Vegetable Packhouse Manager

Packhouse Manager – Fresh Produce / Vegetable Operations

Salary: Up to £50,000 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications
Benefits: Accommodation provided
Contract: Permanent, full-time

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially focused Packhouse Manager with a strong background in fresh produce operations, food safety, quality assurance, regulatory compliance and third-party audits.

The successful candidate will take full responsibility for the day-to-day management of vegetable packing operations, ensuring high standards of productivity, product quality, traceability, food safety and operational efficiency.

We are particularly interested in candidates with proven experience managing packhouse audits, maintaining recognised food safety certifications and implementing robust quality management systems.

Key Responsibilities

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Oversee all daily vegetable packhouse operations, including intake, grading, packing, storage and dispatch, ensuring efficient production and high standards of quality.

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Manage, lead and develop packhouse supervisors, team leaders and operational staff, driving staff performance and maintaining effective labour planning.

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Ensure full compliance with food safety, hygiene, quality assurance, health and safety regulations and relevant legislation.

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Lead and coordinate internal and external audits, including BRCGS, Red Tractor, customer and retailer-specific audits, maintaining year-round audit readiness.

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Maintain accurate and up-to-date audit documentation, procedures and records, ensuring recognised food safety certifications are maintained.

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Implement, manage and continuously improve HACCP-based food safety management systems and robust quality management procedures.

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Oversee product traceability, quality control, stock rotation and product recall procedures.

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Manage non-conformances, corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) and continuous improvement initiatives.

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Monitor operational KPIs, labour efficiency, packing performance, waste reduction and production costs, identifying opportunities to improve profitability and efficiency.

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Work closely with growing, harvesting, technical and commercial teams to coordinate product availability and packing schedules.

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Ensure effective maintenance and safe operation of packhouse machinery and equipment, including automated grading, weighing, packing and labelling systems.

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Drive improvements in operational efficiency, staff performance, product quality and overall packhouse performance.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

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Minimum Level 3 qualification (NVQ, Diploma or equivalent) in Food Science, Food Technology, Quality Management, Food Safety, Agricultural Management or a closely related discipline.

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Level 3 HACCP qualification, with proven practical experience implementing and managing HACCP systems.

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Level 3 Food Safety in Manufacturing qualification or equivalent, alongside a recognised internal auditing qualification, preferably covering BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety or ISO 22000.

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Strong working knowledge of BRCGS Food Safety Standards, audit preparation, certification requirements and corrective action management.

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Proven experience successfully managing third-party food safety audits, including BRCGS, Red Tractor or major UK retailer audits.

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Significant management experience within a fresh produce or vegetable packhouse environment, with an excellent understanding of product traceability, quality assurance, hygiene standards and food safety legislation.

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Demonstrable experience managing production teams, labour planning, operational budgets and performance KPIs.

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Strong leadership, communication, organisational and problem-solving skills.

Desirable Experience & Qualifications

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BRCGS Professional qualification or recognised Lead Auditor certification.

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Level 4 Food Safety or HACCP qualification.

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Experience with LEAF Marque, GLOBALG.A.P. or retailer-specific technical standards.

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Previous experience managing high-volume vegetable grading and packing operations, including knowledge of automated grading, weighing, packing and labelling equipment.

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Experience introducing lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement programmes.

Salary & Benefits

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Competitive salary of up to £50,000 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications.

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Accommodation provided as part of the employment package.

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Permanent, full-time position with a well-established agricultural business.

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Opportunity to lead and develop packhouse operations, with long-term career stability and professional development.

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Supportive working environment with a strong focus on quality, efficiency and continuous improvement