Production Manager – Nights

The Compleat Food Group; Crewe; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Sunday to Thursday night shift pattern

Career development opportunities

Job summary

The Compleat Food Group is seeking an experienced Production Manager to lead the Crewe night shift (Sunday to Thursday, 10:00pm-6:00am). You will drive safety, quality and efficiency while delivering the production plan on time and in full.

This role requires strong leadership, hands-on coaching, and a relentless focus on continuous improvement in a high-volume food environment. You will work closely with the Factory Manager, shaping shift performance, embedding robust handovers, and maintaining

Qualifications

• Experience leading large teams within food manufacturing or FMCG environments.
• Track record of delivering operational improvements and driving performance through KPIs.
• Strong understanding of safety, quality, audit standards and GMP compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate large night-shift manufacturing teams to deliver the production plan safely, on time and in full.
• Drive performance metrics such as OEE, labour efficiency, waste, quality and yield.
• Embed a culture of continuous improvement (5S, SIC, Operational Excellence) across the shift.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Operational excellence

GMP & safety

Communication skills

Tools

ERP

Job description

Crewe (Savoury & Ready Meals) Sunday to Thursday | 10:00pm - 6:00am £50,000 - £55,000 + Benefits

Lead the Night Shift. Drive Performance. Deliver Excellence.

The Compleat Food Group is home to some of the UK's best-loved food brands, and we're looking for an experienced Production Manager to lead our night shift operation at our Crewe manufacturing site.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a proven manufacturing leader to take ownership of a high-volume food production operation, leading teams, driving performance, and ensuring we consistently deliver the highest standards of safety, quality, service and efficiency.

Working closely with the Factory Manager, you'll be responsible for leading the night shift operation, developing your teams and driving a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and operational excellence.

What You'll Be Doing

As Production Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring smooth and efficient manufacturing operations throughout the night shift.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and motivating large manufacturing teams to deliver the production plan safely, on time and in full.
• Driving operational performance through key metrics including OEE, labour efficiency, waste, quality and yield.
• Embedding a culture of continuous improvement through initiatives such as 5S, Short Interval Control (SIC), GMP and Operational Excellence programmes.
• Ensuring robust shift handovers and clear communication across the operation.
• Maintaining exceptional food safety, quality and audit standards, ensuring the site remains audit-ready at all times.
• Managing absence, performance, development and employee engagement across your teams.
• Driving a "Right First Time" culture with a relentless focus on quality and operational standards.
• Working closely with Engineering, Technical and Operational colleagues to resolve issues and improve manufacturing performance.
• Delivering strong standards of GMP, Health & Safety and compliance across the factory.

What We're Looking For

We're keen to hear from ambitious manufacturing leaders who thrive in fast-paced food production environments.

You’ll ideally have:

• Experience leading large teams within food manufacturing, FMCG, bakery, ready meals or chilled food production.
• A proven track record of delivering operational improvements and driving performance through KPIs.
• Strong understanding of OEE, labour management, waste reduction and production efficiency.
• Experience working within BRC, food safety and quality-driven environments.
• Excellent people management, coaching and leadership skills.
• The confidence to challenge, influence and drive accountability at all levels.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Knowledge of ERP or manufacturing systems.
• Good understanding of Health & Safety legislation and risk management.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to lead from the front.

Why Join The Compleat Food Group?

At The Compleat Food Group, we're passionate about creating food to feel good. We invest in our people and provide genuine opportunities for career progression within a growing and ambitious business.

In return, you'll receive:

• Competitive benefits package
• Sunday to Thursday night shift pattern
• Career development opportunities within a growing food manufacturing group
• A supportive leadership team and collaborative culture
• The opportunity to make a real impact in a key operational leadership role

AtThe Compleat Food Group, we believe our people are the heart of our success. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your lifestyle, wellbeing, and career growth:

• Salary Sacrifice Schemes- including Electric Vehicles, Home & Tech, Cycle to Work, and SMART Pension
• 33 days’ annual leave(including bank holidays) with the option to purchase extra
• Access toenhanced retail discountsonline and in-store
• Free product handoutsacross our sites, so you can sample and enjoy our delicious products first hand
• EV charging points- available at selected sites
• 24/7 access toGroceryAidfor free financial, emotional, and practical support
• Physical Wellbeing Hub- free on-demand exercise programmes, online classes and multiple gym discounts
• Free diet & nutrition advicewith access to thousands of meal plans and healthy recipes
• Online wellbeing support- from mindfulness to lifestyle resources
• Financial wellbeing tools- including mortgage calculators, budgeting tools, and financial aid
• Access to apersonalised online learning platform (LMS)
• Formal and informal trainingopportunities tailored to your role
• Performance Development Plansand regularCareer Conversations
• Industry leading company Mentoring Schemeto add depth and really support your career journey
• Recognition throughClub Compleatrewards portal

Community & Culture

• 2 paid volunteering daysper year to give back to causes that matter to you
• Charity initiativesand fundraising events
• Team socialsto connect and celebrate together
• Employee networks & support groups - including Women @ Compleat
• New baby giftfor new parents

What You Should Know About How We Recruit

At The Compleat Food Group, we believe great teams are built on difference. We create an inclusive, respectful environment where everyone feels safe, supported, and are able to be themselves at work. We're proud to be an equal opportunities employer and are committed to Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect. If you need a reasonable adjustment at any stage of our recruitment process, just let us know, we'll support you - confidentially and with care. We hire the best people for our roles, not the same people. Whoever you are, wherever you're from, we focus on what you do and the impact you could make in our business. Our recruitment process is fair, accessible, and designed to give everyone an equal chance. You'll also find benefits that support people at every life stage, plus active internal networks - including Women @ Compleat, LGBTQIA+, and Neurodiversity

Recruitment Agencies:

We have a small, active and trusted Preferred Supplier List to assist us if required. We do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions. We only accept CV submissions for roles released to you directly by our Talent Acquisition team.

By submitting your CV and personal information, you consent to The Compleat Food Group processing your personal data for the purposes of assessing your application for employment. Your data will be processed in accordance with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

We will use your personal data solely for recruitment and selection purposes, and it will be securely stored and accessible only to authorized HR and hiring personnel. If your application is unsuccessful, we will retain your details for up to 24 months unless you request earlier deletion.

You have the right to:

• Access, correct, or request deletion of your personal data
• Withdraw your consent at any time
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you believe your data has been mishandled

For more information on how we handle your data, please refer to our Privacy Policy .