Site Operations Manager

The Sterling Choice; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Job summary

The Sterling Choice is hiring a Site Operations Manager for a large food manufacturing site in the Peterborough area. You will be the number two on site, working closely with the Site Manager to drive day-to-day production and packing performance.

This role requires a visible, people-focused leader who can challenge the status quo, implement improvements and develop the team. There is a clear, long-term progression towards a Site Lead position for the right candidate.

Qualifications

• Strong operations leadership background in food manufacturing.
• Experience acting as number two on site.
• Ability to challenge, decide and implement improvements.
• People-focused leadership style with resilience.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day production and packing teams.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and introduce changes.
• Collaborate with Site Manager to drive performance and people development.
• Maintain a resilient, people-focused leadership style in a close-knit site.
• Support progression towards the Site Lead role.

Skills

Ops leadership

Food manufacturing

Second-in-command

People management

Job description

Site Operations Manager

Food Manufacturing | Peterborough area | £80,000–£90,000 + benefits

If your next move needs to put you on a credible path towards leading a site, this is worth a conversation.

You’ll join a significant food manufacturing operation as the number two on site, working closely with an experienced Site Manager. The longer-term opportunity is to develop into the Site Lead role yourself.

That progression won’t happen simply because you’ve completed a certain number of years. You’ll need to prove you can lead the operation, develop the people and think beyond today’s production plan. But if you do, the opportunity is there.

This also isn’t a role for someone who wants to sit behind a spreadsheet and send production reports.

You’ll take responsibility for the day-to‑day operation, leading the production and packing teams while bringing a fresh pair of eyes to how the site operates.

The operation is performing well. This isn’t a turnaround or a rescue mission.

What it needs is someone who can identify where things could be better, challenge established ways of working and get people behind the changes needed to move the site forward.

That last part matters.

It’s a close-knit workforce, with several long-serving employees and connections across the site. You’ll need to be resilient enough to challenge, but people-focused enough to do it without losing the team along the way.

You’ll need:

• A strong operations or production leadership background within food manufacturing
• Significant experience operating as the number two at a food manufacturing site
• The confidence to challenge, make decisions and introduce new ideas
• A practical, visible and people-focused leadership style
• The resilience to operate effectively within a close-knit manufacturing environment
• The ambition and capability to progress into a future Site Lead position

The salary is between £80,000 and £90,000, depending on experience, alongside the wider benefits package.