Production Leader

South57 Recruitment; Kempston; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

South57 Recruitment is seeking an experienced Production Lead to oversee day-to-day production in a food manufacturing setting, ensuring targets are met while upholding safety, quality, and hygiene standards.

You will lead from the factory floor, set up equipment, supervise teams, drive efficiency, and champion continuous improvement to optimise productivity and performance.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years' experience in a food or beverage manufacturing leadership role.
• Strong hands-on leadership style with the ability to lead from the front.
• Experience managing teams in a fast-paced production environment.
• Good understanding of food safety, quality systems, and production processes.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and people management abilities.
• Experience working within BRCGS environments would be an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Setting up and preparation of production machinery, equipment and material.
• Leading daily production operations and coordinating production activities.
• Ensuring production lines, equipment, and staff are fully prepared for each shift.
• Driving efficiency, reducing waste, and minimising downtime.
• Providing hands-on support and troubleshooting operational issues.
• Monitoring product quality and ensuring compliance with food safety standards.
• Supervising, training, and developing production team members.
• Promoting a positive, high-performance culture on the factory floor.
• Maintaining excellent hygiene, housekeeping, and safety standards.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and performance.

Skills

hands-on leadership

people management

food safety

quality systems

problem solving

communication skills

BRCGS experience

Job description

Production Lead

Location: Kempston, Bedford

Day Shift

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and hands‑on Production Leader to join food manufacturing team. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated production professional who enjoys leading from the factory floor. As Production Lead, you will take ownership of the day‑to‑day running of production operations, ensuring output targets are achieved while maintaining exceptional standards of food safety, quality, and health & safety.

What You'll Be Doing

• Setting up and preparation of production machinery, equipment and material
• Leading daily production operations and coordinating production activities.
• Ensuring production lines, equipment, and staff are fully prepared for each shift.
• Driving efficiency, reducing waste, and minimising downtime.
• Providing hands‑on support and troubleshooting operational issues.
• Monitoring product quality and ensuring compliance with food safety standards.
• Supervising, training, and developing production team members.
• Promoting a positive, high‑performance culture on the factory floor.
• Maintaining excellent hygiene, housekeeping, and safety standards.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and performance.

What We're Looking For

• Minimum 3 years' experience in a food or beverage manufacturing leadership role.
• Strong hands‑on leadership style with the ability to lead from the front.
• Experience managing teams in a fast‑paced production environment.
• Good understanding of food safety, quality systems, and production processes.
• Strong problem‑solving and decision‑making skills.
• Excellent communication and people management abilities.
• Experience working within BRCGS environments would be an advantage.