Production Team Leader (Days)

Kpi Recruiting Ltd; West Stow; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

KPI Recruiting Ltd is recruiting for Production Team Leaders at a food manufacturing facility in Newmarket (CB8). The role carries a salary of up to £32,406.40 per annum, with an early shift pattern (AM shift) from 5:30am to 2:00pm, Monday–Friday or Tuesday–Saturday.

You will lead production operations, ensure safety, quality and team engagement, and drive continuous improvement across manufacturing activities.

Qualifications

• Experience leading teams in food manufacturing.
• Proven ability to manage performance and drive engagement.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.
• Knowledge of GMP, HACCP, Food Safety and Hygiene standards.
• Understanding Health & Safety legislation and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire production teams to achieve performance goals.
• Foster a positive working culture built on respect and teamwork.
• Manage staff performance and employee engagement across the shift.
• Coordinate labour resources to meet operational requirements.
• Deliver coaching, development and training support to team members.
• Escalate equipment and operational issues to Engineering and Management.

Skills

Team leadership

People management

Communication

Organisation

Problem solving

Decision making

Leadership under pressure

Job description

Location: Newmarket, CB8
Salary: Up to £32,406.40 per annum

AM Shift
Monday – Friday or Tuesday – Saturday (5:30am – 2:00pm)

Role Purpose

We are seeking experienced and motivated Production Team Leaders to lead our client’s production operations at their food manufacturing facility. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring production targets are achieved while maintaining outstanding standards of safety, quality and team engagement.

The role requires a proactive leader who can effectively manage production performance, drive continuous improvement and ensure operational excellence across manufacturing activities.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead and inspire production teams to achieve performance goals
• Foster a positive working culture built on respect, accountability and teamwork
• Manage staff performance and employee engagement across the shift
• Coordinate labour resources effectively to meet operational requirements
• Deliver coaching, development and training support to team members

Operational Excellence

• Ensure the smooth and effective running of production lines and processes
• Drive achievement of KPI targets relating to output, efficiency, waste and downtime
• Ensure packaging and raw materials are available to support production schedules
• Monitor line performance and implement corrective actions where necessary
• Escalate equipment and operational issues promptly to Engineering and Management teams

Quality & Food Safety

• Maintain compliance with product specifications, HACCP principles and GMP standards
• Ensure CCPs and quality checks are completed correctly and recorded accurately
• Promote product quality awareness throughout the team
• Reduce waste and improve yields through effective process control
• Ensure accurate completion of all production and quality documentation

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Promote and maintain a safe working environment
• Ensure company Health & Safety policies and legal obligations are adhered to
• Investigate and report hazards, incidents and non-conformances
• Support site-wide health, safety and continuous improvement programmes
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, quality, hygiene and safety standards
• Support the implementation of process improvements and operational efficienciesEncourage team involvement in solving problems and reducing waste
• Use production data to identify trends and support improvement initiatives

Reporting & Systems

• Complete all required Defacto and Redzone reporting activities
• Ensure accurate recording of waste, downtime and yield information
• Provide clear shift handovers and performance updates
• Maintain compliance with all work order and process management requirements

Skills & Experience Required

• Experience leading teams within a food manufacturing environment
• Demonstrable people management and performance management experience
• Strong communication and organisational skills
• Knowledge of GMP, HACCP, Food Safety and Hygiene Standards
• Understanding of Health & Safety legislation and compliance
• Allergen awareness knowledge
• Level 2 Food Safety
• Level 2 Health & Safety qualification, including Manual Handling
• Strong leadership and motivational skills
• Effective problem solver with a logical approach
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and manage unexpected situations
• Strong planning and organisational capability
• Excellent relationship-building and team development skills