Production Team Leader (Nights) - Food

Found Food & Drink; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare after six months

Clear progression opportunities

Permanent night shift with no weekends

Job summary

Found Food & Drink in Maidstone is seeking a Night Shift Production Team Leader to manage production operations on-site from 6pm to 6am, Monday to Thursday. The role involves coordinating a fast-paced food manufacturing team, ensuring compliance with quality standards, and actively supporting team performance. Candidates should have strong leadership skills, experience in manufacturing, and attention to detail. This position offers private healthcare after six months and clear progression opportunities within the growing business.

Qualifications

• Experience in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, preferably food manufacturing.
• Ability to manage and motivate large teams.
• Strong understanding of GMP and production standards.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate a team in food manufacturing.
• Ensure machines run efficiently and meet quality standards.
• Lead and develop team members to improve performance.

Skills

Leadership skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Ability to work under pressure

Job description

Working Pattern: Monday to Thursday | Site-based | 6pm to 6am (No Weekends)

This growing food manufacturing business, supplying high-quality products into the UK retail market, is looking to appoint a Night Shift Production Team Leader to support its operations team.

Operating in a fast-paced environment, the site is focused on maintaining high standards across production, quality, and efficiency. This role has been created to strengthen leadership on shift, ensuring teams are aligned, processes are followed, and products are consistently delivered to the required specification.

Reporting into the Production Manager, you will play a key role in coordinating the shift, supporting team performance, and maintaining strong standards across food safety, quality, and output.

This is a hands-on leadership role where you will be actively involved on the factory floor, supporting your team, driving performance, and ensuring production runs smoothly and efficiently.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Manage and coordinate a team within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment
• Ensure machines are correctly set up, cleaned, and running efficiently
• Ensure products are produced, packed, sealed, and labelled to the correct specification and quality standards
• Implement and maintain SOPs across the production area
• Monitor team KPIs and ensure targets are met within agreed timescales
• Maintain high standards of GMP and health & safety compliance at all times
• Carry out continuous quality checks including product, seal, labelling, and coding verification
• Support Right First Time, continuous improvement, and reduction of waste and downtime
• Lead, train, and develop team members to improve performance and capability
• Support problem solving and root cause analysis alongside the Production Manager
• Set the standard on shift and act as a strong example for the team

What’s In It for You

• A permanent night shift role with consistent Monday to Thursday hours – no weekends
• The opportunity to step into a leadership role with real responsibility and visibility on site
• Private healthcare after six months of service
• Clear progression opportunities within a growing manufacturing business

Your Background

• Experience working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment (food manufacturing preferred)
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage, support, and motivate a team, previous experience managing a large team
• A proactive, hands-on approach with the ability to work under pressure
• Good attention to detail, particularly around quality and compliance
• A solid understanding of GMP and production standards
• Good communication skills and confidence working with people at all levels

Join a Business That Invests in You

This is an opportunity to play a key role in supporting production performance, strengthening standards, and developing your leadership capability within a growing food manufacturing business.

If you are a hands-on team leader who enjoys leading from the front and driving standards on the factory floor, we would love to hear from you.