We are seeking a highly organised and commercially minded Central Kitchen & Product Development Manager to lead our production facility.
This role combines production management, quality control, team leadership and new product development. You will be responsible for ensuring all products are produced efficiently, consistently and to the highest standards while helping bring new ideas from concept to launch.
Key ResponsibilitiesProduction Management
- Oversee all daily production activities within the central kitchen.
- Plan production schedules based on store demand and forecasts.
- Ensure all products are prepared, packed and delivered accurately and on time.
- Monitor stock levels and coordinate purchasing requirements.
- Drive productivity and labour efficiency across the kitchen.
Product Development
- Develop new food and beverage products aligned with the Tease brand.
- Scale recipes from test kitchen to commercial production.
- Conduct product trials, testing and quality evaluations.
- Support seasonal launches, collaborations and menu innovation.
- Maintain recipe specifications and production documentation.
Quality & Food Safety
- Maintain HACCP, food safety and hygiene standards.
- Conduct regular quality assurance checks.
- Create and update SOPs for all production processes.
- Ensure consistency across all batches and product categories.
Team Leadership
- Lead, train and develop the production team.
- Build schedules and manage labour requirements.
- Foster a culture of accountability, efficiency and continuous improvement.
- Support recruitment and onboarding as the kitchen grows.
Commercial Performance
- Manage recipe costing and margin targets.
- Monitor wastage and implement cost-saving initiatives.
- Identify process improvements and automation opportunities.
- Support operational planning for future growth.
Requirements
- Previous experience managing a production kitchen, food manufacturing facility or central kitchen operation.
- Strong understanding of food safety and quality systems.
- Experience in product development and recipe scaling.
- Excellent organisational and planning skills.
- Strong commercial awareness and understanding of food costing.
- Hands-on leadership style with the ability to work both strategically and operationally.
Success in the Role
- Consistent product quality across all locations.
- Improved production efficiency and labour productivity.
- Reduced waste and stronger margins.
- Successful development and launch of new products.
- A well-trained, accountable and high-performing production team.
Pay: £32,000.00-£35,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
