Shift Manager

b3 jobs ltd; England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm is seeking a Shift Manager to oversee production shifts in the food sector. You'll be responsible for meeting Key Performance Indicators, coaching staff, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. The ideal candidate will possess food manufacturing qualifications, HACCP experience, and knowledge of lean manufacturing practices. This role offers a competitive salary of £40,341, rising to £44,375, along with 33 days annual leave. Commuting options include Ashford and surrounding areas.

Benefits

33 days annual leave

Rotating shifts

Probation period salary increase

Qualifications

• Prior leadership experience in a food manufacturing environment.
• Ability to manage production performance against targets.
• Knowledge of supply chain principles and practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead production on your shift, meeting Key Performance Indicators.
• Motivate and coach production staff for optimal performance.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, Health & Safety, and customer specifications.

Skills

Food hygiene knowledge

Health & Safety training

HACCP

Lean manufacturing techniques

SAGE software knowledge

Education

Relevant food manufacturing qualifications

Job description

Shift Manager

The company is a well‑established leader in producing premium products, including fresh and innovative offerings. Over the past decade, it has experienced significant growth, supplying key customers in the UK food retail, wholesale, and foodservice sectors.

About the Shift Manager job

Reporting to the Production Manager, you will take ownership of production on your shift, ensuring all Key Performance Indicators are consistently met. You will lead and develop your team while using your focus on improvement to drive cost savings and foster a culture of continuous improvement across the department.

Key tasks

• Continuously lead by example to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant work practices across the production environment, maintaining adherence to GMP, Health & Safety, customer specifications, and company policies.
• Manage shift planning and handovers, ensuring adequate staffing levels, coordinating with recruitment, and monitoring attendance and payroll records to support the daily production plan.
• Motivate and coach production staff to achieve consistent performance, multi‑skilling, and adaptability during breakdowns, downtime, or shortages, while conducting daily briefings, performance management, and return‑to‑work or accident follow‑ups as required.
• Oversee production performance against plan, manage variances, and coordinate with engineering and planning teams to address maintenance, raw material shortages, or other disruptions, ensuring corrective actions and continuous improvement are implemented.
• Ensure all production processes and checks—from start‑up inspections, cleaning, and quality audits to stock, label, and date coding—are completed accurately and documented, maintaining compliance with hygiene, audit, and operational standards.
• Drive continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives, encouraging staff engagement, challenging non‑conformance, enhancing productivity, and improving working procedures to deliver quality, cost efficiency, and production targets.

About You

• Relevant food manufacturing qualifications, including food hygiene as well as Health & Safety training and good knowledge of food/drinks manufacturing processes.
• Experience with HACCP, allergens, food processing systems and lean manufacturing techniques is required.
• Working knowledge of SAGE software, and an understanding of supply chain principles and practice is preferable.

More details

The Shift Manager job (ref:8986) is paying £40,341 raising to £44,375 according to your experience. The hours are on a weekly rotating shift pattern of 07:00 to 15:00 and 15:00 to 23:00, Monday to Friday. The starting salary will be £40,341 raising to £44,375 p.a. after the completion of a successful 6‑month probationary period. The annual leave entitlement is 33 days (25 days + 8 Bank Holidays). The site is based in Kent and is commutable from Ashford, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Canterbury and surrounding areas.

b3 jobs are market‑leading recruiters specialising in the food and beverage manufacturing industry, both in the UK and internationally. Founded in May 2000, we are proud of our reputation for being reliable, knowledgeable and resourceful – with our unique blend of honest and professional work ethics. If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for feel free to register with us.

Alternate job titles

• Food Production Manager
• Production Team Manager
• Head of Production
• Manufacturing Manager
• Production Supervisor
• Production Team Leader
• Production Coordinator
• Food Industry Production Jobs