Production Manager

Production Manager – Food Manufacturing Location: Wakefield Salary: £50000 Our client, a forward-thinking and modern food manufacturing business, is looking to appoint a Production Stream Manager to lead a key area of their operation. This is a fantastic opportunity to join an innovative organisation focused on performance, people development, and continuous improvement. The Role As Production Stream Manager, you will take full ownership of a manufacturing stream, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable production. You will lead a team of Group Leaders and play a key role in delivering operational strategy, driving performance, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement across the site. This role will also involve occasional travel to other UK and Ireland locations. Key Responsibilities Safety & Compliance * Ensure full compliance with Health & Safety legislation and site standards * Promote a strong safety-first culture across the operation * Maintain compliance with food safety standards (HACCP, BRC) and support audits Operational Performance Oversee daily production activities to deliver plans and achieve KPIs (OEE, yield, downtime, waste) Lead performance reviews and drive actions from data and loss analysis Optimise use of labour, materials, and equipment Resolve operational issues quickly to minimise downtime Quality & Food Safety Ensure adherence to SOPs, CCPs, and quality procedures Manage quality investigations and corrective actions Maintain high standards of hygiene and sanitation People Leadership * Lead, coach, and develop Group Leaders * Drive engagement, performance management, and succession planning * Build capability across the production team Continuous Improvement * Lead CI initiatives using lean tools such as 5S, RCA, Kaizen, and SMED * Identify and deliver efficiency and cost-saving opportunities * Ensure all processes and documentation remain current and effective Cross-Functional Collaboration * Work closely with planning, engineering, technical, and NPI teams * Support new product introduction and process improvements * Align production activity with wider supply chain plans Candidate Requirements Essential Experience within a food or FMCG manufacturing environment Proven leadership experience in an operational setting Strong understanding of OEE, lean manufacturing, and performance management Knowledge of HACCP, GMP, and food safety standards Strong communication and problem-solving skills Desirable IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent Experience leading continuous improvement projects IT literacy (ERP systems, Microsoft Office) What’s On Offer 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays Healthcare plan Matched pension scheme Retail discounts and benefits platform Career progression within a modern and growing business About the Company Our client is a progressive food manufacturing business known for its innovation, quality, and sustainable approach. They foster a collaborative and inclusive environment, where employees are empowered to grow, develop, and make a real impact