Production Manager

Fox's Burton's Companies (FBC) UK; Batley; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Fox's Burton's Companies UK is seeking a Production Manager for our Batley bakery to lead the value stream with a customer-focused strategy, ensuring resource planning, production delivery, and profitability.

You will drive continuous improvement, ensure safety and food standards, and collaborate with cross-functional teams in an on-site role with alternating shifts 7:00–14:30 and 14:30–22:00, Monday to Friday, with overtime as required.

Qualifications

• Extensive leadership experience in fast‑paced manufacturing environments.
• Strong people management, communication, and coaching skills, with experience handling disciplinary processes and sound knowledge of employment legislation (e.g., Working Time Directive).
• Health & Safety and Food Safety qualified, with solid understanding of HACCP and GMP standards.
• Proven ability to manage new equipment installations and lead capital projects from planning through to execution.
• Highly proficient in digital systems including SAP, Excel, and recipe control platforms such as Promtek.
• Skilled in continuous improvement methodologies, including Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt level) and 5S.
• Experience working with complex automated manufacturing systems; engineering knowledge is a plus.
• Commercially aware, with the ability to factor in broader business drivers such as safety, efficiency, and profitability.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a 2–3 year strategy for each value stream, aligned with business goals.
• Deliver annual budget targets, focusing on cost control and profitability.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, product quality, health & safety, and environmental standards.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives in collaboration with cross‑functional teams.
• Champion product integrity and segregation, ensuring: Only intended ingredients are present in products; No unintended ingredients are introduced; Factory‑at‑risk ingredients are handled with care and precision.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Communication

Disciplinary knowledge

Employment legislation

HACCP & GMP

New equipment installation

Capital projects

SAP

Excel

Promtek

Lean Six Sigma

5S

Automated manufacturing systems

Tools

Promtek

SAP

Excel

Job description

Company Description

We are FBC UK, Fox's Burton's Companies!...And we bake the UK's most incredible biscuits (we might be slightly biased, but we will leave that for you to judge).

Date: 22 Sept 2026

Location:

Batley, GB

Place of Work: On-Site

Employee Shift: Monday - Friday

Company Description

We are FBC UK, Fox's Burton's Companies!...And we bake the UK's most incredible biscuits (we might be slightly biased, but we will leave that for you to judge).

FBC UK was a match made in heaven, with two of the top UK biscuits manufacturers (Burton's Biscuits and Fox's Biscuits) coming together to create one unique, integrated company.

We are home to famous iconic brands, including Maryland, Fox's, Jammie Dodger & Rocky, to name just a few. We bake our incredible biscuits at eight bakeries across the UK, located at Ilse of Arran, Livingston, Blackpool, Llantarnam, Edinburgh, Kirkham, Batley & Dorset. We also have offices for our supporting services in St Albans, Liverpool and Moreton. Together, we employ circa 4,000 amazing employees across all our locations.

We are currently the second biscuit manufacturer in the UK market with a strong ambition of becoming the number two biscuit manufacturer worldwide.

We are proud to be part of the Ferrero enlarged family: such a fantastic and successful business. The Ferrero Group operates in more than 50 countries, with products sold in over 170 countries, represented by almost 38.000 employees worldwide, and a consolidated turnover of €12.7 billion (2020-21).

Along with our fantastic brand portfolio, we also have long-term agreements to manufacture several sweet & savoury snacks across Mars, Jacobs, and LU branded products. In addition, we are proud to be a strategic partner for many retailer-branded products.

Our employees make our business special. With strong family values, we believe FBC UK is a more prosperous and fun place to work with when people feel free to be themselves. We believe in the power of being authentic, entrepreneurial and supporting each whilst meeting our business goals.

And don't forget… work hard but play harder!

About The Role

As Production Manager at our Batley bakery, you’ll lead the value stream with a clear customer-focused strategy, ensuring effective resource planning and operational delivery. You’ll drive profitability through targeted actions, foster a culture of continuous improvement, and ensure compliance with safety and food standards. With strong leadership, you’ll inspire high performance and influence commercial decisions to support long-term success.

This role is on an alternating shift pattern of 7am - 2.30pm and 2.30pm - 10pm Monday to Friday, with overtime when required.

Main Responsibilities

Operational Overview

• Responsible for the Batley factory, producing 25,000 tonnes annually using a diverse range of equipment—from brand new installations to machinery over 80 years old—including 8 ovens, 6 chocolate enrobers, 2 moulding plants, and 5 assortment lines.
• Oversees 5 value streams: Baking & Ba7, Chocolatey, Seasonal, Logistics, and NPD & CI.
• Manages a site with an NSV of £90 million and a workforce of approximately 800 employees, rising to over 1,200 during peak season.
• Supports delivery of around 60 NPD projects per year.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a 2–3 year strategy for each value stream, aligned with business goals.
• Deliver annual budget targets, focusing on cost control and profitability.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, product quality, health & safety, and environmental standards.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives in collaboration with cross‑functional teams.
• Champion product integrity and segregation, ensuring:
• Only intended ingredients are present in products.
• No unintended ingredients are introduced.
• Factory‑at‑risk ingredients are handled with care and precision.

Leadership & Performance

• Own quality and process capability, working closely with operators, line leaders, and technical teams to maintain control and drive improvements.
• Conduct performance and development reviews for Value Stream Leads, ensuring consistency across streams.
• Lead value stream reviews to monitor KPIs, resolve issues, and coordinate support from engineering, finance, and technical functions.
• Promote audit‑ready standards daily, ensuring compliance with GMP, BRC, and M&S codes of practice.

Scheduling & Safety

• Own scheduling processes, working with planners to reduce changeovers, improve efficiency, and enhance customer service—while maintaining allergen and food safety compliance.
• Manage agency labour control and associated costs through strong communication and ownership.
• Oversee health & safety across the factory, including accident investigations, risk assessments, SUSA, and Near Miss reporting.

Business Process & Strategic Support

• Ensure consistent, efficient production of high‑quality products, with >80% of time spent on the shop floor.
• Resolve immediate shift issues while contributing to long‑term strategic improvements.
• Demonstrate strong leadership, process knowledge, and understanding of HR, technical, and H&S policies.
• Apply commercial awareness to decision‑making, balancing cost with customer service.
• Lead a long‑serving, diverse workforce by promoting innovative thinking and long‑term solutions aligned with the FBC Strategy.

Who We Are Looking For

• Extensive leadership experience in fast‑paced manufacturing environments.
• Strong people management, communication, and coaching skills, with experience handling disciplinary and grievance processes and sound knowledge of employment legislation (e.g., Working Time Directive).
• Health & Safety and Food Safety qualified, with solid understanding of HACCP and GMP standards.
• Proven ability to manage new equipment installations and lead capital projects from planning through to execution.
• Highly proficient in digital systems including SAP, Excel, and recipe control platforms such as Promtek.
• Skilled in continuous improvement methodologies, including Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt level) and 5S.
• Experience working with complex automated manufacturing systems; engineering knowledge is a plus.
• Commercially aware, with the ability to factor in broader business drivers such as safety, efficiency, and profitability.

Diversity Statement

FBC UK is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all of our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at FBC UK. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative and highly rewarding.