Packhouse Supervisor

Interaction Recruitment PLC; Marden; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

Interaction Recruitment PLC is seeking a trained Packhouse Supervisor for a busy fresh produce operation in Tonbridge. The role requires oversight of daily packing, line supervision, and ensuring quality and customer specifications are met.

The successful candidate will manage Line Leaders, maintain production targets, and uphold health and safety standards across the packhouse. Fluent English and own transport are essential for this location.

Qualifications

• Previous supervisory or management experience within a fresh fruit or fresh produce packhouse – essential.
• Strong understanding of fresh fruit handling, grading, sorting and packing.
• Experience overseeing packing lines and ensuring production runs efficiently.
• Knowledge of fresh produce quality standards and customer packing specifications.
• Own transport is essential due to the location.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day running of the packhouse to ensure smooth and efficient operations.
• Monitor packing lines and output to meet target speeds and volumes.
• Supervise and support Line Leaders to maintain productivity.
• Ensure production schedules and deadlines are achieved for customer orders.
• Maintain high quality and presentation of packed produce.
• Oversee palletising, labeling and despatch preparation.
• Address issues (downtime, staffing, delays) promptly and escalate when needed.
• Maintain Health & Safety, HACCP and hygiene throughout the operation.

Skills

Packhouse supervision

Leadership

Fresh fruit handling

Team management

English fluency

Tools

Prophet system

Job description

PACKHOUSE SUPERVISOR – FRESH PRODUCE

£15.03 per hour during training | £16.47 per hour following successful completion of training

Location: Tonbridge, TN12 9

Hours: 06:30 – 18:30 | 4 days on / 3 days off

Are you an experienced Packhouse Supervisor with a strong background in the fresh fruit or fresh produce industry? Do you have the leadership skills and operational knowledge to oversee a busy packing operation, ensuring production lines run efficiently and produce is packed to the highest quality standards?

We are currently recruiting for a Packhouse Supervisor to join a busy fresh produce operation in Tonbridge. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with previous experience in a fresh fruit packing environment who can take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the packhouse, leading teams and ensuring production targets, quality standards and operational deadlines are consistently achieved.

Previous experience working within a fresh fruit or fresh produce packhouse is essential for this position.

THE ROLE

As Packhouse Supervisor, you will take responsibility for overseeing the daily operation of the packhouse, ensuring that fresh fruit is received, prepared, graded, packed and palletised efficiently and in line with customer specifications.

You will oversee packing lines and Line Leaders, ensuring teams are working effectively, production targets are being met and the quality of produce is maintained throughout the process.

Working closely with Production Management, Planning, Quality Control and Warehouse teams, you will play a key role in ensuring the smooth running of the operation, identifying issues before they impact production and maintaining high standards across the entire packhouse.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Packhouse & Production Operations

• Oversee the day-to-day running of the fresh produce packhouse, ensuring all packing operations run smoothly and efficiently.
• Monitor packing lines throughout the shift, ensuring they are running at the required speed and output levels.
• Ensure production schedules and daily packing targets are achieved in line with customer orders and deadlines.
• Supervise, support and manage Line Leaders, ensuring they are effectively managing their teams and maintaining productivity.
• Ensure the correct fruit, packaging materials and resources are available to keep production running without unnecessary delays.
• Monitor the flow of fresh produce through the packhouse, from intake and preparation through to finished packed product.
• Identify and resolve operational issues, machinery downtime, staffing shortages or production delays, escalating where necessary.
• Ensure finished goods are correctly packed, labelled, stacked and palletised in preparation for despatch.
• Oversee palletising operations, ensuring pallets are built safely, securely and in accordance with customer and site requirements.

Fresh Produce Quality Control

• Maintain excellent standards of fresh fruit quality throughout the packing process.
• Monitor the quality, condition and presentation of produce, ensuring fruit meets customer specifications.
• Ensure produce is correctly graded, sorted and packed, with any poor-quality, damaged or unsuitable fruit identified and removed.
• Work closely with Quality Control to address quality concerns, customer complaints or product rejections.
• Monitor product presentation, pack weights, labelling and packaging accuracy.
• Ensure the correct product specifications and packing requirements are followed for each customer and order.
• Minimise product waste, damage and unnecessary handling throughout the operation.
• Ensure any quality issues are identified, recorded and communicated to the relevant departments.

Team Management & Leadership

• Lead, motivate and support the packhouse workforce, promoting a positive and productive working environment.
• Manage and oversee Line Leaders, ensuring they are providing effective direction and support to their teams.
• Ensure staffing levels are appropriate across all packing lines and assist with resource planning where required.
• Monitor employee performance, attendance, timekeeping and productivity.
• Support the training and development of new and existing employees.
• Ensure all team members understand their responsibilities and follow the correct working procedures.
• Lead by example, maintaining a hands‑on approach and providing operational support where required.

Health, Safety & Food Safety

• Maintain high standards of Health & Safety, Food Safety, HACCP, GMP and hygiene throughout the packhouse.
• Ensure all employees follow site procedures, including PPE, protective clothing, hand washing and safe working practices.
• Ensure packing areas, equipment and workstations are kept clean, tidy and organised.
• Monitor hygiene standards and ensure cleaning procedures are followed.
• Ensure food safety procedures and product handling requirements are consistently maintained.
• Report and address any health, safety, hygiene or food safety concerns promptly.

Administration & Communication

• Ensure accurate completion of production paperwork, quality records and operational documentation.
• Maintain accurate production figures, waste records, output information and stock movements.
• Ensure all relevant production information is accurately updated on the Prophet system.
• Communicate effectively with Planning, Quality Control, Warehouse and Production Management.
• Provide regular updates on production performance, staffing, quality issues and operational challenges.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce waste and improve overall packhouse efficiency.

ABOUT YOU

We are looking for someone who has a good understanding of fresh produce packing operations and the ability to confidently oversee a busy packhouse.

The successful candidate will ideally have:

• Previous supervisory or management experience within a fresh fruit or fresh produce packhouse – essential.
• A strong understanding of fresh fruit handling, grading, sorting, packing and quality control.
• Experience overseeing packing lines and ensuring production runs efficiently.
• Experience managing Line Leaders and larger production teams.
• An understanding of finished goods handling, palletising and preparing packed produce for despatch.
• Knowledge of fresh produce quality standards and customer packing specifications.
• A good understanding of Food Safety, HACCP, GMP, hygiene and Health & Safety requirements.
• The ability to monitor production performance, manage targets and deal with operational challenges.
• Excellent leadership, communication and organisational skills.
• The ability to make decisions under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
• Strong attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Confidence completing production paperwork, records and system updates.
• A flexible, reliable and hands‑on approach, with the ability to support the wider operation when required.
• Fluent English, both written and spoken.
• Own transport is essential due to the location.

PAY & SHIFT PATTERN

• £15.03 per hour during training.
• £16.47 per hour following successful completion of training.
• 4 days on / 3 days off shift pattern.
• Working hours: 06:30 – 18:30.
• Potential additional overtime on days off to provide cover for the other Supervisor when required.

INTERESTED?

If you have previous experience supervising within a fresh fruit or fresh produce packing environment and are confident managing a busy packhouse operation, we would love to hear from you!

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a key operational role, ensuring production lines run efficiently, fresh produce meets the highest quality standards and teams consistently deliver against daily targets.

INDMAI