Production Supervisor

Mason James Appointments (UK) Ltd; Ashford; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Mason James Appointments (UK) Ltd is seeking a Production Supervisor for a fast-paced food and drink manufacturing site in the UK. You will lead a team of Production Operatives, ensuring safe, efficient delivery of daily targets and adherence to quality standards.

Reporting to the Shift Manager, you’ll drive continuous improvement on the shop floor, manage start-up checks and handovers, and mentor staff in lean practices. Monday–Friday shifts with progression opportunities.

Qualifications

• 2+ years’ experience in food, drink, FMCG or similar manufacturing.
• Solid understanding of HACCP, allergens and food safety requirements.
• Experience in leading or supervising a production team.
• Strong communication and motivational skills.
• Good planning, coordination and numerical abilities.
• Proficient with MS Office and production reporting systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support your team to hit daily safety, quality and production targets.
• Deliver clear shift briefs and ensure accurate start-up checks and documentation.
• Coordinate handovers with the incoming Supervisor/Manager.
• Monitor performance against plan and flag downtime or issues.
• Log maintenance defects and liaise with Engineering to minimise disruption.
• Coach and develop team members and support training.

Skills

Leadership

HACCP

GMP

Production planning

Numerical skills

MS Office

Tools

Production reporting systems

Job description

Production Supervisor - Food/Drink Manufacturing

Shifts: 40 hourrs per week, Monday to Friday weekly rotating patterns of 6:30am to 3pm and 2:30pm to 11pm.

Starting Salary: £35,000 rising after 6-month probation

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

A great opportunity for an experienced Production Supervisor or Senior Team Leader to join a fast-paced food & beverage manufacturing environment. You'll support the Shift Manager, lead the production team, and ensure daily targets are achieved safely and efficiently.

The Role

Reporting to the Shift Manager, you'll oversee a team of Production Operatives, ensuring people, materials, and processes are in place to deliver the production plan. This is a hands-on leadership role where you'll be visible on the shop floor, driving standards and supporting continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support your team to hit daily safety, quality, and production targets.
• Deliver clear shift briefs and ensure accurate start-up checks and documentation.
• Manage effective handovers with the incoming Supervisor/Manager.
• Monitor performance against plan, flagging downtime or issues promptly.
• Log maintenance defects and coordinate with Engineering to minimise disruption.
• Coach, motivate, and multiskill team members; support training and development.
• Complete end-of-shift reports and ensure accurate data is captured.
• Drive continuous improvement using lean tools and team-based problem-solving.
• Support investigations, underperformance management, and staff reviews.

About You

• At least 2 years’ experience in food, drink, FMCG or similar manufacturing.
• Good understanding of HACCP, allergens, GMP and food safety requirements.
• Proven experience leading or supervising a production team.
• Strong communicator with the ability to motivate and challenge.
• Good planning, coordination and numerical skills.
• Confident using MS Office and production reporting systems.
• Resilient, proactive, and leads by example.

Why Apply?

• Monday-Friday rotating shifts with no weekends.
• Supportive leadership role with real influence on performance and standards.
• Strong development opportunities within a continuous improvement culture.