LINE LEADER
Packing Department, Production
About the Role
We're looking for a Line Leader to manage and control our Packing team at Stonehouse. Reporting to the Section Leader, you'll take ownership of a specific team and area, making sure products are manufactured to the correct safety, legality, integrity and quality standards, while supporting your team's training, development and day-to-day performance. This role offers genuine work-life balance: a 4-day working week, guaranteed 48 hours, and no weekend shifts.
Main Purpose
Reporting to the Section Leader, the Line Leader will be responsible for the management and control of the packing team and area under their control, including:
Ensuring that products are manufactured to the correct safety, legality, integrity and quality standards.
Identifying and supporting the team's training and development needs.
Ensuring efficient production that achieves agreed KPI's.
Efficiently operating and maintaining production/packing machinery to manufacture quality products.
Carrying out routine and general line operator maintenance, and supporting the Engineering team during planned and unplanned maintenance.
Ensuring production processes function at their optimum level through the proper allocation of skills during shift periods, minimising disruption, delays and waste, while adhering to required quality standards at all times.
This role is also responsible and accountable for the delivery of Safety, Quality and Production targets for the packing team, achieved through coordination of materials, the production plan and changeovers, to maximise production targets through effective, informed decision-making.
Main Duties and Key Responsibilities
Responsible for the effective operation and basic maintenance of packing line machinery.
Communicate daily with the engineering team to highlight any potential engineering issues.
Safeguard food safety and product quality.
Work to defined procedures.
Demonstrate effective teamwork.
Maintain work area standards.
Encourage best practice by example, working towards the achievement of the team's overall objectives and standards.
Oversee the effective and efficient use of all machinery, ensuring optimum line performance and continuous improvement to plant and business processes.
Ensure the factory is clean and tidy in accordance with hygiene and cleanliness rules.
Ensure safety and hygiene on site is monitored and maintained to a high standard.
Assist in compliance with all relevant internal and external standards: GMP, ISO, HACCP, Allergen Controls, Environmental checks, Food Safety Audits, QMS and Health & Safety.
Advise and work with the rest of the management team on issues requiring attention, to ensure compliance with business needs and the production of safe, legal products at the required quality within budgeted targets.
Develop and implement training plans with the Training Coordinator to improve employees' skills and provide flexibility to cover all roles across shifts (Section Leader cover).
Support production staff to be adequately trained in a timely manner, with records kept as specified in the training plan.
Organise holiday and sickness cover efficiently and cost-effectively (Section Leader cover).
Plan for staff succession in key roles to ensure continuity of knowledge and experience within the department.
Record and monitor staff absenteeism and sickness levels, and carry out disciplinary procedures where necessary (Section Leader cover).
Record and monitor plant efficiency, and analyse plant breakdowns, delays and stoppages.
Plan production gaps to allow engineering maintenance with least disruption to the department (Section Leader cover).
Escalate any serious issues on site to the Senior Management Team.
Monitor wastage levels within production (floor waste, energy, chemicals, ingredients, time and people) and ensure agreed KPI's are met or exceeded.
Key Performance Indicators (KPI's)
Performance, processes and productivity.
Adherence to the appropriate Food Safety and Health & Safety standards.
Activity delivering the site production plan in compliance with the QA system, including quality checks, standards and critical control checks.
Conducting GMP audits of own area and working with the QA department to maintain GMP standards.
Assisting in non-conformance investigations as required.
Basic engineering maintenance and line changeovers of production machinery.
Making effective, informed decisions to maintain Safety and Quality standards and reach Productivity targets.
Coordinating line activities (machine and line changeovers, hygiene) and material flow to ensure effective utilisation and minimum downtime.
Understanding Line efficiency targets and performance (OEE) and cascading these to the team.
What We're Looking For
Previous supervisory or team leader experience in a production/manufacturing environment.
Food manufacturing experience is desirable, but not essential - full training provided.
A strong understanding of food safety, hygiene and quality standards (GMP, HACCP, allergen controls).
Confident, hands-on leadership style with good communication skills.
Ability to make effective, informed decisions under pressure.
Willingness to work flexibly across a 4-day shift pattern.
What We Offer
A guaranteed 4-day week with no weekend work - genuine work-life balance.
Competitive, guaranteed basic salary of £36,000.
Full training and development, with opportunities to progress within Production.
A supportive team environment at a well-established food manufacturing site.
On-site parking and staff facilities.
