Team Manager

Premier Foods; Ashford; Hybrid; GBP 43,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

8 bank holidays

Contributory pension up to 7.5%

Life assurance

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

On-site parking

Job summary

Premier Foods in Ashford is seeking a dynamic Team Manager to lead a multidisciplinary operations team on site. You will drive performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Morale, delivering operational excellence in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

The role requires proven leadership in production, strong knowledge of food safety standards, and a track record in continuous improvement. Salary £42,700 to £47,000 per annum, with shift patterns Monday to Friday days and cover

Qualifications

• Proven people leadership experience within a manufacturing or production environment.
• Strong knowledge of food safety standards (Food Safety Level 3, HACCP Level 3; BRCGS/ISO 22000 desirable)
• Experience applying continuous improvement tools and leading change initiatives
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Strong analytical capability with an understanding of performance metrics and financial drivers
• IT proficiency, with awareness of systems such as SAP
• Commitment to ongoing professional development (relevant technical qualifications advantageous)

Responsibilities

• Drive a strong safety, quality, and food safety culture
• Lead team to hit production, quality, and waste targets
• Manage changeovers, shift handovers, and issue escalation
• Own shift performance results and KPI delivery
• Deliver clear daily priorities and actions
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities
• Ensure compliance, standards, and system accuracy
• Coach, develop, and manage team performance
• Plan resources effectively to meet demand
• Collaborate cross-functionally to drive site performance

Skills

People leadership

Communication

Analytical ability

Change management

Stakeholder management

Continuous improvement

Education

Food Safety Level 3

HACCP Level 3

Tools

SAP

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Job Title Team Manager Production (Cover)

Location Ashford, TN24 0LU

Salary £42,700 to £47,000 p.a. relevant to experience

Shifts Monday - Friday day hours & holiday and sickness cover across 3 shifts - 37.5 hours per week - Permanent

Here at Premier Foods, we are Leading the Way within the food manufacturing industry, home to some of the UK’s most iconic brands including Bisto, Paxo and Batchelors. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Team Manager to lead a multidisciplinary operations team at our Ashford site. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key leadership role, driving performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Performance, and Morale (SQDCPM).

You will be responsible for delivering operational excellence in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and high engagement. Where people and performance matter.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive a strong safety, quality, and food safety culture
• Lead team to hit production, quality, and waste targets
• Manage changeovers, shift handovers, and issue escalation
• Own shift performance results and KPI delivery
• Deliver clear daily priorities and actions
• Identifyand implement continuous improvement opportunities
• Ensure compliance, standards, and system accuracy
• Coach, develop, and manage team performance
• Plan resources effectively to meet demand
• Collaborate cross-functionally to drive site performance

About You

We are looking for a proactive leader who can inspire high performance and drive results.

You will have:

• Provenpeopleleadership experience within a manufacturing or production environment
• Strong knowledge of food safety standards (Food Safety Level 3, HACCP Level 3; BRCGS/ISO 22000 desirable)
• Experienceandevidenceofapplying continuous improvement tools and leading change initiatives
• Evidenced excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Strong analytical capability with an understanding of performance metrics and financial drivers
• ITproficiency, with awareness of systems such as SAP
• A commitment to ongoing professional development (relevant technical qualificationsadvantageous)

What Success Looks Like

Strong safety, quality, and compliance performance with risks proactively managed

Consistent delivery against production targets and operational KPIs

Effective use of SIC and structured problem-solving to drive performance improvements

Tangible reductions in waste and inefficiency

Engaged, capable, and well-supported teams delivering sustained results

Why Join Us?

• Competitive salary and shift allowances
• Opportunity to lead and shape operational performance
• A culture focused on safety, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Career development within a fast-paced manufacturing environment

Benefits and Perks

• 25day’sannual leaveand8bankholidays
• Contributory pension up to 7.5%, plus life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and occupational health support
• Company shop
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Freeon‑siteparking and strong transport links

At Premier foods we believe in inclusion,authenticityand individuality. We aim to ensure all existing and future colleagues are givenequitableopportunities and are respected, valued and encouraged to bring their true authentic selves to work no matter who they are, what they look like, who they love or what they believe in. Our culture is one where everyone is welcome.

We're proud to be a Disability Smart employer and are committed to supporting disability inclusion throughout our recruitment process. If you experience any access issues or require reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know so we can ensure you have the support you need.