Production Manager

Zest Recruitment; High Wycombe; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturer in Buckinghamshire seeks a hands-on Production Manager to drive operational excellence and lead a production team. Ideal candidates will boast a strong background in food manufacturing, emphasizing leadership, quality control, and safety compliance, with a passion for continuous improvement. This role offers the opportunity to shape processes and impact daily operations in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in food manufacturing as Production Manager or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of food safety and quality systems.
• Ability to lead and motivate teams effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily production plans while ensuring allergen controls.
• Supervise and train production operatives, fostering team ownership.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards and internal audits.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Food Safety

Quality Control

Continuous Improvement

Problem Solving

Job description

Are you a hands-on leader in food manufacturing, ready to make your mark in a business that's scaling rapidly and innovating every day?

We're excited to be exclusively representing a dynamic and forward-thinking food manufacturer based in the Buckinghamshire area. This BRCGS AA-rated business is growing rapidly - crafting exceptional ready-to-eat products under their own growing brand and for leading retailers across the UK.

Agile, ambitious, and proud of their people-first culture, they're now looking for a Production Manager to join their journey and lead operations on the factory floor. If you're motivated by quality, ownership, and the opportunity to grow with a business that's genuinely going places - this could be the step-change you're looking for.


Why This Opportunity?
* Be a Key Player in Growth - You'll be working directly with the Managing Director to drive production and operational improvements as the business scales.
* Lead a High-Performing Team - Bring leadership, clarity and motivation to a growing team in a close-knit manufacturing environment.
* See Your Impact Daily - Influence real outcomes in quality, scheduling, safety and team performance - and watch your contribution make a difference.
* Shape the Future - This is a business where processes are being shaped, not inherited. Your ideas will be heard, valued, and implemented.


Your Responsibilities Will Include:
* Planning & Scheduling: Manage daily and weekly production plans, balancing efficiency with allergen controls and tight customer deadlines.
* People Leadership: Supervise, train and motivate a team of production operatives, promoting a culture of ownership, safety and positivity.
* Stock & Dispatch Oversight: Maintain control over raw material intake, stock levels, and ensure timely despatch of finished goods.
* Food Safety & Compliance: Uphold BRCGS, HACCP, and customer standards, supporting audit readiness and continuous improvement.
* Technical & H&S: Conduct internal audits, maintain GMP standards, lead site health and safety initiatives and ensure legal compliance.
* Cross-Functional Collaboration: Be the vital link between production, logistics, technical and commercial teams - driving alignment and delivery.

What You'll Bring:
* Proven leadership experience within a food manufacturing environment - whether as a Production Manager, Shift Manager or equivalent.
* A confident, calm and solution-driven mindset - able to think fast and act with clarity.
* Strong knowledge of food safety, quality systems, and factory operations.
* Excellent communication skills and the ability to coach, support and lead a team in a fast-moving, hands-on setting.
* A genuine passion for continuous improvement and growing with a business that rewards initiative and reliability.

Company Culture Snapshot:
* Down-to-Earth & Hardworking - This is a close-knit team that believes in integrity, showing up, and delivering excellence.
* Innovative & Growth-Focused - New processes, new people, new ideas - they're not afraid of change; they embrace it.
* People First - You'll be working shoulder-to-shoulder with the MD and wider team. Every role matters here.

If you're ready to roll up your sleeves and take the next big step in your food manufacturing career, I'd love to hear from you.

Contact: Shaf Islam | [e-mail]

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