Production Manager

Refresco; Bridgwater; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus and regular pay reviews

Enhanced pension contribution

28 days annual leave + bank holidays

Ability to purchase extra leave (up to

Life assurance coverage

Healthcare cover + 24/7 virtual GP

Eye-care vouchers and discounts

Employee referral bonuses

GroceryAid support services

Cheers benefits platform

Free onsite parking

Discounted products

Job summary

Refresco Bridgwater is seeking a Production Manager to lead our fast-paced, highly automated FMCG manufacturing site. You will own production operations, drive safety, quality and delivery, manage budgets and teams, and deliver site strategy through continuous improvement.

Reporting to the Factory Manager, you will build strong cross‑functional partnerships and inspire performance across KPI targets. This role offers a permanent contract, a Monday–Friday pattern, 38 hours per week, with an

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a fast-paced FMCG manufacturing environment.
• Supervisory or production management background with team leadership.
• Track record delivering safety, quality, delivery and cost improvements.
• Ability to translate business strategy into operational delivery using KPIs.

Responsibilities

• Lead all production operations and partner with internal/external stakeholders to hit site objectives.
• Manage labour and material budgets, ensuring staffing aligns to demand and costs are controlled.
• Drive performance through OEE, KPI management, continuous improvement and action plans.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety, QMS, SOPs and audit readiness.
• Develop and mentor teams through training, appraisals and engagement initiatives.
• Collaborate across functions and provide cover for key management roles when needed.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Stakeholder management

Budget management

OEE optimization

Problem solving

Communication

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to join Refresco, the world’s largest independent beverage solutions provider, in a pivotal leadership role at the Bridgwater site. As Production Manager, you will take ownership of production operations within a fast-paced, highly automated FMCG environment, driving performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and People. Working closely with the Factory Manager, you will play a key role in delivering site strategy, optimising operational performance and leading continuous improvement initiatives that directly impact business results.

Production Manager

Permanent

Bridgwater

Monday – Friday

38 hours

Reward & Benefits

• Annual bonus and regular pay reviews
• An enhanced company pension contribution
• 28 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
• Option to purchase additional leave, increasing your allowance to 31 days plus bank holidays
• Life assurance coverage
• Personal healthcare cover, including 24/7 virtual GP access for your family
• Free eye‑care vouchers and discounted glasses
• Employee referral scheme with bonuses for successful referrals
• GroceryAid support services offering financial, legal, wellbeing and practical guidance
• Cheers benefits platform providing discounts, free perks, and wellbeing tools
• Free onsite parking and discounted products

About the Role:

Reporting to the Factory Manager, you will have a key role working with the factory management team, with the specific remit around operational KPI’s customer service, Health and Safety and Quality standards. Managing a team of Shift Managers you will ensure we deliver operational excellence across your factory production halls.

The delivery will come through the application of continuous improvement techniques, employee engagement and living the company values ensuring you’re an exemplary leader at all times.

As the Production Manager here are your key areas of focus:

• Lead all production operations, building strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to deliver site objectives.
• Manage labour and material budgets, ensuring staffing levels are aligned to demand while controlling costs and maximising efficiency.
• Drive operational performance through OEE optimisation, KPI (SQDCP) management, continuous improvement initiatives, and value-added action plans.
• Ensure full compliance with Health & Safety, Quality Management Systems (QMS), SOPs, and audit requirements, maintaining audit readiness at all times.
• Develop, motivate, and performance-manage teams through effective communication, training, appraisals, succession planning, and engagement initiatives.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration and site projects, providing operational leadership and cover for key management roles, including the Factory Manager when required.

We’re looking for:

The ideal candidate will have proven experience in a fast-paced FMCG manufacturing environment, preferably within a highly automated production facility, with a strong background in supervisory or production management roles. They will demonstrate a successful track record of leading, developing and motivating teams, driving a culture of safety, quality, performance and continuous improvement. A confident and engaging leader, they will be capable of translating business strategy into operational delivery, using KPIs to drive productivity, efficiency and OEE improvements while effectively managing resources and costs. Strong communication, problem-solving and stakeholder management skills are essential, alongside the ability to work collaboratively across functions to achieve site objectives and deliver sustainable business results.

Find out more about the Refresco Values here: https://www.refresco.co.uk/uk/about/our-values

About Refresco:

Refresco is the global independent beverage solutions provider for Global, National and Emerging brands, and retailers with production in Europe, North America, and Australia.

Refresco offers an extensive range of product and packaging combinations from juices to carbonated soft drinks and mineral waters in carton, PET, Aseptic PET, cans, and glass.

Refresco continuously searches for new and alternative ways to improve the quality of its products and packaging combinations in line with consumer and customer demand, environmental responsibilities, and market demand

Refresco is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and has more than 13,500 employees. www.refresco.com.

Our drinks on every table. That's the Refresco vision. We’re a global business and currently produce 12 billion litres of soft drinks from 64 manufacturing plants in 12 countries and we’re only just getting started.

We’re the proud owners of six drinks manufacturing sites within the UK. Our UK business provides a great place to work for over 1,800 employees, who produce private label soft drinks and fruit juices for all the leading retailers.

Whether it’s packed in cartons, bottles or cans, we ensure that our products are made to the highest quality standards. Our products get where they need to be when they need to get there to meet the needs of our high-profile customers.

Refresco believes that equal opportunity for all is fundamental to our company's values and all our applicants can expect fairness and transparency in our recruitment process.