are in place.

Operational Standards & SOPs

• Manage and maintain the site's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Develop, review and implement procedures to ensure safe, consistent and efficient operations.
• Drive compliance with established operational standards across the site.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, safety, productivity and reliability.
• Investigate recurring operational issues, identify root causes and implement sustainable solutions.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives and operational improvement projects.
• Work collaboratively with teams to embed and maintain improvements.

Maintenance & Equipment Reliability

• Oversee planned preventative maintenance (PPM) programmes and equipment reliability.
• Manage an Operations Coordinator and external maintenance contractors.
• Ensure maintenance activities are effectively planned and completed.
• Identify and resolve recurring equipment issues to minimise downtime.

Food Safety & Compliance

• Maintain high standards of food safety and operational compliance.
• Oversee HACCP, GMP and BRCGS compliance requirements.
• Ensure operational processes and controls remain effective and audit-ready.

Operational Development

• Provide technical and operational expertise when introducing new equipment, products and processes.
• Support wider operational teams to improve performance and efficiency.
• Work closely with the management team to drive operational excellence across the site.

About You

• Proven experience within a manufacturing or production environment, ideally within food manufacturing or FMCG.
• Strong practical Health & Safety knowledge, supported by an IOSH or NEBOSH qualification.
• Experience developing, implementing and managing Standard Operating Procedures.
• A proven track record of delivering continuous improvement initiatives and resolving operational challenges.
• Experience overseeing maintenance activities and improving equipment reliability.
• Knowledge of food safety standards, including HACCP, GMP and BRCGS.