Production Manager

KP Snacks; Billingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading snack manufacturer in Billingham is seeking a Production Manager to lead the manufacturing team and optimize production efficiency. You will drive performance, ensuring quality and safety standards are met while collaborating with colleagues. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in food manufacturing and proven leadership skills. A positive, team-oriented approach is essential. This position offers competitive benefits, including healthcare and an annual bonus scheme.

Benefits

Annual bonus scheme

Comprehensive healthcare support

KP Pension Plan

25 days holiday, plus the option to buy more

Online platform for benefits and wellness tools

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar role ensures confidence in maintaining quality, safety, and efficiency.
• Ability to coach and guide a team, fostering a safety-first and customer-focused culture.
• Track record of achieving production KPIs and SLAs.
• Expertise in lean manufacturing and Six Sigma is a plus.
• Strong teamwork and ability to embrace change.

Responsibilities

• Drive daily performance, ensuring all targets and standards are met.
• Identify opportunities to reduce inefficiencies and improve operations.
• Collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders to exceed customer expectations.
• Optimize resources, manage stock and waste, and ensure compliance.
• Conduct regular appraisals and monitor team performance.

Skills

Strong understanding of food manufacturing

Leadership and problem-solving skills

Proven success in delivering results

Knowledge of lean manufacturing and Six Sigma

Commitment to KP values

Job description

Production Manager (known internally as Line Lead)
Billingham
On-site- day shift - Monday - Friday - 07:30 - 16:00

Join our snack-loving team
We’re looking for a Line Lead to join us at KP Snacks. If you’re ready to bring your ideas to the table, grow your skills and be part of a team that values what makes you, you – this could be your next big move.

About the role

As Manufacturing Line Lead you will be responsible for people, plant, product, and process delivery against clearly defined role outputs, with specific responsibility for developing, managing, and leading a manufacturing team.

What’s in it for you?

• Annual bonus scheme, with a strong track record of overachievement
• Comprehensive healthcare support – including Medicash Health Cash Plan or Private Healthcare, Digital GP, Best Doctors second opinion service and specialist cancer care
• KP Pension Plan – contribution matching up to 7% of your salary
• 25 days holiday, plus the option to buy more
• KP4ME – our online platform for benefits, discounts, wellbeing tools and more

What will you be doing?

• Lead and manage your team effectively – Drive daily performance, ensuring all targets and standards are met while fostering a high-performing culture.
• Shape the daily plan with a loss-focused approach – Take charge in setting direction, identifying opportunities to reduce inefficiencies and improve operations.
• Collaborate for success – Work closely with colleagues, internal and external stakeholders, to exceed customer expectations and maintain high standards of quality, safety, and hygiene.
• Make a real impact on production efficiency – Optimise resources, manage stock and waste, and ensure compliance with quality processes to deliver Right First Time production.
• Develop and coach your team – Conduct regular appraisals, monitor performance, and build capability to drive engagement, motivation, and continuous improvement.

Who are we?

We’re KP Snacks, part of the Intersnack family. Across more than 30 countries, over 15,000 of us work together to make the snacks people love – from Hula Hoops to McCoy’s. In the UK, we’re a team of around 2,400 colleagues, based across seven sites and our Slough HQ. We’re proud of our close-knit culture, where we speak up, celebrate differences and push boundaries together.

We’re committed to inclusion

We’re building a workplace where everyone belongs. If you don’t tick every box, we’d still love to hear from you – your unique perspective could be just what we need. And if there’s anything we can do to make the process easier for you, just let us know.

We’d love to hear from you if you can bring:

• Strong understanding of food manufacturing – Experience in a similar role ensures confidence in maintaining quality, safety, and efficiency in a fast-paced production environment.
• Leadership and problem-solving skills – Ability to coach and guide a team, fostering a safety-first and customer-focused culture while tackling challenges with logical solutions.
• Proven success in delivering results – Track record of achieving production KPIs and SLAs, demonstrating adaptability and accountability in a dynamic setting.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing and Six Sigma – While desirable, this expertise is an opportunity for growth and continuous improvement. Applicants with a strong willingness to learn are encouraged.
• Commitment to KP values – A positive, can-do approach, strong teamwork, and the ability to embrace change align with KP Snacks' culture and behaviours.