At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead night shift operations, ensuring production targets and quality standards are met.
- Company: Join a dynamic food industry leader with a focus on teamwork and innovation.
- Benefits: Earn £25.38 per hour plus 10% night shift allowance, with great discounts and perks.
- Other info: Enjoy fantastic career development opportunities and a supportive work culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in the food industry and strong people management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 25 - 27 £ per hour.
We currently have an exciting opportunity for Operations Manager to join our team in Thetford on the night shift. This post is working 4 on 4 off nights - 1800 - 0600.
Main Responsibilities
- Lead night shift operations across preparation, frying, and packing departments, ensuring consistent delivery of production targets, quality standards, and customer specifications.
- Act as a visible and approachable leader on nights, supporting all functions across the site (production, engineering, technical, hygiene, and logistics) to maintain operational continuity.
- Serve as a key escalation point for senior stakeholders, providing clear communication, rapid decision‑making, and effective resolution of operational issues outside core business hours.
- Drive a culture of accountability, engagement, and teamwork, ensuring all colleagues understand customer expectations, site priorities, and performance targets.
- Accurately track and manage labour hours across shift, ensuring full compliance with ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative) standards, working time regulations, and site policies, proactively identifying and addressing potential breaches.
- Monitor production performance in real‑time, working cross‑functionally to remove bottlenecks, minimise downtime, and improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
- Ensure full compliance with food safety, quality, and legal standards (e.g. HACCP, BRC, H&S), proactively addressing risks and stopping unsafe practices where necessary.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives, driving gains in yield, efficiency, and right‑first‑time production through data‑led decision‑making.
- Build strong working relationships across departments, enabling seamless communication between day and night operations and supporting site‑wide objectives.
- Coach and develop supervisors and team leaders, strengthening capability, succession planning, and overall team performance.
- Support site KPIs including cost control, waste reduction, labour efficiency, and service levels, contributing to overall business profitability.
- Manage incident response on shift, including technical, engineering, or staffing challenges, ensuring minimal disruption to production schedules.
- Champion a positive safety culture, lead and chair the monthly Health and Safety Meeting, and embed best practice to ensure all team members operate safely and compliantly.
Ideal Candidate
- Experience within the food industry, preferably chilled / high‑risk products at a Management level.
- Strong people management, leadership and coaching skills, able to motivate, engage and develop a team.
- Experience delivering production plans within a fast‑moving environment.
- Effective communicator across all levels with a flexible attitude and approach.
Package Description
- Company Bus Service from Norwich, Attleborough, Wymondham and Thetford Centre.
- Exclusive 2 Sisters employee discount – offering savings of up to 60% with brands including Asda, Morrisons, Marks and Spencer and Tesco.
- 50% off your total bill in all of our group restaurant brands.
- Cycle to Work Scheme.
- Free onsite parking.
- Hot food available on site plus free hot drinks.
- Employee of the Month awards.
- Fantastic development opportunities available for promotion and career development.
- In‑house training.
Operations Manager - Nights employer: 2 Sisters Food Group
Join our dynamic team as an Operations Manager in Thetford, where we prioritise a supportive work culture and employee growth. Enjoy competitive pay with a night shift allowance, exclusive discounts, and a range of benefits including a cycle to work scheme and free onsite meals. We are committed to your professional development, offering fantastic opportunities for promotion and in-house training, making us an excellent employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager - Nights
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees on LinkedIn or through mutual connections. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing the Operations Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding the company culture and values. We recommend checking out their website and social media to get a feel for what they stand for and how you can align your answers with their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills during the interview. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've motivated teams and driven performance in previous roles. We want to see that you can lead the night shift operations effectively!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager - Nights
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Operations Manager role. Highlight your experience in the food industry and any leadership roles you've had. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the night shift operations. Share specific examples of how you've led teams and improved processes in previous roles.
Showcase Your Communication Skills:As an Operations Manager, clear communication is key. In your application, demonstrate how you've effectively communicated with different teams and stakeholders. We love seeing examples of collaboration!
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at 2 Sisters Food Group
✨Know Your Operations Inside Out
Make sure you understand the key responsibilities of an Operations Manager, especially in a night shift context. Familiarise yourself with production targets, quality standards, and compliance regulations like HACCP and BRC. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you're ready to hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a potential leader on the night shift, it's crucial to highlight your people management and coaching abilities. Prepare examples of how you've motivated teams, resolved conflicts, or improved performance in previous roles. This will illustrate your capability to drive engagement and accountability among your colleagues.
✨Communicate Effectively
Effective communication is key in this role, especially when liaising with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. You might even want to prepare a few questions to ask during the interview to show your interest in collaboration and operational continuity.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Be ready to discuss your experience with continuous improvement initiatives. Think about specific examples where you've driven efficiency or enhanced production processes. This will demonstrate your proactive approach to problem-solving and your commitment to achieving site-wide objectives.
