Production / Shift Manager - Food Manufacturing

Gafoor; Preston; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Free parking

Onsite canteen

Job summary

Gafoor in Preston seeks an experienced Production Manager to oversee a busy meat/poultry processing operation. You will lead a team of line leaders and machine minders, ensuring on-time production, quality, and compliance with GMP and BRC standards.

Reporting to the Operations Manager, you will analyse KPI data, drive improvements, manage holidays and performance, and mentor staff. A strong numerical mindset and proven people leadership are essential, with flexibility for shift patterns.

Qualifications

• Essential: 3+ years managing people in food manufacturing (UK), preferably poultry/meat processing.
• Essential: GMP knowledge and experience operating to BRC standards.
• Essential: strong numerical capability and commercial outlook.
• Essential: proficient in MS Office.
• Essential: strong people management and mentoring skills.
• Essential: ability to plan ahead and anticipate operational challenges.
• Ideally: IOSH qualification or willing to attend training.
• Ideally: Level 3 Food Safety qualification or willing to attend training.
• Ideally: experience in a BRC accredited operation.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multi-cultural team to achieve production plans.
• Take a hands-on approach and lead by example.
• Gather, analyse and present KPI and performance data.
• Mentor and develop line leaders and machine minders.
• Manage day-to-day people issues (absence, holidays, performance).
• Drive productivity and GMP standards across the operation.
• Ensure a safe working environment per Health, Safety and Hygiene standards.
• Support introduction of new products and changing specifications.

Skills

People management

GMP knowledge

Data analysis

MS Office

KPI tracking

Communication

Problem-solving

Planning ahead

Education

IOSH qualification

Level 3 Food Safety

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Job Title: Production Manager

Location: Single site operation - Preston, Lancashire, UK (relocation assistance available)

Salary: £45,000 - £50,000 pa, dependent on experience, specifically in relation to candidates with experience in the meat / poultry processing sector.

Job type: Full time, Permanent

Gafoor is a fast-growing, family-owned food manufacturing business supplying major UK grocery, retail and wholesale customers from our modern, BRC-accredited facility in Preston. With 500 employees and a 24/6 operation spanning live intake through to finished product distribution, we are at a pivotal stage in our growth.

We are looking for an experienced Production / Shift Manager with a background in FMCG or food manufacturing, ideally poultry or meat processing.

Please note that sponsorship is not available for this role and therefore candidates must have the legal right to live and work in the UK to be considered.

About the role

Reporting to the Operations Manager, you will oversee a team of machine minders and line leaders, ensuring the smooth running of production during your shift and the achievement of schedules to meet customer orders on time and to specification.

As a people manager, you will lead, develop, train, and engage your team, ensuring high levels of performance, safety, and staff retention. You will capture and analyse data to measure performance against KPIs and OEE targets.

What you'll be responsible for

• Leading a multi-cultural team to achieve production plans
• Taking a hands-on approach, leading by example
• Gathering, analysing, and presenting KPI and performance data
• Mentoring and developing line leaders and machine minders
• Managing the day-to-day people issues (absence, holidays, performance, training)
• Driving productivity and GMP standards across the operation
• Ensuring a safe working environment in compliance with Health, Safety, and Hygiene standards
• Support the introduction of new products and changing specifications

Who Will Thrive Here / What we are looking for

We are looking for candidates with the following skills and experience:

• Essential, min 3 years experience managing people in a food manufacturing setting, in the UK - preferably in poultry or meat processing
• Essential, broad knowledge of GMP and experience operating to BRC standards
• Essential, commercial outlook with excellent numerical capability
• Essential, proficient in MS Office packages
• Essential, strong people management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop teams
• Essential, strong organisational skills, with the ability to plan ahead and anticipate operational challenges
• Essential, a clam and resilient approach to the challenges of working in a fast paced and changeable environment
• Essential, excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Essential, professional and effective communication at all levels
• Ideally, IOSH qualified or willing to attend training
• Ideally, Level 3 Food Safety qualification or willing to attend training
• Ideally, experience of working within a BRC accredited operation

What you gain / Why Join Gafoor

• Competitive salary
• Support to develop your career and grow with the company, including in-house and accredited qualifications
• Be part of a family-oriented culture
• Free parking and onsite canteen serving fresh hot meals each day
• Play a key role in delivering quality products nationwide

Candidates with experience or relevant job titles of: Production Team Leader, Manufacturing Manager, Operations Manager, Production Supervisor, Food Manufacturing Production Manager, Factory Manager, Production Coordinator, Manufacturing Supervisor, Production Team Lead, Industrial Production Manager, Production Shift Manager, Manufacturing Shift Manager may also be considered