Production Manager in High Peak

Bradbury is a leading UK food business that provides quality cheese to consumers, sourced from regions of the United Kingdom and around the globe, and is highly regarded amongst the retail and foodservice customer base. The key to our success can be attributed to the winning combination of industry knowledge and experience over our 140-year history coupled with continuous innovation to meet future customer trends and demands.

The purpose of the Production Manager is to organise, facilitate and lead manufacturing activities to ensure excellence within all activities concerning Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and People related disciplines. The position reports to the Operations Manager and manages teams of up to 35 production operatives.

Our ideal person has strong management and leadership skills, is methodical and forward thinking. The Production Manager will be responsible for:

• Top 3 Priorities
• Ensure a safe working environment for yourself and all personnel within the business, adopting, coaching and leading all safety initiatives and addressing concerns with immediate resolutions.
• Coach and develop business excellence to direct and immediate non-direct reports delivering value to customers, stakeholders and employees ensuring commitment to the principles whilst creating a supporting environment, fostering teamwork and collaboration with accuracy in communication and alignment.
• Monitor team and individual performance, develop new ways of working, drive the initiative and instil ownership to ensure a successful outcome.

Additional Responsibilities

• Key member of the Operations Management Team reporting into the Site Operations Manager.
• Comply with Health & Safety legislations in line with company policies.
• Effectively manage day-to-day Factory operations & ensure all manufacturing performance KPIs are achieved in line with Company procedures.
• Key interaction with all disciplines across site in conjunction with delivering factory performance.
• Lead and support the site in strategic initiatives to move the business forward.
• Ensure health and safety is prioritised with relevant training and work with H & S Team ensuring any accidents are investigated promptly and appropriate actions taken.
• Work with Warehouse and Logistics teams to ensure customer needs are met.
• Coach the effective handover of shifts to ensure tasks are completed efficiently.
• Develop your direct reports in achieving excellence with leadership functionality at the heartbeat of everything we do.
• Resolve people related problems, queries and conflicts in a fair, consistent and timely manner seeking support from your line manager and HR where appropriate.
• Proactively develop improved ways of working and implementing change.
• Contribute to daily, weekly, monthly meetings concerning business needs and controls.
• Ensure your people are trained and competent in all associated activities, tasks and machine processes.
• Areas of responsibility will be audit (internal & external) ready at all times with emphasis on people, process and the environment.
• Regularly review the training matrix to identify skills gaps and generate training plans to fill these gaps, ensuring there is always a succession and contingency plan in place.
• Facilitate and coordinate the required training to personnel to ensure there are adequate contingencies in place to overcome shortfalls.
• Work collaboratively with the Sales and NPD departments to ensure smooth and accurate trial productions and first production runs raising any concerns or issues and solutions.
• Lead customer site visits involving the operations areas.
• Assist with supplier site visits involving the operations areas.
• Assist with any internal or external audits facilitating any involvement from employees or required paperwork.
• Regularly review cost controls and efficiencies for the operations and proactively look for cost saving initiatives.
• Investigate and supply correct data and information on variances to WIP & Labour recovery with corrective actions on negative to standard outcomes.
• Liaise with the Agency to accurately inform them of agency staff plans, agency staffing issues and complete agency pay sheets in a timely manner.
• Work in conjunction to deliver on mandatory KPI’s timeously.

Requirements

• Existing UK work authorisation is required; please note there is no visa sponsorship available for this role.
• Experience of working within food manufacturing at First Line Manager level or above.
• Drive results in a fast-paced complex environment.
• Knowledge and experience of driving improvement within various departments.
• Ability to coach and mentor people who manage people.
• Strong leader who leads by example.
• Excellent communication / engagement skills.
• Self-motivated and highly resilient.
• Financial / commercial awareness.
• Ability to make tough people decisions.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritise and work effectively under pressure.
• IOSHH – Occupational Safety & Health.
• HACCP Level 3.
• ILM Level 4.

Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• 33 days of annual leave (including bank holidays).
• Company pension.
• Full EAP system.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Discounted gym membership.
• Store discounts.
• Company staff shop.
• Free on-site parking.

Health and Safety Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership - Lead by example and embed health, safety and environmental standards in every site decision and action.
• Risk Management - Oversee the development, review and continuous improvement of risk assessments, safe systems of work (SSOW) and method statements for all production activities.
• Accident and Incident Oversight - Ensure accidents, near-misses and safety concerns are fully investigated, root causes identified, and corrective and preventive actions implemented and documented.
• Training and Competency - Ensure employees and line managers are trained in relevant safety procedures, including manual handling, emergency response, PPE use and hazard identification. Maintain the safety training matrix and address skills gaps.
• Collaboration - Work with the Health & Safety Team, HR and external auditors to maintain and improve site standards and support cross-functional safety initiatives.
• Performance Monitoring - Review safety performance through KPIs, audits, inspections and walkarounds (MBWA), identify trends and initiate improvements.
• Site Safety Audits and Compliance - Lead or support internal and external audits and maintain readiness for regulatory or customer visits.
• Leadership Accountability - Serve as the senior contact for operational health and safety escalations and remain accountable for a safe working environment across all departments and shifts.