Factory Manager

The Compleat Food Group; Crewe (VA); On-site; USD 66,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary sacrifice schemes

33 days’ annual leave

Access to enhanced retail discounts

Free product handouts across sites

EV charging points

GroceryAid access 24/7

Physical Wellbeing Hub

Online wellbeing support

Personal LMS learning platform

Mentoring program

Club Compleat rewards

Job summary

The Compleat Food Group seeks a seasoned Factory Manager to lead Crewe's manufacturing operations, driving performance, safety, quality and cost targets while delivering the site strategy. You will manage large teams and ensure production plans meet customer expectations.

You will lead continuous improvement, partner with NPD on new products, manage budgets and ensure compliance with BRC and food safety standards across the site.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading large manufacturing or production teams.
• Strong track record of delivering continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Experience working within a KPI-driven environment with accountability for performance.
• Sound knowledge of food safety, quality and BRC standards.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing costs, labour management and operational budgets.
• Experience managing change and implementing new ways of working.
• Excellent leadership, coaching and people development skills.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret operational data and drive improvements.
• Good understanding of Health & Safety legislation and risk management.
• Previous food manufacturing experience, ideally within chilled food, bakery, ready meals or FMCG environments.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing Shift Managers, Supervisors, Line Leaders and wider operational teams.
• Delivering production plans on time, to specification, and at the required cost.
• Managing operational performance through KPIs including OEE, labour efficiency, waste, quality and service.
• Driving a culture of continuous improvement through coaching, training and operational excellence initiatives.
• Implementing new systems, processes and ways of working to improve efficiency and performance.
• Working closely with NPD to successfully launch new products and support business growth.
• Managing departmental budgets and delivering strong financial performance.
• Ensuring operational compliance with BRC, food safety, quality and health & safety standards.
• Supporting capital investment projects and identifying opportunities to improve equipment and manufacturing capability.
• Building a high-performing culture focused on accountability, engagement and development.

Skills

Leadership

Continuous improvement

KPI management

Food safety knowledge

Budget management

People development

Job description

Crewe (Savoury, Confectionery & Ready Meals) £50,000 – £58,000 + Benefits

The Compleat Food Group

Lead Operations. Drive Performance. Develop People.

is one of the UK's leading chilled food manufacturers, producing high-quality products for some of the nation's best-known retailers.

We are looking for an ambitious and driven Factory Manager to join our Crewe site. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced manufacturing leader to take ownership of factory operations, drive performance improvements, and play a key role in delivering site strategy.

Reporting to the Site Director, you will be responsible for leading large operational teams, delivering production targets, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, cost and service.

What You'll Be Doing

As Factory Manager, you'll be responsible for the day-to-day leadership of factory operations, ensuring production is delivered safely, efficiently and in line with customer expectations.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and developing Shift Managers, Supervisors, Line Leaders and wider operational teams.
• Delivering production plans on time, to specification, and at the required cost.
• Managing operational performance through KPIs including OEE, labour efficiency, waste, quality and service.
• Driving a culture of continuous improvement through coaching, training and operational excellence initiatives.
• Implementing new systems, processes and ways of working to improve efficiency and performance.
• Working closely with NPD to successfully launch new products and support business growth.
• Managing departmental budgets and delivering strong financial performance.
• Ensuring operational compliance with BRC, food safety, quality and health & safety standards.
• Supporting capital investment projects and identifying opportunities to improve equipment and manufacturing capability.
• Building a high-performing culture focused on accountability, engagement and development.

What We’re Looking For

We're seeking a strong operational leader who can inspire teams, improve performance and deliver results in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.

You'll ideally have:

• Proven experience leading large manufacturing or production teams.
• A strong track record of delivering continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Experience working within a KPI-driven environment with accountability for performance.
• Sound knowledge of food safety, quality and BRC standards.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing costs, labour management and operational budgets.
• Experience managing change and implementing new ways of working.
• Excellent leadership, coaching and people development skills.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret operational data and drive improvements.
• Good understanding of Health & Safety legislation and risk management.
• Previous food manufacturing experience, ideally within chilled food, bakery, ready meals or FMCG environments.

AtThe Compleat Food Group, we believe our people are the heart of our success. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your lifestyle, wellbeing, and career growth:

• Salary Sacrifice Schemes– including Electric Vehicles, Home & Tech, Cycle to Work, and SMART Pension
• 33 days’ annual leave(including bank holidays) with the option to purchase extra
• Access toenhanced retail discountsonline and in-store
• Free product handoutsacross our sites, so you can sample and enjoy our delicious products first hand
• EV charging points– available at selected sites
• 24/7 access toGroceryAidfor free financial, emotional, and practical support
• Physical Wellbeing Hub– free on-demand exercise programmes, online classes and multiple gym discounts
• Free diet & nutrition advicewith access to thousands of meal plans and healthy recipes
• Online wellbeing support– from mindfulness to lifestyle resources
• Financial wellbeing tools– including mortgage calculators, budgeting tools, and financial aid
• Access to apersonalised online learning platform (LMS)
• Formal and informal trainingopportunities tailored to your role
• Performance Development Plansand regularCareer Conversations
• Industry leading company Mentoring Schemeto add depth and really support your career journey
• Recognition throughClub Compleatrewards portal

Community & Culture

• 2 paid volunteering daysper year to give back to causes that matter to you
• Charity initiativesand fundraising events
• Team socialsto connect and celebrate together
• Employee networks & support groups – including Women @ Compleat
• New baby giftfor new parents

What You Should Know About How We Recruit

At The Compleat Food Group, we believe great teams are built on difference. We create an inclusive, respectful environment where everyone feels safe, supported, and are able to be themselves at work. We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and are committed to Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect. If you need a reasonable adjustment at any stage of our recruitment process, just let us know, we’ll support you — confidentially and with care. We hire the best people for our roles, not the same people. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, we focus on what you do and the impact you could make in our business. Our recruitment process is fair, accessible, and designed to give everyone an equal chance. You’ll also find benefits that support people at every life stage, plus active internal networks — including Women @ Compleat, LGBTQIA+, and Neurodiversity

Recruitment Agencies:

We have a small, active and trusted Preferred Supplier List to assist us if required. We do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions. We only accept CV submissions for roles released to you directly by our Talent Acquisition team.

By submitting your CV and personal information, you consent to The Compleat Food Group processing your personal data for the purposes of assessing your application for employment. Your data will be processed in accordance with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

We will use your personal data solely for recruitment and selection purposes, and it will be securely stored and accessible only to authorized HR and hiring personnel. If your application is unsuccessful, we will retain your details for up to 24 months unless you request earlier deletion.

You have the right to:

• Access, correct, or request deletion of your personal data
• Withdraw your consent at any time
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you believe your data has been mishandled

For more information on how we handle your data, please refer to our Privacy Policy .