Senior Packaging Manager

COREcruitment Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Extended holidays

Pension scheme

Succession plan

Job summary

A leading drinks brand in North London is seeking an experienced Senior Packaging Manager to lead packaging operations in a fast‑paced FMCG environment. You will manage a team, ensure production plans are delivered safely, efficiently and to quality standards, and drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean and 5S methodologies.

The role includes opportunities to contribute to exciting NPD, capacity planning, and cross‑functional collaboration to deliver cost-effective packaging

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in a packaging or brewing managerial role.
• Essential experience of kegging and canning operations.
• Proven track record of resolving packaging production issues.
• Demonstrable experience improving line performance and optimising labour.
• Experience with leading packaging equipment and suppliers; KHS/GPI experience would be advantageous.
• Good understanding of HACCP and food safety principles.
• Strong knowledge of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience embedding root cause analysis and structured problem-solving into operational practices.
• Strong record-keeping, reporting and data-management skills.
• Good time-management and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop packaging operations to deliver production plans against quality, efficiency, cost and output targets.
• Manage, coach and develop packaging teams, with a focus on increasing technical competence and capability.
• Maintain and continuously improve health and safety standards, embedding safe working practices across the team.
• Identify technical constraints and production bottlenecks, developing practical people and technical solutions.
• Drive improvements in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), quality and output.
• Contribute to future capacity planning and capital investment projects.
• Identify skills gaps and develop training and capability plans to support flexible, cross-functional working.
• Build a culture of continuous improvement and lean working across the packaging function.
• Ensure effective scheduling and delivery of daily production activities, with appropriate KPI reporting.
• Develop Supervisors into effective shift leaders who can manage teams, drive performance and lead change.
• Work collaboratively with Compliance and other stakeholders to deliver food safety, certification and compliance requirements.
• Develop and embed lean systems and processes, including 5S, RCA and continuous improvement.
• Ensure quality requirements are understood and consistently embedded within packaging operations.
• Maintain strong records, reporting and data management to support operational decision‑making.

Skills

Packaging management

Kegging & canning

Lean manufacturing

Root cause analysis

HACCP knowledge

Data management

Team leadership

Continuous improvement

Time management

Quality focus

Tools

KHS

GPI

Job description

Senior Packaging Manager – Iconic National Beer Brand – North London

My client is a leading and well‑known Drinks brand operating at a national level, with an exceptional track record in growth across the On and Off trade. This brand is iconic, with a range of exciting NPD, new launches and trade exposure. With over 10 years in the industry, this business is one to watch.

We are looking for an experienced Packaging Manager to lead and develop packaging operations within a fast‑paced food and beverage manufacturing environment. This is a hands‑on leadership role with responsibility for the day‑to‑day delivery of packaging operations, while also driving longer‑term improvements in capability, technical performance, efficiency and ways of working.

You will lead and develop a team of packaging professionals, ensuring production plans are delivered safely, efficiently, on time and to the required quality standards. You will also play a key role in developing a culture of continuous improvement, using data and lean methodologies to improve performance, reduce waste and build capability across the team.

Company Benefits:

• Competitive package, additional bonus and package
• Private healthcare, extended holiday leave, pension scheme
• Discounted products and additional company perks. Succession and PDP plan implemented.
• Lead packaging operations to deliver production plans against quality, efficiency, cost and output targets.
• Manage, coach and develop packaging teams, with a focus on increasing technical competence and capability.
• Maintain and continuously improve health and safety standards, embedding safe working practices across the team.
• Identify technical constraints and production bottlenecks, developing practical people and technical solutions.
• Drive improvements in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), quality and output.
• Contribute to future capacity planning and capital investment projects.
• Identify skills gaps and develop training and capability plans to support flexible, cross‑functional working.
• Build a culture of continuous improvement and lean working across the packaging function.
• Ensure effective scheduling and delivery of daily production activities, with appropriate KPI reporting.
• Manage all relevant people processes, including skills matrices, holidays, absence, performance reviews and disciplinary procedures.
• Develop Supervisors into effective shift leaders who can manage teams, drive performance and lead change.
• Work collaboratively with Compliance and other stakeholders to deliver food safety, certification and compliance requirements.
• Develop and embed lean systems and processes, including 5S, root cause analysis (RCA) and continuous improvement.
• Ensure quality requirements are understood and consistently embedded within packaging operations.
• Maintain strong records, reporting and data management to support operational decision‑making.

The Ideal Senior Packaging Manager candidate:

• Extensive experience in a packaging or brewing managerial role.
• Essential experience of kegging and canning operations.
• A proven track record of resolving packaging production issues.
• Demonstrable experience improving line performance and optimising labour.
• Experience with industry‑leading packaging equipment and suppliers; KHS/GPI experience would be advantageous.
• A good understanding of HACCP and food safety principles.
• Strong knowledge of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience embedding root cause analysis and structured problem‑solving into operational practices.
• Strong record‑keeping, reporting and data‑management skills.
• Good time‑management and organisational skills.