Job Overview
We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Operational Lead to oversee daily operations within our organisation. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing teams, ensuring operational efficiency, and maintaining high standards of quality and safety. This role offers an excellent opportunity for individuals with management experience to contribute to the growth and success of our company. The Operational Lead will play a pivotal role in coordinating activities across departments, implementing strategic initiatives, and fostering a positive work environment.
You will lead and coordinate production activities across Cook Room and Packing, ensuring operational efficiency, compliance, and team engagement. The role includes people administration, training compliance, and continuous improvement responsibilities to support a high-performing, empowered workforce.
Duties
Health & Safety
· Actively promote and further develop a Health & Safety culture through employee engagement and communication and strict adherence to site processes and systems.
· Build engagement within teams to drive effective hazard reporting.
· Address hazard findings promptly, determine root causes, and implement corrective actions.
· Ensure strict adherence to site safety processes and systems.
Operational Management
· Ensure that all production staff maintain high standards of hygiene and housekeeping, adopting a clean-as-you-go philosophy.
· Monitor production KPIs such as yield, downtime, efficiency, and waste, taking corrective actions when targets are not met.
· Support production planning by adjusting schedules and resources in response to operational challenges.
· Lead and coordinate the activities of team members during assigned shifts.
· Manage daily production activities, ensuring that output meets planned volumes and quality standards.
· Liaise with engineering teams to enhance equipment reliability, ensure timely resolution of breakdowns, and proactively minimise production downtime.
Team Leadership and Development
· Manage staffing issues including scheduling, absence management, and performance feedback.
· Support recruitment activities, including participation in interviews and candidate selection in collaboration with HR.
· Manage formal HR processes, such as disciplinaries, grievances, and return-to-work interviews in line with company policy.
· Provide strong leadership by setting clear expectations, offering consistent support, and driving accountability to achieve operational goals.
· Conduct end-of-shift handovers to ensure continuity across shifts by clearly communicating key updates and operational information.
· Conduct performance reviews and feedback sessions, identifying training needs and development opportunities.
· Complete onboarding for new staff, including documentation, inductions, compliance checks, and probation reviews.
· Maintain accurate training records and ensure compliance with operational requirements.
· Own holiday tracking and planning for the team.
Continuous Improvement
· Actively participate in operational meetings, providing insights and feedback to support continuous improvement initiatives.
· Encourage employee involvement in improvement initiatives, recognising contributions and fostering a culture of innovation.
· Track and report improvement outcomes, ensuring changes are sustainable and deliver measurable benefits.
Sustainability & Waste Reduction
· Support company sustainability goals by reducing energy usage, waste, and water consumption.
· Encourage recycling and responsible disposal of materials.
· Participate in environmental audits and initiatives.
Quality Assurance Support
· Work closely with the Quality team to ensure that quality checks are performed consistently.
· Ensure products are produced in line with food safety and site specifications and that issues from audits and checks are closed out promptly.
· Support investigations into customer complaints or non-conformances.
· Ensure traceability and documentation are maintained throughout the shift.
Communication and Collaboration
· Act as the key point of contact during the shift, ensuring effective communication across departments.
· Participate in daily and monthly operational meetings, contributing insights and solutions.
· Work closely with cross-functional teams including Quality, Engineering, HR, and Planning to resolve issues and align goals.
· Maintain accurate shift records and ensure timely reporting to senior management.
**Additional duties as and when required as per the needs of the business**
Qualifications/Requirements
- Proven management experience within a similar operational or supervisory role.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise tasks effectively.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Ability to lead, motivate, and develop teams in a fast-paced environment.
- Ideally L3 Food Safety training or equivalent (if not already gained, must be willing to complete)
- Knowledge on operational Policies; Food Safety, Glass Policy, Wood control, Metal control, Allergen Control, Hygiene Policy, Smoking Policy.
- HACCP L2 or equivalent (if not already gained, must be willing to complete)
- Sound understanding of health and safety regulations relevant to the industry.
- Analytical mindset with problem-solving capabilities.
- Ideally L3 Food Safety training or equivalent (if not already gained, must be willing to complete)
Pay: £37,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Bereavement leave
- Company pension
- Enhanced maternity leave
- Enhanced paternity leave
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid volunteer time
- Referral programme
- Sick pay
Experience:
- Manufacturing: 2 years (required)
- Management: 2 years (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
