Operations Team Leader - Stourton Dairy

Arla Foods; Leeds; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Arla Foods Stourton Dairy in Leeds is seeking an Operations Team Leader to drive day-to-day production in a large-scale creamery. You will lead and develop production teams, apply LEAN tools, and deliver against safety, quality and efficiency KPIs.

You will champion a safe, inclusive environment and continuously seek improvements through structured problem solving, planning, and cost-conscious decision making.

Qualifications

• Experienced Team Leader in a food manufacturing environment.
• Proficient with LEAN tools and techniques.
• Strong problem-solving abilities.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Planning and organising of workloads.

Responsibilities

• Deliver operational plans and day-to-day team objectives within the Creamery production department.
• Lead Production teams with a LEAN mindset to jointly improve performance (LEAN, APS, SPC, OEE).
• Be accountable for Continuous Improvements within the department.
• Develop KPIs including safety, quality, delivery, productivity and sustainability.

Skills

Team Leadership

LEAN tools

Problem solving

Communication

Planning & Organising

Cost awareness

Job description

About the Role

Stourton Dairy, LS10
4o4o – Days / Nights
Arla Foods Stourton have an exciting opportunity for an Operations Team Leader to join the team. The dairy, located in south Leeds, is one of the largest in the UK with the capacity to produce 750million litres of milk per year. Arla is the UK’s largest dairy, farmer owned and the creator of household favourite brands such as Cravendale, Anchor, Lurpak & Castello plus many many more.

How will you make an impact?

Responsible for delivering operational plans and setting day-to-day team objectives or acts independently to deliver the business policies and programmes in the Creamery production department.

• Ensures a healthy, inclusive and safe working environment, and safety mindset.
• Ensure quality and food safety within in own area of responsibility, and quality and food safety mindset
• Leads and manages the Production teams with an LCO mindset to jointly improve performance (using LEAN tools, APS, SPC, OEE), and is accountable for Continuous Improvements within the department.
• Responsible for KPI development including safety, quality, delivery, productivity & sustainability

What do you need to succeed?

• Experienced Team Leader within a food manufacturing environment
• Lean tools and techniques
• Problem solving
• Effective communication skills
• Planning & Organising of workloads
• Cost awareness / performance requirements

The closing date for applications is 16th October 2026.

Shape the Future of Dairy

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.

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