Senior production manager

We’re looking for an experienced and commercially driven Senior Production Manager to lead high‑volume operations within a well‑established, reputable meat manufacturing business. This is a key leadership role for someone who thrives in fast‑paced environments, understands the demands of chilled and high‑care production, and can deliver consistent performance across people, process, safety and customer standards. You’ll take ownership of daily factory operations, driving efficiency, compliance and continuous improvement while leading a large, multi‑skilled team. If you’re confident managing complex production flows, improving KPIs and influencing cross‑functional stakeholders, this role offers real scope and impact. What You’ll Be Doing * Lead day‑to‑day production operations across high‑volume meat manufacturing * Drive performance across throughput, yield, labour efficiency and waste reduction * Ensure full compliance with food safety, hygiene, H&S and audit standards * Work closely with Technical, Engineering and Planning to maintain smooth production flow * Deliver strong people leadership — coaching, developing and performance managing teams * Support continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives * Manage production planning, shift performance and resource allocation * Maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders and customer teams * Lead problem‑solving, root‑cause analysis and corrective action planning * Support NPD launches, trials and customer visits with operational excellence What We’re Looking For * Strong production management experience within meat, chilled food or high‑care environments * Proven leadership of large operational teams in fast‑paced manufacturing * Excellent understanding of food safety, hygiene, H&S and audit compliance * Skilled in driving KPIs across yield, waste, labour, throughput and efficiency * Confident communicator with strong stakeholder influence * Experience supporting CI, lean, or operational improvement programmes * Calm, structured and solutions‑focused approach under pressure * Strong planning, organisation and decision‑making capability What’s On Offer * Competitive salary + benefits * Opportunity to lead operations within a respected, well‑established meat manufacturer * Strong progression potential within a growing operational structure * Supportive leadership team with a focus on continuous improvement and development