Factory Manager – Kitchen Range Business Unit
?? Huntington / Peterborough ¦ ?? Operations ¦ ?? Full-Time
Lead Performance. Drive Profit. Deliver Excellence.
We have an exciting opportunity for a highly experienced Factory Manager to join our Kitchen Range Business Unit based in Huntington/Peterborough.
Reporting to the Site Director, you will take full responsibility for leading factory operations, delivering against profit, performance, and customer expectations. This is a senior leadership role where you will drive operational excellence, lead high-performing teams, and ensure the factory consistently achieves its strategic goals.
As part of the Pilgrim’s Europe way of working, this is a site-based leadership role, requiring visible, hands-on engagement with teams and stakeholders across the factory.
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Own factory budget, cost control, and variance management
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Deliver profit improvement plans (PIP) and strategic cost-saving initiatives
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Manage capital expenditure and drive operational efficiencies
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Lead all factory operations to deliver output, yield, quality, and service targets
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Ensure effective planning for peak and off-peak production periods
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Maintain strong customer service levels—internal and external
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Work closely with Engineering to maximise plant uptime and reliability
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Champion a strong Health & Safety culture, ensuring full compliance and continuous improvement
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Drive safety performance across the factory, embedding accountability at all levels
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Ensure the site is fully compliant with audit, legal, and internal standards
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Deliver against all technical KPIs, ensuring product quality and food safety standards are met
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Build strong relationships with key customers and support business development
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Lead and participate in customer and internal audits
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Lead and develop a team of Production Managers and operational leaders
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Build a high-performance, engaged culture across the factory
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Drive capability through coaching, training, and succession planning
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Partner with HR to ensure effective workforce and talent strategies
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Embed a structured Operational Excellence (OPEX) approach across the factory
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Drive lean initiatives and continuous improvement programmes
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Deliver improvement plans to enhance performance and efficiency
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Lead initiatives to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact
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Ensure compliance with environmental standards and internal policies
What We’re Looking For
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Senior leadership experience within FMCG manufacturing
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Proven track record of delivering operational and financial performance
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Strong people leadership and team development experience
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Experience driving continuous improvement and change
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Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
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Strong commercial acumen and problem-solving ability
Desirable:
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HACCP and/or IOSH qualifications
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Degree-level education or equivalent
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Experience in high-risk manufacturing environments
What Success Looks Like
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Achievement of factory financial targets and profit improvement plans
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Strong performance across safety, quality, and audits
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Improved production efficiency and customer service levels
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Engaged and high-performing workforce
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Sustainable improvements driven through continuous improvement
At Pilgrim’s Europe, we offer more than just a role—we offer the opportunity to lead within a global, high-performing business:
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Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
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Career progression across a leading international organisation
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Ongoing leadership development and training
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Performance-driven culture that recognises and rewards success
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Collaborative, supportive senior leadership environment
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Employee wellbeing initiatives and support programmes
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Access to employee benefits platform and discount schemes
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Strong commitment to sustainability and responsible operations
Our values shape everything we do:
Availability ¦ Humility ¦ Discipline ¦ Sincerity ¦ Ownership ¦ Determination ¦ Simplicity
If you’re a results-driven manufacturing leader ready to take ownership of a complex operation and drive real impact, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply now and take the next step in your career with Pilgrim’s Europe
Pilgrim’s Europe produces some of the best-known and most iconic brands in the UK and Ireland, including Fridge Raiders, Rollover, Denny, Richmond, Oakhouse and Moy Park, alongside a diverse range of industry leading own-label products in categories including fresh pork, lamb and chicken, working with all the major retailers and food service outlets.
Our portfolio extends to authentic chilled and frozen ready meals, snacking ranges, added value and food service products.
Across Pilgrim’s Europe we combine 20,000 of the best people in the industry, united by a shared set of core values and a passion for producing the highest quality, most delicious and innovative food, which is enjoyed by millions of people in the UK, Ireland and Europe every day. Our Pilgrim’s Europe team are based in our Pilgrim’s UK, Moy Park, Pilgrim’s Food Masters and Pilgrim’s Shared Services businesses.
