Senior Process & Operations Manager, Food Pilot Plant

Cardiff Metropolitan University; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days annual leave + bank holidays

LGPS pension scheme

Family friendly policies

Library and digital services access

Sports facilities with subsidised gym

Health Assured wellbeing support

Job summary

Cardiff Metropolitan University is seeking a Process Operations Manager to lead the safe, compliant and efficient operation of ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre's pilot plant production, kitchen and testing facilities. You will work with cross-disciplinary teams to deliver high-quality consultancy, research and teaching activity for the food manufacturing sector in Wales and across the UK.

We value hands-on leadership, strong safety culture and a proactive approach to maintenance, capital equipment

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant science or engineering discipline, or equivalent experience, together with Level 3 Food Safety Management and HACCP or equivalent experience.
• Health & Safety qualification such as NEBOSH or IOSH, or equivalent experience, and a current UK driving licence.
• Track records of senior management experience in food manufacturing operations and/or engineering across at least three product categories and processing environments, including high-care/high‑risk operations.
• Experience of the UK retail supply chain, with strong knowledge of GMP, GHP, food safety and Health & Safety risk management.
• Practical experience of installing and commissioning safe and legal processes/equipment and establishing and managing planned preventative maintenance programmes.

Responsibilities

• Leading the safe, compliant and effective operation of production, kitchen and testing facilities, working collaboratively with NPD, Bakery and Waste Reduction teams.
• Managing Health & Safety, food safety and hygiene compliance, including risk assessments, SOPs, user documentation and routine operational checks.
• Overseeing equipment registers, asset controls, planned preventative maintenance programmes, calibration schedules and associated records.
• Coordinating capital equipment procurement, installation, commissioning, lifecycle management and continuous improvement.
• Developing inductions, specialist training and competency records for staff, students and other facility users.
• Providing operational and process expertise and support for projects, client factory trials, validation activity, research, consultancy and funded programmes.

Skills

Senior food manufacturing experience

Production operations knowledge

Health & Safety risk management

GMP/GHP knowledge

UK driving licence

Education

Degree in science or engineering

Level 3 Food Safety Management

HACCP or equivalent experience

NEBOSH or IOSH qualification

Job description

Cardiff Metropolitan University is seeking a Process Operations Manager to lead the safe, compliant and efficient operation of ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre's pilot plant production, kitchen and testing facilities. You will work with cross-disciplinary teams to deliver high-quality consultancy, research and teaching activity for the food manufacturing sector in Wales and across the UK.

We value hands-on leadership, strong safety culture and a proactive approach to maintenance, capital equipment