Production Manager – Food Manufacturing

Production Manager – Food Manufacturing (make sure this is the title of the job with the "Food manufacturing" included please 🙂)

Location: South Kirkby / Pontefract Salary: £55,000 Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time

We are recruiting an experienced Production Manager to join a well-established food manufacturing business near Pontefract.

Reporting to the Factory Manager, this is a senior operational role with responsibility for leading production teams, managing Shift Managers and ensuring production targets are achieved safely, efficiently and to the required quality standards.

The role will suit a hands-on manufacturing leader who is confident managing people, performance, labour, compliance and continuous improvement within a fast-paced production environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate production teams to achieve output, quality and efficiency targets.

• Manage and develop Shift Managers and wider production teams.

• Oversee day-to-day production operations and ensure effective labour deployment.

• Monitor production KPIs and provide accurate performance reporting.

• Ensure raw materials are used effectively in line with stock allocations and minimise avoidable losses.

• Support and promote a strong food-safety culture across the site.

• Ensure production activities comply with health, safety, environmental and regulatory requirements.

• Work closely with Engineering and Maintenance teams around breakdowns, repairs, upgrades and planned preventative maintenance.

• Support and lead site improvement, capital and modernisation projects.

• Coordinate compliance audits, inspections and remedial actions.

• Identify training needs and support employee development and succession planning.

• Communicate effectively with senior management and key internal stakeholders.

• Deputise for the Factory Manager when required.

Candidate Requirements

• Previous management experience within a manufacturing environment.

• Previous experience within food production.

• Strong leadership and people-management skills.

• Experience managing production targets, KPIs and operational performance.

• Confident managing labour and resource requirements.

• Strong understanding of food safety, quality and compliance.

• HACCP Level 2.

• IOSH Managing Safely.

• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

• Target-driven, proactive and focused on continuous improvement.

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

The Opportunity

This is a strong opportunity for an experienced Production Manager, Manufacturing Manager or Senior Shift Manager looking to take on broader responsibility within a food manufacturing operation.

The role offers genuine influence across production performance, people development, operational improvement and site standards.

Salary: £55,000 Location: South Kirkby / Pontefract