Production Supervisor

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

Job summary

Mason James Appointments (UK) Ltd is recruiting a Production Supervisor for a fast-paced food and beverage manufacturing environment in Maidstone. The role reports to the Shift Manager, leading production operatives on a daily basis to meet targets safely and efficiently.

Responsibilities include maintaining safety, quality and productivity, delivering clear shift briefs, and driving continuous improvement on the shop floor. Starting salary is £35,000 with a raise after probation.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years’ experience in food, drink, FMCG or similar manufacturing.
• HACCP, allergens, GMP and food safety knowledge.
• Experience leading or supervising a production team.
• Strong communication skills to motivate and challenge.
• Good planning, coordination and numerical skills.
• Proficient in MS Office and production reporting systems.
• Resilient, proactive and leads by example.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Team leadership

HACCP knowledge

Food safety

Communication

Planning & numerical skills

MS Office

Production reporting

Tools

MS Office

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.