Production Manager

Refresco; Bridgwater; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Regular pay reviews

Enhanced pension

28 days leave + bank holidays

Leave purchase option to 31 days + BH

Life assurance

Healthcare cover with 24/7 GP

Eye-care vouchers

Employee referral scheme

GroceryAid support

Cheers platform

Free onsite parking

Discounted products

Job summary

Refresco in Bridgwater is seeking a Production Manager to lead busy, highly automated FMCG production operations, reporting to the Factory Manager. You will drive safety, quality, delivery, cost and people outcomes in a fast-paced environment.

Reporting to the Factory Manager, you will manage a team of Shift Managers and embed continuous improvement across the factory, ensuring KPI delivery and audit readiness at all times.

Qualifications

• Experience in a fast-paced FMCG manufacturing environment.
• Proven track record in leading, developing and motivating teams.
• Strong focus on safety, quality, performance and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead all production operations to meet site objectives and performance targets.
• Develop, motivate and performance-manage teams through effective communication and training.

Skills

OEE optimisation

KPI management

Health & Safety

Quality management

Continuous improvement

Team leadership

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.

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.

Required Experience and Skills

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

Equal Opportunity Statement

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.