Production Stream Group Leader

Pilgrim's Europe; Attleborough; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Pilgrim's Europe is recruiting a Production Stream Group Leader at our Attleborough site. You will lead and develop a team of Production Team Leaders to maximise manufacturing performance, embedding best practices and a culture of safety, quality, cost, and service.

You will drive Operational Excellence initiatives, sponsor improvements, and work closely with cross-functional teams to meet site objectives. The role requires a visible leader on site and a focus on continuous improvement in a

Qualifications

• Strong communication and influencing skills.
• Proven ability to coach, develop, and motivate others.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Experience creating, implementing, and sustaining operational standards.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.Experience within an FMCG or food manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of health and safety, quality, environmental, and asset management systems.
• Experience of Continuous Improvement, Manufacturing Excellence, or OPEX methodologies.
• Foundation level Health & Safety
• Food Safety qualification
• HACCP qualification

Responsibilities

• Build and promote a strong safety culture through visible leadership and coaching.
• Champion our Go for Zero approach, ensuring a safe working environment for all team members.
• Ensure risk assessments are in place and corrective actions are completed.
• Monitor, report, and improve safety performance metrics.
• Promote a culture where food safety, quality, and authenticity are a condition of doing business.
• Ensure products are manufactured right first time and GMP standards are maintained.
• Escalate and manage significant quality concerns appropriately.
• Support the delivery of the Production Stream strategic plan and key operational objectives.
• Ensure Team Leaders clearly understand priorities, targets, and expectations.
• Deliver improvements in labour utilisation, waste reduction, OEE, and overall manufacturing performance.
• Manage and support planned and unplanned operational activities, including maintenance, audits, and production changes.
• Monitor ATP performance and respond effectively to escalations.
• Lead, motivate, and develop Team Leaders to create a high-performing and engaged workforce.
• Coach and develop teams using Operational Excellence tools and methods.
• Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and development conversations.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and succession planning activities.
• Build a strong pipeline of talent for future business needs.
• Manage employee relations matters, including disciplinary and grievance processes, with HR support where appropriate.
• Create an environment where team members feel valued, heard, and empowered to contribute ideas.
• Drive Operational Excellence across the production stream.
• Ensure the area remains audit-ready across safety, quality, environmental, manufacturing, and asset management standards.
• Analyse operational data to identify trends, performance gaps, and improvement opportunities.
• Lead structured problem-solving activities using OPEX tools and methodologies.
• Improve operational standards including SOPs, work instructions, autonomous maintenance, process specifications, and 5S.
• Ensure KPIs are visible, accurate, and regularly reviewed.
• Drive closure of actions and issues through effective performance management.
• Lead projects and improvement initiatives that support site objectives.
• Identify and eliminate manufacturing losses, bottlenecks, and inefficiencies.
• Ensure improvements are embedded and sustainable.
• Drive continuous improvements that enhance customer satisfaction and business performance.

Skills

Strong communication

Coaching and development

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

MS Office

Leadership

Team motivation

Education

Food Safety qualification

HACCP qualification

Foundation level Health & Safety

Job description

Location: Attleborough
Department: Manufacturing
Reporting to: Production Stream Group Leade
Shift Pattern: Days – 4 on 4 off - 6:00am - 6:00pm

About the Role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Production Stream Group Leader to join our Manufacturing team at Attleborough.

Working a permanent night shift pattern of 4 on 4 off (6:00am–6:00pm), you will be responsible for leading and developing a team of Production Team Leaders to maximise manufacturing performance, improve operational efficiency, and deliver outstanding standards in safety, quality, cost, and service.

You will play a key role in driving Operational Excellence (OPEX) initiatives, embedding best practice, and creating a high-performing culture that supports both business goals and customer expectations.

As part of the Pilgrim's Europe way of working, this is a site-based role, requiring visible leadership and close collaboration with operational teams across the factory.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and promote a strong safety culture through visible leadership and coaching.
• Champion our "Go for Zero" approach, ensuring a safe working environment for all team members.
• Ensure risk assessments are in place and corrective actions are completed.
• Monitor, report, and improve safety performance metrics.
• Promote a culture where food safety, quality, and authenticity are a condition of doing business.
• Ensure products are manufactured right first time and GMP standards are maintained.
• Escalate and manage significant quality concerns appropriately.
• Support the delivery of the Production Stream strategic plan and key operational objectives.
• Ensure Team Leaders clearly understand priorities, targets, and expectations.
• Deliver improvements in labour utilisation, waste reduction, OEE, and overall manufacturing performance.
• Manage and support planned and unplanned operational activities, including maintenance, audits, and production changes.
• Monitor ATP performance and respond effectively to escalations.
• Lead, motivate, and develop Team Leaders to create a high-performing and engaged workforce.
• Coach and develop teams using Operational Excellence tools and methods.
• Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and development conversations.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and succession planning activities.
• Build a strong pipeline of talent for future business needs.
• Manage employee relations matters, including disciplinary and grievance processes, with HR support where appropriate.
• Create an environment where team members feel valued, heard, and empowered to contribute ideas.
• Drive Operational Excellence (OPEX) across the production stream.
• Ensure the area remains audit-ready across safety, quality, environmental, manufacturing, and asset management standards.
• Analyse operational data to identify trends, performance gaps, and improvement opportunities.
• Lead structured problem-solving activities using OPEX tools and methodologies.
• Improve operational standards including SOPs, work instructions, autonomous maintenance, process specifications, and 5S.
• Ensure KPIs are visible, accurate, and regularly reviewed.
• Drive closure of actions and issues through effective performance management.
• Lead projects and improvement initiatives that support site objectives.
• Identify and eliminate manufacturing losses, bottlenecks, and inefficiencies.
• Ensure improvements are embedded and sustainable.
• Drive continuous improvements that enhance customer satisfaction and business performance.

About You

We are looking for a passionate and driven manufacturing leader who can inspire teams, solve problems, and deliver results within a fast-paced FMCG environment.

• Strong communication and influencing skills.
• Proven ability to coach, develop, and motivate others.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Experience creating, implementing, and sustaining operational standards.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.Experience within an FMCG or food manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of health and safety, quality, environmental, and asset management systems.
• Experience of Continuous Improvement, Manufacturing Excellence, or OPEX methodologies.
• Foundation level Health & Safety
• Food Safety qualification
• HACCP qualification

Why Join Pilgrim's Europe?

At Pilgrim's Europe, we are committed to developing our people and creating opportunities for long-term career growth.

Our benefits include:

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Career development opportunities within a leading international food business
• Ongoing training and leadership development
• Employee benefits and discount platform
• Wellbeing support programmes
• Collaborative and supportive working environment
• Opportunity to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence

Our values are at the heart of everything we do:

Availability ¦ Humility ¦ Discipline ¦ Sincerity ¦ Ownership ¦ Determination ¦ Simplicity