About Ember
Ember is a fast-growing food brand experiencing strong year-on-year growth and expanding product ranges. Our packaging facility near Colchester is a key part of the business, responsible for packing finished products ready for distribution.
The site is a small but critical operation with a team of four packing operatives. As the business scales and product complexity increases, we are looking for a Site Leader to take ownership of the site and drive operational excellence.
This is a highly autonomous role. While the business headquarters are based in London, the Colchester facility operates as a remote site. We are looking for someone who thrives in that environment and enjoys taking full responsibility for leading a small team and running a production operation.
The Role
The Site Leader will be responsible for the day-to-day management and long-term operational performance of the Ember packaging site. You will lead a small team of packing operatives, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality operations while preparing the site to scale as the business grows.
You will oversee labour planning, training, food safety compliance, production delivery, and site performance. The role also requires close collaboration with teams at HQ including Technical, Operations, and NPD, particularly as new products are trialled and launched through the site.
This position requires someone capable of running the facility autonomously, proactively identifying operational improvements and preparing the site for future growth.
Key Responsibilities
Site Leadership & Team Management
- Lead, motivate, and develop a small team of packing operatives.
- Manage labour planning and shift organisation to ensure efficient production.
- Deliver training, coaching, and development for team members.
- Build a strong team culture with clear expectations and accountability.
Production & Operational Delivery
- Execute the daily and weekly packaging plan to meet required output volumes.
- Manage site capacity against forecast demand and production requirements.
- Monitor operational performance and identify improvements to efficiency and throughput.
- Ensure effective line operation including multi-head weighing equipment.
Food Safety, Quality & Compliance
- Ensure all operations meet food safety and quality standards.
- Maintain compliance with SALSA certification requirements.
- Support the site in preparing for potential future BRC accreditation.
- Ensure proper documentation, traceability, and operational discipline across the site.
Health & Safety
- Maintain a safe working environment and ensure adherence to all health and safety standards.
- Lead safe systems of work, risk assessments, and safety training.
- Promote a proactive safety culture within the team.
Continuous Improvement & Change Management
- Identify opportunities for operational improvement and efficiency gains.
- Support implementation of process improvements as the business grows.
- Work with HQ teams to introduce new products and packaging processes.
- Help the site scale effectively as product complexity increases.
Maintenance & Equipment Oversight
- Coordinate preventative maintenance activities and external maintenance providers.
- Support development of effective PPM (Planned Preventative Maintenance) processes.
- Monitor equipment performance and recommend improvements or investments as needed.
Planning, Reporting & KPIs
- Track and communicate performance against operational KPIs.
- Report on productivity, labour efficiency, and operational performance.
- Provide insights and recommendations to support capacity planning and site development.
Skills & Experience
Essential
- Experience in food manufacturing, FMCG, or packaging operations.
- Proven people management experience.
- Ability to operate effectively in a highly autonomous environment.
- Strong understanding of food safety, health and safety, quality, and compliance standards.
- Experience delivering production plans and managing labour efficiency.
- Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.
- Experience working in SALSA or BRC certified food production facilities.
- Experience supporting new product launches or process scale-up.
Desirable
- Familiarity with multi-head weighers or automated packing lines.
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
- Understanding of preventative maintenance systems (PPM).
Personal Attributes
We are looking for someone who:
- Enjoys leading a small team and building a strong working culture.
- Is comfortable taking full ownership of a remote site.
- Is proactive and able to anticipate operational challenges before they arise.
- Thrives in fast-growing, dynamic environments.
- Has the experience to drive systematic change.
- Proactive and people oriented
Pay: £50,000.00-£60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Earls Colne, Essex: reliably commute or be willing to relocate with an employer-provided relocation package (required)
Experience:
- Manufacturing: 5 years (required)
Language:
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
