Manufacturing Manager -Beetroot

Exceptional Manufacturing Manager required to join our site leadership team here at Florette in Lichfield. This role will lead our teams in the Beetroot production areas of the site and ensure product safety, quality, legality, and relevant fresh produce quality standards are maintained throughout the supply chain and site operation.

You'll be a strategic, people focused manager with excellent leadership and communication skills. Working in collaboration with our senior management team you’ll ensure KPI delivery and oversee the continuous improvement of the department. We’re fostering an environment that supports, encourages and empowers our teams to develop their skills and working practices. Your previous experience of developing a team, combined with your passion and enthusiasm will contribute to their continued growth whilst continuing to cultivate an inclusive and dynamic working environment.

The role works cross functionally to ensure the site leadership strategic goals are delivered in the short, medium and long term. This role represents an excellent opportunity for an experienced, expert Manufacturing Manager to develop their career within a leader in the Fresh Produce industry.

Working hours: 37.5 per week

Pay: Competitive salary with annual managerial bonus eligibility and private health insurance.

Main Responsibilities

• Organise, manage and oversee the Beetroot Production Team to ensure adequate resources are deployed to deliver the production plan in accordance with specification and in line with productivity targets. Provide direction, motivation and support through management and leadership to all team members.
• Monitor and drive KPI’s and take action to ensure they are met on a daily and weekly basis by setting performance targets and reviewing progress to ensure optimal performance and efficiency. Address and respond promptly to any issues or bottlenecks in production, implement solutions and conduct a root cause analysis to improve workflow and productivity.
• Monitor the Production Team to ensure they comply with production procedures in line with the Quality Manual and HACCP system. Audit that all used and unused products are documented in accordance with traceability and stock rotation requirements and that all required paperwork is completed correctly and accurately in a timely manner.
• Ensure a high standard of housekeeping is maintained throughout the production areas by driving Good Manufacturing Practices. Manage/deliver a program of Performance Improvement Plans (PIP’s) in conjunction with the Operations Manager.
• Ensure accurate data is captured within the ERP system in a timely manner and that the Production Team adhere to procedure when entering the data into the system.
• Monitor production costs (productivity, yield, labour) to ensure working within budget constraints.
• Co-ordinate with other departments such as Engineering, Technical, Logistics to address production issues and achieve production goals.
• Evaluate the performance of direct reports using the Company’s appraisal system, including personal development plans. Oversee the evaluation of performance for non direct reports ensuring completion. Monitor the Production Teams training to ensure competent in all tasks set and ongoing training needs are identified and skills and knowledge enhanced.
• Manage and oversee sickness absence including return to work interviews and address disciplinary and grievance issues with guidance from HR.
• Develop and maintain a safe work environment by enforcing safety policies and procedures, conducting regular safety inspections and addressing any safety concerns or incidents.

Skills and Experience Required

• Previous experience in Manufacturing Management in FMCG high care/risk chilled or frozen food environment making customer branded product for the major multiples.
• Food Safety and HACCP qualification.
• Advanced Health & Safety qualification eg IOSH/NEBOSH.
• Experience of CI tools and techniques.
• Experience of managing fast paced production environments and operations with short shelf life products.
• The ability to lead, inspire and develop a large production team spread over multiple fast paced units/areas.
• Robust and a demonstratable understanding of all aspects of food safety, health & safety and employment legislation impacting the UK fresh produce industry.
• Computer literate, especially Excel with ability to interrogate data from systems.
• Knowledge and experience of working with ERP systems.
• Financial profit & loss responsibility of a Business Unit / Factory.

What You Will Get In Return

• A salary package DOE, inclusion in our leadership annual bonus scheme and a range of employee benefits you’d expect from a market leading business, including:
• Life Assurance: 4x your basic salary paid to your nominated beneficiary.
• Employee Assistance Programme and BUPA: Providing a Remote GP service along with a 24/7 helpline for financial, legal, medical and life issues, as well as access to BUPA Membership.
• Annual leave entitlement: 33 days annual leave per annum inclusive of UK Bank Holidays which increases with service, as well as the option to purchase up to 2 additional working weeks of holiday per annum.
• Learning and Development: Personalised induction and regular learning and development courses and schemes: From L2 to L7 Funded Apprenticeships, Leadership Development Programme, First-Aid and MHFA Training, and many more!
• Benefits Platforms: Employee discount platform for multiple retailers and access to salary finance schemes for bicycles, gyms, and financial assistance.
• Other: Recognition awards, Regular Employee Engagement days, attendance incentives, an annual volunteering day, and a free staff transport service to and from site covering Lichfield, Burton on Trent, Cannock, Rugeley, and Burntwood.

About Us

Florette is one of three UK food manufacturing sites within Agrial Fresh Produce Ltd, which is an autonomous part of the larger 17,500 employee strong French co-operative group, Agrial. The business operates mainly under its recognisable Florette salad brand and we are one of the UK’s leading producers in the industry. Under the well-known Florette brand, our site processes and distributes pre-packed, ready to eat, fresh salad bags and bowls to some of the UK's most well-known supermarkets and retailers, as well as your favourite restaurants and fast food vendors. In total, we sell on average around 600,000kg of products every week - an unbe-leaf-able amount!

Agrial has operations across 11 countries, with 100 industrial sites, and a 2024 turnover of €7.1bn across 5 food divisions which comprise of Beverage, Dairy, Meat, Fresh Produce & Agricultural operations; it’s not just about lettuce! As well as 2 factories we also have a farming operation – Agrial Fresh Farms. All UK sites operate under the name of Agrial Fresh Produce Limited and fall under Agrial's vegetable division. We have a recipe for success through our EPIC values and working together as one team.

Next Steps

It’s an exciting time to join our business as we look for new starters to join us to innovate in everything we do! We’re looking for positive and driven people to join our professional team. If you have the skills or experience we are looking for, and want a fresh challenge we would love for you to join us on our journey!

Agrial Fresh Produce reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

VISA Sponsorship: This role is only open to applicants who have the permanent right to work in the UK. We are unable to provide or take over visa sponsorship, either now or in the future. Applicants must be able to demonstrate their ongoing eligibility to work in the UK without the need for employer sponsorship.

Agrial Fresh Produce Ltd is an Equal Opportunities employer. In addition, as part of Responsible Recruitment, Agrial Fresh Produce Ltd believes in the Employer Pay Principle. No worker should pay for a job – the costs of recruitment should be borne not by the worker but by the employer.

We are committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all of our staff. That’s why we’ve taken the Mental Health at Work Commitment and are currently delivering a programme of activities to ensure that everyone can have open and honest conversations about their wellbeing in the workplace and feel supported. We encourage applications from persons with experience of poor mental health and are committed to supporting our employees to fulfil their potential and perform at their best in work.