Production - Plant Manager

Soufflet Bairds Malt; Witham; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Soufflet Malt seeks a Plant Manager to lead Witham operations, reporting to the England Operations Manager. You will oversee daily plant performance, maintain quality, safety, and cost controls, and drive continuous improvement across production, maintenance, and EHSQ.

The role requires a minimum of three years in malting/food processing production management, with team leadership and budget responsibilities. It is based on-site in Witham, Monday–Friday, with occasional callouts.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years in malting, brewing or food processing in production management.
• Experience managing a round-the-clock or shift operation is highly desirable.
• Basic engineering knowledge is required.
• Sound understanding of malting process or commitment to intensive malting training.
• Experience setting and monitoring budgets; responsible for product quality.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and improve production quality to meet customer requirements.
• Optimise production activities to reduce utility consumption.
• Reduce wastage of grain wherever possible.
• Close out action points from audits and ensure safety standards are met.
• Lead and develop on-site teams; manage on-site maintenance and costs.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and cost control.

Skills

Management experience

Engineering knowledge

Malting process knowledge

Budgeting experience

Quality management

IOSH training

Education

Science qualification with malting training

Brewing or food science degree (desirable)

Job description

Posted Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 8:00 AM

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title

Plant Manager - Witham

Reports to

Operations Manager - England

Department

Operations

Location

Witham

Hours

9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (participation in callout rota will be required)

Summary of Job

Responsible for the safe and efficient management of all plant operations

Responsibilities

• Maintain and improve production quality to all customers.
• To optimise production activities to reduce the utility consumption wherever possible.
• Reduce wastage of grain wherever possible.
• Close out all action points from internal and external audits.
• Foster good employee engagement to best make use of the personnel on site
• To control and reduce site maintenance costs
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement
• Ensure that all site activities exceed the standard of health and safety as set out in company policy

Line Management

• Direct Reports:
• Production Manager
• Process Manager
• Barley Manager

EHSQ

• Take an active and visible approach to setting and leading the required safety culture on site
• Ensure all activities are risk assessed to a suitable and sufficient level
• Participate in and jointly lead compliance and customer audits
• Maintain all necessary accreditations (ISO standards etc)
• Ensure adequate stock levels of raw materials and malt stock levels to meet scheduled malt deliveries.
• Develop and agree the annual plant budget with the Operations Manager
• Use monthly budget figures to monitor all plant costs to ensure that targets are achieved, with particular focus on utility consumption, process yield and maintenance and labour costs.
• Provide weekly and monthly stock, production, utility consumption reports
• Maintain produced and delivered malt quality at a high level
• Ensure barley husbandry is maintained at a high standard
• Work with the engineering manager to maintain mechanical maintenance standards in line with our business wide standards.

People Leadership and Development

• Absence management
• Investigations and disciplinary procedure
• Performance management
• Dealing with conflict and conflict resolution
• Ensuring leadership behavior is consistent with and actively demonstrates the company values
• Ensure the Soufflet Malt Code of Conduct and policies & procedures are adhered to.
• Build organisational capability through attracting, developing & retaining a high-performing and engaged workforce.
• Support the company’s diversity strategies.
• Oversee the application of performance management and leadership development processes.
• Coach & support direct reports in meeting their development needs.
• Ensure employees are aware of Soufflet Malt’s rewards and benefits (financial & non-financial).

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL

• A minimum of three years’ experience within the malting, brewing or food processing sector in a production management role.
• Excellent management skills ideally with experience of managing a round-the-clock or shift operation.
• Basic engineering knowledge
• A sound knowledge and understanding of the malting process (alternatively a science qualification and the commitment to undertake intensive malting training would be acceptable)
• Experience of setting and monitoring budgets
• Experience of taking responsibility for product quality.
• IOSH Health and safety training

DESIRABLE

• A brewing or food science qualification to a degree (or equivalent) level
• Experience of dealing with external audits and customer service activities.