Production Group Leader

Kinisla Group; Ossett; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Kinisla Group is seeking a Group Leader to oversee a shift of operators, delivering the daily production plan while maintaining safety and quality standards. You will resolve issues in real time and drive line-level continuous improvement, acting as a bridge between operators and the Production Stream Manager.

You will lead a team, ensuring effective resource allocation, supporting a positive safety culture and coaching staff to achieve performance targets.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership ability in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Strong understanding of production equipment and processes.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to coach, motivate and organise teams effectively.
• Desirable: Basic lean manufacturing knowledge (5S, problem solving).
• Desirable: Food production experience.
• Desirable: Awareness of HACCP, GMP or food safety standards.
• Desirable: IOSH Working Safely (or equivalent).

Responsibilities

• Lead shift production plan while monitoring KPIs with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Lead Tier 1 meetings.
• Manage labour and resources including holidays and return to work interviews.
• Complete accurate shift handovers and documentation.
• Maintain data on production output, downtime and team performance.
• Verify raw material stock availability and escalate issues.

Skills

Leadership

Production knowledge

Communication

Teamwork

Coaching

Job description

About the role

The Group Leader is responsible for leading a team of operators on shift to ensure safe, efficient and quality production. The role delivers the daily production plan, resolves issues in real time, maintains compliance with safety and quality standards, and drives continuous improvement at line level. As the frontline leader, the Group Leader is a key link between operators and the Production Stream Manager.

Description

The Group Leader is responsible for leading a team of operators on shift to ensure safe, efficient and quality production. The role delivers the daily production plan, resolves issues in real time, maintains compliance with safety and quality standards, and drives continuous improvement at line level. As the frontline leader, the Group Leader is a key link between operators and the Production Stream Manager.

What will I be doing?

Safety & Compliance

• Ensure safe working practices and behaviours ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations promoting a safety-first culture
• Identify and report hazards, leading immediate corrective actions
• Ensure compliance with site H&S policies and food safety requirements (GMP, hygiene standards)
• Act as the primary on site emergency lead

Operational Delivery

• Deliver the shift production plan while monitoring KPIs with a continuous improvement mindset
• Lead Tier 1 meetings
• Ensure labour and resources are allocated effectively, including managing conduct issues, approving holidays, and completing return to work interviews
• Complete accurate shift handovers and maintain required documentation
• Maintain accurate data on production output, downtime and team performance
• Verify raw material stock availability and resolve any issues, escalating where necessary

Quality & Food Safety

• Maintain product quality through correct management of processes, ensuring adherence to GMP and product specifications
• Ensure operators follow SOPs, CCP checks and quality procedures
• Escalate quality issues and support first level problem solving.

People Leadership

• Lead, coach and develop a team of operators
• Promote team culture, recognition and engagement
• Manage training compliance and ensure training matrices remain up to date
• Provide regular feedback and support a positive team culture

Continuous Improvement

• Lead basic CI activity at line level (5S, waste reduction, standard work)
• Contribute to root cause analysis and support improvement actions
• Identify opportunities to enhance efficiency and reduce waste

Cross Functional Working

• Work closely with Quality and Engineering teams to resolve issues quickly and effectively
• Communicate shift performance, risks and actions to the Production Stream Manager

What do I need to be successful?

In Kinisla we understand that people have very different career trajectories and experiences. In order to be successful in this role we would be looking for the right competencies and aptitudes as well as your proven track record of success in a similar role and environment.

Essential

• Demonstrated leadership ability in a manufacturing or production environment
• Strong understanding of production equipment and processes
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• Ability to coach, motivate and organise teams effectively

Desirable

• Basic lean manufacturing knowledge (5S, problem solving)
• Food production experience
• Awareness of HACCP, GMP or food safety standards
• IOSH Working Safely (or equivalent)

What will I get in return?

At Kinisla, we believe in giving talented, curious people the opportunity to make a difference. We work as a team, searching for the best ways to inspire food and nourish life. We are a community of innovators, working across disciplines to solve global food challenges with a fresh approach. We