Supply Chain & Operations Manager

Culina; Rickmansworth; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food innovation company in Rickmansworth seeks a Supply Chain & Operations Manager to oversee production operations and ensure efficiency and quality. The ideal candidate will have experience in supply chain or operations within food or FMCG environments, strong forecasting and planning skills, and a hands-on approach to problem-solving. This role requires a leader who can develop teams and maintain high standards of food safety and compliance, driving the mission of delivering a superior product without compromise.

Qualifications

• Experience in supply chain, planning, or operations in food or FMCG.
• Strong forecasting, scheduling, and planning abilities.
• Proven leadership skills to develop teams.
• Understanding of food safety, hygiene, and compliance.
• Calm decision-making with hands-on approach.

Responsibilities

• Build accurate forecasts aligned with sales demand.
• Oversee factory performance and production operations.
• Drive improvements in efficiency and waste reduction.
• Maintain high hygiene and food safety standards.

Skills

Strong forecasting

Scheduling

Planning skills

Team leadership

Problem-solving

Job description

They have created the world's first wrapper-free, oat-based energy bar: no plastic, no waste, just real ingredients protected by an innovative natural coating. Cleaner, smarter, high-performance nutrition that's better for people and the planet. That mission demands a supply chain and operation that runs with precision, pace, and purpose. That's where you come in. As Supply Chain & Operations Manager, you'll sit at the heart of the business. Forecasting demand, building production plans, managing material flow, and ensuring the factory delivers exactly what's needed, when it's needed, without compromise. If the plan works, the operation works. And if the operation works, the mission moves forward. This is the role for someone who loves creating structure in fast-moving environments, thrives on fixing problems before they occur, and takes pride in planning and delivering operational excellence.

Forecasting & Planning

• Build accurate forecasts aligned with sales and customer demand
• Convert forecasts into realistic production schedules across daily, weekly, and long-term horizons
• Balance labour, capacity, raw materials, and changeovers to optimise throughput
• Ensure material availability through smart inventory management and supplier coordination

Own the Production Operation

• Oversee day-to-day factory performance across shifts
• Lead and develop production teams with clear goals, standards, and accountability
• Ensure production plans are executed OTIF, safely, and at the right quality
• Strengthen communication between planning, production, technical, and commercial teams

Performance, Efficiency & Continuous Improvement

• Drive improvements in efficiency, labour utilisation, yield, and waste
• Identify bottlenecks before they become problems
• Keep production rhythm predictable, stable, and resilient
• Maintain tight control of KPIs across planning and operations

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Maintain high hygiene, food safety, and audit standards
• Embed safe systems of work across all areas
• Protect the integrity of a product built on innovation and trust

Hands-On Problem Solving

• Step in when needed to unblock issues and keep schedules on track
• Work side-by-side with teams to keep the operation moving smoothly

Qualifications

• Experience in supply chain, planning, or operations in food, FMCG, or another fast-moving environment
• Strong forecasting, scheduling, and planning skills
• A proven ability to lead and develop teams
• A solid understanding of food safety, hygiene, and compliance
• Calm, structured decision-making with a hands-on mindset
• A problem-solver who thrives in pace and enjoys building the systems that keep things flowing