Production Manager

Tate & Lyle; Mold, Chester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Tate & Lyle is seeking a Production Manager for its Mold Site, Flintshire, UK. You will lead Production and Batch Preparation teams, drive safety, quality, and cost-effective manufacturing, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet daily to monthly plans.

You will influence site strategy, develop high-performing teams, and champion continuous improvement while ensuring customer service and compliance across EHSQ and sustainability targets.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and industrial equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams.
• Strong decision-making, analytical, and problem-solving capability.
• Experience managing operational KPIs and delivering measurable improvements.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Commitment to health, safety, quality, and food safety excellence.
• Experience managing operational resources and workforce planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead Production and Batch Preparation teams to safely achieve daily, weekly, and monthly manufacturing plans.
• Ensure efficient utilisation of people, equipment and resources.
• Monitor performance and address deviations from plan with corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Planning to deliver schedules on time.
• Ensure Batch Preparation supports demand and inventory requirements.
• Lead regular operational reviews and communicate priorities across shifts.
• Present KPI reports to site leadership and stakeholders.
• Escalate risks and implement mitigation to protect service and performance.
• Support site goals with strong operational decision-making.

Skills

Leadership

Manufacturing processes

Team development

Decision making

KPIs

Communication

Health & safety

Resource planning

ERP systems

Stakeholder management

Tools

ERP systems

Performance management software

Job description

Role Title

Production Manager

Location

Mold Site, Flintshire, UK

Reporting To

Plant Manager

Direct Reports

Shift Team Leaders and batch prep leader.

Role Purpose

The Production Manager is responsible for the leadership, management, and performance of Production operations at the Mold manufacturing site and Batch Preparation operations at our third-party partner facility in Chester.

As a key member of the Mold Site Leadership Team, the role is accountable for delivering safe, efficient, and cost-effective manufacturing activities while ensuring the highest standards of quality, food safety, environmental compliance, and employee engagement.

The successful candidate will lead three shift team leaders and batch prep leader to achieve production targets, optimise resource deployment, develop workforce capability, and drive a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Working closely with Planning, Logistics, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, EHS, HR, and Supply Chain functions, the Production Manager will play a critical role in delivering site objectives and supporting the continued growth of the business.

This role offers significant opportunity to influence site strategy, develop high-performing teams, and contribute to the long-term success of the Mold operation.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership, Safety, Quality & Compliance

As a member of the Mold Site Leadership Team, the Production Manager shares responsibility for delivering exceptional performance in Environment, Health, Safety, Quality, Food Safety, and Sustainability.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading by example and embedding a strong safety-first culture across all operational areas.
• Ensuring full compliance with Tate & Lyle global and local EHS, Quality, Food Safety, and Environmental standards.
• Establishing and delivering site EHSQ objectives, targets, and improvement plans.
• Providing the leadership, resources, and focus required to maintain effective management systems and regulatory compliance.
• Ensuring employees have the skills, training, and knowledge required to perform their roles safely and effectively.
• Supporting internal and external audits, including customer, certification, and FESMA audits.
• Demonstrating visible leadership and promoting accountability for safety, quality, and food safety standards.
• Working closely with the EHSQ Manager to support site EHS initiatives and provide leadership cover during periods of absence.
• Contributing to site environmental program.
• Contributing to the strategic direction and performance of the site as a member of the Site Leadership Team.

Operational Leadership

• Lead Production and Batch Preparation teams to safely achieve daily, weekly, and monthly manufacturing plans.
• Ensure the efficient utilisation of people, equipment and operational resources.
• Monitor operational performance and implement corrective actions to address deviations from plan.
• Collaborate with Production Planning to ensure manufacturing schedules are delivered in full and on time.
• Ensure Batch Preparation activities effectively support manufacturing demand and inventory requirements.
• Lead daily, weekly, and monthly operational reviews, communicating expectations and priorities across all shifts.
• Prepare, analyse, and present operational KPI reports to site leadership and wider business stakeholders.
• Escalate operational risks and implement mitigation plans to protect customer service and business performance.
• Ensure operational decision-making supports the achievement of both short-term objectives and long-term business goals.

People Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop Shift Team Leaders and operational teams to create a highly engaged, high-performing workforce.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, inclusion, and continuous learning.
• Drive employee engagement through effective communication, recognition, feedback, and development initiatives.
• Manage recruitment, onboarding, training, performance management, succession planning, and talent development.
• Ensure robust development plans are established and maintained for all direct reports and key talent.
• Support workforce planning activities, including staffing levels, holidays, absence management, overtime control, and shift cover.
• Build leadership capability and strengthen succession pipelines across manufacturing operations.
• Address performance concerns in a timely, fair, and constructive manner while promoting positive employee relations.
• Champion company values and behaviours across all teams.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Lead and sponsor continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, service, cost, productivity, and waste reduction.
• Champion Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) principles to strengthen operational reliability and safety performance.
• Apply structured problem-solving methodologies and root cause analysis techniques to eliminate recurring issues.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve manufacturing efficiency, reduce losses, and optimise production performance.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing principles throughout the operation.
• Support the implementation of new systems, technologies, and ways of working that enhance operational capability.
• Promote a culture where continuous improvement is embedded into day-to-day activities at all levels of the organisation.

Maintenance & Asset Reliability

• Work closely with the Maintenance & Projects Manager to prioritise breakdown response, preventative maintenance activities, shutdown planning, and PLM completion.
• Monitor equipment performance and reliability to minimise downtime and maximise operational effectiveness.
• Ensure permit-to-work procedures and safe systems of work are consistently applied during maintenance activities.
• Support capital expenditure projects and asset improvement programmes.
• Contribute to reliability improvements by identifying recurring equipment issues and supporting long-term corrective actions.
• Drive collaboration between Production and Maintenance teams to improve plant performance and asset care standards.

Business Performance & Financial Accountability

• Deliver performance against key manufacturing KPIs including:
  • Safety
  • Quality
  • Food Safety
  • Customer Service
  • Productivity
  • Cost
  • Waste Reduction
  • Asset Reliability
  • Employee Engagement
• Manage labour resources, overtime expenditure, and operational costs in line with approved budgets.
• Support site profitability and competitiveness through effective resource utilisation and waste reduction initiatives.
• Prepare performance updates and business reviews for senior leadership.
• Identify and escalation risks that may impact financial, operational, or customer performance.
• Contribute to achieving site and business strategic objectives through effective operational leadership and decision-making.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Proven leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, production operations, and industrial equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams.
• Strong decision-making, analytical, and problem-solving capability.
• Experience managing operational KPIs and delivering measurable performance improvements.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong commitment to health, safety, quality, and food safety excellence.
• Experience managing operational resources and workforce planning activities.
• Ability to drive accountability and embed a continuous improvement culture.
• Experience using ERP, manufacturing, and performance management systems to support operational decision-making.

Desirable

• Experience within FMCG, food, ingredients, or process manufacturing industries.
• Knowledge of food manufacturing regulations and industry best practice.
• HACCP certification or working knowledge of food safety management systems.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement qualification.
• Supervisory or management qualification.
• Level 2 Food Safety qualification or equivalent.
• Experience leading teams within a highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) principles.

Key Competencies

• Inspirational Leadership
• Safety Leadership
• Operational Excellence
• Strategic Thinking
• Decision Making
• Influencing & Communication
• Team Development
• Continuous Improvement
• Stakeholder Management
• Change Leadership
• Results Focus
• Accountability
• Financial Awareness

Tate & Lyle is an equal opportunity employer, committed to the strength of an inclusive workforce.