Shift Manager - Food Manufacturing

Manpower; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Shift Manager for a busy food manufacturing facility in Oxfordshire. The ideal candidate will oversee daily operations, ensuring compliance with food safety standards and driving production performance. Responsibilities include supervising production activities, coaching team members, and monitoring performance metrics. Competitive salary and benefits, including training and progression opportunities, are offered. Flexibility to work different shifts is essential, and ownership of transport is crucial due to location.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus birthday off

Clear progression pathways

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven supervisory experience in food manufacturing or fast-paced production.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP and GMP.
• Excellent communication and leadership capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Supervise production activities and ensure compliance with standards.
• Lead and coach teams on shift.
• Monitor performance metrics and troubleshoot operational issues.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Knowledge of food safety regulations

Leadership and communication skills

Decision-making under pressure

Proficiency with production systems

Flexibility to work different shifts

Tools

Excel

ERP/MES systems

Job description

Shift Manager - Food Manufacturing

Manpower is recruiting an experienced Shift Manager to oversee daily operations within a busy food manufacturing facility. This is a fantastic opportunity for a motivated leader to drive production performance, ensure compliance with food safety standards, and support a high-performing team located Oxfordshire. Hours of work will be 6.30am - 2.30pm or 10.30pm.

The Role

As Shift Manager, you'll take responsibility for production activities across assigned shifts. You'll lead teams to deliver safe, efficient, and high-quality output, while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements and driving continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate all production activities during your shift
• Ensure compliance with GMP, HACCP, food safety, and quality standards
• Monitor performance metrics (output, downtime, waste, labour efficiency)
• Lead, coach, and develop team members to build a high-performance culture
• Uphold health & safety standards, investigating incidents promptly
• Conduct shift handovers and maintain accurate production records
• Troubleshoot operational issues and escalate where necessary
• Collaborate with maintenance, quality, warehouse, and other departments
• Manage labour deployment, attendance, and resolve shift-level issues
• Support audits, inspections, and training sessions
• Lead, coach and oversee 15 - 20 operatives per day

About You

• Proven supervisory or shift lead experience in food manufacturing or similar fast‑paced production
• Strong knowledge of food safety and quality regulations (HACCP, GMP)
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Confidence making decisions under pressure and managing multiple priorities
• Proficiency with production systems and basic IT (Excel, ERP / MES a plus)
• Flexibility to work different shifts, including weekends and holidays
• Own transport is essential due to the location of the factory

Why Apply?

• Competitive salary and benefits package including 25 days holiday + your birthday off
• Opportunity to shape operations in a growing food manufacturing environment
• Clear progression pathways and professional development opportunities
• Join a supportive team culture with a focus on safety, quality, and performance