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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop a dynamic production team in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking food manufacturer focused on innovation and quality.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous holidays, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by overseeing exciting projects towards automation in production.
- Qualifications: Experience in production management and strong leadership skills are essential.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team culture with excellent career advancement opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 45000 £ per year.
Location: Basildon, Essex
Salary: £40,000 - £45,000
Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00am - 6:30pm (Some flexibility may be required to support production needs)
Holidays: 33 days (Bank Holidays included and Christmas off)
Reports To: Production Manager / Operations Manager
Manages: Approximately 15 production operatives
Job Purpose
The Production Shift Manager is responsible for leading, supervising, and developing a 15-person production team within a food manufacturing environment. The role is highly hands-on and shop-floor based (70:30), ensuring that daily production targets are met safely, efficiently, and to the highest food safety and quality standards. The Business is currently a manual production line and they are interested in moving towards a more automated production line.
Key Responsibilities
- Production & Operations
- Oversee day-to-day production activities during the shift to ensure output targets are met
- Ensure products are manufactured in line with company specifications, recipes, and quality standards
- Monitor workflow, labour allocation, and productivity across manual processes and new production lines
- Support the implementation and optimisation of production lines and improved processes
- Identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for continuous improvement
- Team Leadership & Supervision
- Provide visible, hands-on leadership on the shop floor throughout the shift
- Supervise, motivate, and manage a team of approximately 15 production operatives
- Allocate tasks and ensure appropriate staffing levels across production areas
- Carry out daily briefings, on-the-job coaching, and performance feedback
- Address performance, conduct, and attendance issues in line with company procedures
- Support recruitment, onboarding, and training of new team members
- Food Safety, Quality & Compliance
- Ensure full compliance with food safety, hygiene, and allergen controls
- Maintain standards in line with BRC, SALSA, HACCP, and internal food safety procedures
- Ensure correct documentation is completed accurately and on time
- Carry out regular quality and hygiene checks during the shift
- Act immediately on any food safety, quality, or hygiene issues
- Health & Safety
- Promote a strong health and safety culture on the shop floor
- Ensure safe working practices are followed at all times
- Conduct risk assessments, toolbox talks, and incident reporting as required
- Ensure equipment and production areas are used safely and correctly
- Communication & Reporting
- Communicate effectively with the Production Manager and wider operations team
- Provide clear handovers and shift updates
- Report on production performance, staffing, issues, and improvement ideas
- Work collaboratively with other departments including logistics, quality, and planning
Skills & Experience
- Essential
- Previous experience in a production supervisory or shift management role, ideally within food manufacturing or FMCG
- Strong people management and team leadership skills
- Hands-on approach with the ability to lead from the shop floor
- Good understanding of food safety, hygiene, and quality standards
- Ability to manage performance, attendance, and day-to-day operational issues
- Strong organisational and communication skills
- Desirable
- Experience supporting the introduction of production lines or process improvements
- Knowledge of SALSA, HACCP, or similar food safety standards
- Experience working with manual food production transitioning to semi-automation
- Basic production planning or KPI reporting experience
Personal Attributes
- Confident, calm, and approachable leadership style
- Proactive problem-solver with a continuous improvement mindset
- Able to motivate teams in a fast-paced environment
- Detail-focused with high standards for quality and safety
- Reliable, consistent, and able to lead by example
Production Shift Manager in Basildon employer: Alexander Steele Ltd
Contact Detail:
Alexander Steele Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Production Shift Manager in Basildon
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the food manufacturing industry and let them know you're on the hunt for a Production Shift Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Get hands-on! If you can, visit local production facilities or attend industry events. This not only shows your commitment but also gives you a chance to meet potential employers face-to-face. Plus, it’s a great way to learn about the latest trends in food safety and automation.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your leadership skills! When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers, share specific examples of how you've motivated teams and improved processes in previous roles. They’ll want to see that you can lead from the shop floor and drive results.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of resources to help you nail that interview. Plus, applying directly shows your enthusiasm for the role and gives you a better shot at landing that Production Shift Manager position.
We think you need these skills to ace Production Shift Manager in Basildon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Production Shift Manager role. Highlight your experience in food manufacturing 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 passionate about this role and how you can contribute to our team. Be sure to mention any relevant experience with production processes or team management.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! If you've improved production efficiency or led a successful project, let us know. Numbers and specific examples can really make your application stand out.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s super easy, and we’ll be able to review your application more efficiently. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Alexander Steele Ltd
✨Know Your Production Basics
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of food safety, hygiene, and quality standards. Familiarise yourself with BRC, SALSA, and HACCP guidelines, as these will likely come up during the interview. Being able to discuss how you've implemented these standards in previous roles will show you're a strong candidate.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your hands-on leadership style. Think about times when you've motivated your team or resolved conflicts on the shop floor. The interviewers will want to see that you can lead a team of 15 operatives effectively, so be ready to share specific stories that demonstrate your people management skills.
✨Discuss Continuous Improvement
Since the company is looking to transition to more automated production lines, be prepared to talk about any experience you have with process improvements. Share ideas on how you’ve identified bottlenecks or inefficiencies in past roles and what steps you took to enhance productivity. This shows you're proactive and forward-thinking.
✨Communicate Clearly
Effective communication is key in this role, so practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Be ready to explain how you would handle shift updates, handovers, and reporting on production performance. Demonstrating your ability to communicate with both your team and upper management will set you apart from other candidates.