Production Team Leader
Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time
About the Role
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Production Team Leader to join a fast-paced food manufacturing operation. Reporting to the Production Manager, you will be responsible for leading a team of production operatives, ensuring production targets are achieved while maintaining the highest standards of quality, food safety, hygiene, and operational efficiency.
This is a hands-on leadership role requiring excellent organisational skills, strong people management abilities, and the flexibility to work within a dynamic manufacturing environment where production requirements can change at short notice.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, organise and motivate a team of production operatives to maximise productivity and efficiency.
- Allocate labour and resources effectively to meet daily production schedules.
- Ensure all products are manufactured and packed in line with customer specifications and company quality standards.
- Promote and maintain high standards of food safety, hygiene, health and safety, and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).
- Monitor production performance and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce downtime and minimise waste.
- Accurately complete production records, quality documentation and operational reports.
- Carry out routine production checks and ensure equipment verification procedures are completed in accordance with company procedures.
- Report equipment faults, quality concerns and production issues promptly to the relevant departments.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities to improve processes and team performance.
- Deliver training and coaching to new and existing employees while identifying ongoing development needs.
- Foster a positive team culture through effective communication, leadership and performance management.
- Lead by example and maintain high standards of professionalism across the production department.
- Provide supervisory cover during periods of management absence when required.
Skills & ExperienceEssential
- Previous experience in a Team Leader, Production Supervisor or Shift Supervisor position within a manufacturing or food production environment.
- Strong leadership and people management skills.
- Excellent communication and organisational abilities.
- Good numerical and computer literacy.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure while meeting production deadlines.
- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
- Flexible approach to working hours to support operational requirements.
Desirable
- Experience within FMCG or food manufacturing.
- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement methodologies.
- HACCP awareness or food safety experience.
- Experience working with production KPIs and performance monitoring.
QualificationsEssential
- GCSEs, NVQ, Diploma or equivalent qualification.
- Basic Food Hygiene Certificate or willingness to obtain.
Desirable
- HACCP Qualification.
- Advanced Food Hygiene Certificate.
- Higher education qualification in Manufacturing, Food Science or Engineering.
Working Hours
- Full-time, 40-hour contract.
- Rotating shift pattern covering five days per week.
- Weekend working will form part of the rota.
- Flexibility is required to support seasonal demand, production peaks and business requirements.
Benefits
- Competitive salary.
- Enhanced overtime opportunities.
- Company pension scheme.
- Generous annual leave entitlement.
- Ongoing training and career development.
- Free on-site parking.
- Employee wellbeing initiatives.
- Uniform provided.
- Long-term career progression opportunities.
About the Company
This well-established food manufacturing business supplies high-quality products to major retailers and commercial customers across the UK. With a strong focus on operational excellence, food safety and continuous improvement, the company offers a supportive working environment with genuine opportunities for career progression for ambitious production professionals.
Pay: £30,000.00-£35,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Canteen
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
