Senior Operations Manager

PepsiCo Deutschland GmbH; Skelmersdale; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus

Critical illness cover

Discounted gym memberships

Enhanced parental leave

Electric car schemes

Job summary

PepsiCo UK is seeking a seasoned Operations Lead to drive delivery of all operations at the Skelmersdale site. You will oversee QCDM across five lines and warehousing, developing a pipeline of talent and ensuring a safe, compliant, and high-performing environment.

You will set direction, manage performance, and collaborate with CI to embed core PepsiCo processes while sustaining a culture aligned with The PepsiCo Way across the hub and broader UK Operations network.

Qualifications

• Significant operational manufacturing experience & knowledge.
• Strong people leadership with accountability and coaching.
• Excellent communication across all levels of the organisation.
• Balance short-term supply needs with long-term strategic thinking.
• End-to-end understanding of Supply Chain operations.
• Financial awareness: AOP, forecasting and cost details.
• Lean Six Sigma experience; Green Belt preferred.
• Understanding of Integrated Work System (IWS).
• Proven project management and change-track record.
• Influencing skills across operations peers and seniors.

Responsibilities

• Set direction, culture and standards for people and performance at the Skelmersdale site.
• Deliver Skelmersdale AOP and productivity commitments through management of operations.
• Ensure exceptional customer service and flawless change execution for Skelmersdale.
• Maintain product quality and food safety standards via equipment and teams.
• Promote The PepsiCo Way and evolve site culture.
• Manage direct reports, including PDR, training needs and performance.
• Collaborate with CI and Mfg Excellence on core processes (IPS, Spark, Lean).
• Own health, safety and welfare for 500+ employees and improve safety metrics.
• Collaborate with other sites and support the UK Operations strategy.

Skills

Operational leadership

People leadership

Communication

Supply chain

Financial acumen

Lean Six Sigma

Project management

Influencing skills

Job description

Overview

At PepsiCo UK, we’re proud to make some of the nation’s favourite snacks and drinks—like Walkers, Quaker, Doritos, Pipers, and Monster Munch. With sites across the UK, including our Quaker mill in Cupar and Doritos factory in Coventry, we’re also home to one of the world’s largest crisp factories in Leicester.

About the role

To provide leadership and delivery of Operations at the Skelmersdale site. Responsible for delivery of the balanced scorecard across Quality, Cost, Delivery & Morale (QCDM) across the 5 production lines (Potato Crisp, Baked, Extruded and 2* SAJ lines) and Warehousing, meeting AOP targets and driving continuous improvement year on year. Active development of direct reports ensuring that a pipeline for talent is identified and their growth facilitated.

Responsibilities

• Set the direction, the culture and the standards for people and performance at the Skelmersdale site and ensure we meet those commitments by holding individuals accountable for the delivery of their responsibilities.
• Development and Delivery of Skelmersdale AOP (including Productivity commitments) through daily/weekly/period management of all aspects of Operations performance.
• Deliver customer service: daily compliance with Supply Planning requirements (through management of shift-based teams), and flawless execution of all product-related change (NPD, trials, promotions, etc) for Skelmersdale.
• Deliver product quality standards and food safety/hygiene standards through operation/maintenance of production equipment, and management of shift-based teams to defined daily AIB and BRC audit standards.
• Ensuring that Skelmersdale culture continues to evolve and that embracing ‘The PepsiCo Way’ is promoted and upheld.
• Manage all aspects of performance of direct reports. This includes: PDR, ACE, Training needs analysis, performance management, motivation and resource planning.
• Work with the Mfg Excellence Mgr and CI team on the delivery of PepsiCo core operating processes such as IPS, Spark, Lean Six Sigma, CI etc.
• Personal (and legal) ownership for the health, safety and welfare of >500 employees, and improvement of safety results to define and comply with internal procedures/policies.
• Ensure that all commercial change is executed in line with agreed plans.
• Manage operational relationship with agency supplier for temporary labour.
• Assist in the development and implementation of capital investments on lines to support the efficient control of the site's capital plan.
• A key member of the hub leadership team for Skelmersdale and Cupar (apart from the ops roles the rest of the LT are dual site) – influencing the broader site agenda and ensuring consistency of approach / best practice development across the Ops agenda
• Play a collaboration role outside of the Skelmersdale facility as part of the broader Operations Manager network and supporting the UK Operations strategy.

Qualifications

• Significant operational manufacturing experience & knowledge (products, processes, maintenance).
• Very capable people leader:- standard setting, holding people accountable, influencing, motivating and coaching skills. Located remotely from line-manager so senior site based manager.
• High ability to communicate and be credible at all levels in the organisation (shop floor to senior executives).
• Ability to balance short term need to supply business with long-term strategic thought.
• Broad understanding of end to end Supply Chain Operation.
• Understanding of financial processes and systems (AOP, forecasting, cost of goods detail).
• Analytical skills, including LSS capability (preferably Green Belt) and the ability to make short and long term recommendations on the basis of available data.
• Excellent understanding of an Integrated Work System and, ideally, experienced in the implementation and development of the IWS
• A proven track record of project management and affecting change.
• Influencing skills across Operations peers and seniors

Why Join Us?

We offer a competitive salary, bonus, and a wide range of benefits—from critical illness cover and discounted gym memberships to enhanced parental leave and electric car schemes. Our commitment to wellbeing and career growth makes us a Top Employer for 14 years running.

We celebrate individuality and are committed to building an inclusive workplace. Our Employee Resource Groups help embed inclusion into our culture, ensuring everyone feels valued and heard.

Equal Opportunities

We’re an equal opportunity employer, committed to the Equality Act 2010. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and will provide any necessary adjustments to support you through the recruitment process.