Trainee Production Manager
Progression: Structured development towards Production Manager
Reports to: Operations Manager
Join our exceptional team
Nursery Kitchen is on a mission to change children’s lives through deliciously healthy food.
We prepare fresh, nutritious meals for nurseries, helping children develop healthy tastes that can last a lifetime. Our food supports children, nursery teams and families, so quality, safety and care sit at the heart of everything we do.
We are a fast growing food production business with ambitious plans for the future. As we continue to grow, we are looking for a Trainee Production Manager to join our team and develop into a key production leadership role.
About you:
This is a development role for someone with strong leadership potential, good manufacturing or operational experience, and the right values.
You do not need to come from food manufacturing. We can provide food specific training, including HACCP Level 3, Food Safety Level 3, allergen management, internal food safety training and lean manufacturing development such as Six Sigma Green Belt.
What matters most is that you are a strong communicator, calm under pressure, practical, organised, and able to build trust with a production team.
You will report to our experienced Operations Manager and work closely with teams across production, supply chain, technical, food, logistics, facilities and finance.
What we offer:
- A supportive and passionate team of dynamic food professionals where innovation and improvement area celebrated and rewarded.
- A meaningful, fulfilling role within a values-driven, fast growing fresh food business.
- The opportunity to make a real impact on children’s health and wellbeing across the country.
Perks of the role:
Competitive salary with structured progression and training
- 33 days annual leave
- Free hot drinks, breakfast, lunch, and snacks
- Ongoing training and development opportunities
- Discounted and tax-free nursery places for employees’ children
- A friendly, flexible team with social events throughout the year
- Wellbeing resources and support including discounted gym memberships, cycle to work and eyecare vouchers
- Free life coaching through Dream Academy
- Free parking
What we’re looking for:
This role would suit someone who has already led people in a manufacturing, production, logistics, engineering, packaging, fulfilment, warehouse operations or similar environment, and is now ready to develop into a broader production management role.
You may already be working as a Production Supervisor, Shift Leader, Team Leader, Operations Supervisor, Manufacturing Supervisor or similar.
We are looking for someone who is:
- A clear and confident communicator
- Positive, calm and practical
- Fair, approachable and consistent
- Comfortable leading people on a busy production floor
- Able to follow process and improve process
- Interested in continuous improvement
- Organised and able to manage changing priorities
- Motivated by quality, service and team success
- Keen to learn food manufacturing standards
- Excited by the opportunity to grow with a purpose led business
Training and development:
We will support the right person with structured training, including:
- HACCP Level 3
- Food Safety Level 3
- Allergen management
- Food manufacturing process control
- Lean manufacturing
- Six Sigma Green Belt
- Production planning and performance management
- Continuous improvement
- Internal systems, standards and processes
- People leadership and management
About the role:
The Trainee Production Manager will be responsible for managing daily production while also designing, implementing and embedding core systems that drive operational performance. A key part of this role will be leading the development of a robust Master Production Schedule (MPS) process, including the design and facilitation of structured planning meetings, to ensure alignment between production capacity, customer demand and ingredient availability.
What you will be doing
- Supporting the day to day leadership of the production team across prep, cook and packing
- Helping deliver the production plan safely, efficiently and to the required quality standard
- Building strong working relationships with team members and other departments
- Supporting training, communication and accountability on the production floor
- Helping improve workflow, productivity, labour efficiency, waste and quality
- Learning food safety, HACCP, hygiene, traceability and audit ready production controls
- Supporting the development of simple, scalable production systems
- Using production data and KPIs to identify practical improvements
- Supporting continuous improvement projects across the site
- Growing towards full Production Manager responsibility
Experience that would be useful
- Experience leading people in a manufacturing, production or operational environment
- A practical understanding of production flow, planning, quality and efficiency
- Experience working with KPIs or performance targets
- Confidence using Excel or production systems
- Experience in food manufacturing, FMCG or chilled production would be helpful, but is not essential
Other Information
This job description is not exhaustive, and the post holder is required to undertake any other reasonable duties as directed by the Operations Manager.
We actively promote equal opportunities and are committed to equality and diversity for all our children and team. Applicants will be considered on merit only, irrespective of race, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, or belief.
A copy of the Company’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and Disclosure Information policy is available on request.
Hours 10:00 - 18:30
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted or free food
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
Language:
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
