At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead bakery operations, drive performance, and support teams in a fast-paced environment.
- Company: Join a leading bakery manufacturer focused on operational excellence.
- Benefits: Flexible benefits, pension scheme, health support, and wellbeing initiatives.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and to work with innovative teams.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic bakery setting while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in fast-paced manufacturing and strong stakeholder management skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
About the Role
We're looking for a strong people and process leader to join a fast-paced bakery manufacturing environment as our Head Baker. This is a highly visible operational leadership role that sits between production, process improvement, and technical operations. You’ll lead from the front, spending the majority of your time on the shop floor, driving standards, supporting teams, and working closely with senior site stakeholders to deliver operational excellence across bakery manufacturing. This role would suit someone with experience in high-volume food or FMCG manufacturing who is confident operating in a fast-moving environment and influencing at senior level.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage bakery process operations across the manufacturing function
- Drive performance, quality, consistency, and continuous improvement on the shop floor
- Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders across site operations, technical, engineering, and leadership teams
- Support process optimisation, problem solving, and operational decision making
- Champion food safety, quality, and manufacturing standards
- Work collaboratively with NPD and technical teams to support product launches and process implementation
- Coach and develop operational teams to improve capability and performance
- Use data and operational insight to identify opportunities for efficiency and improvement
About You
We're looking for someone who can combine operational presence with strong stakeholder management capability. You will likely have:
- Experience within fast-paced manufacturing environments, ideally food, bakery, FMCG, or similar
- Strong operational leadership experience with a hands‑on approach
- Confidence engaging and influencing at Site Lead / Senior Leadership level
- Experience working cross‑functionally between operations and technical teams
- A track record of driving continuous improvement and operational performance
- Exposure to NPD, process implementation, or product launches would be advantageous as well as project management experience
- Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills
- A proactive, resilient, and solutions‑focused mindset
Benefits Baked In
All colleagues can choose from a wide range of benefits in addition to salaries, based on their individual needs.
- Three levels of pension scheme to choose from - employer contribution of up to 7.5%
- Aviva DigiCare+ Workplace App includes: 'at home' Annual Health Check, Digital GP consultations, Nutritional Consultations, Second Medical Opinions and much more
- Enhanced parental leave (and flexibility where possible to suit your needs)
- Access to funded physiotherapy sessions
- Wellbeing support and campaigns to help you stay active and healthy, be financially prepared, and support your mental wellbeing
- Opt in plans for money back towards the cost of opticians, dentist, physiotherapist and more
- A benefits platform for all, Hovis Choice: £££ Savings and cashback offers on day‑to‑day spending
- Eyecare vouchers
- Cycle to work scheme
Bakery Process Leader — Drive Ops Excellence & Team Impact in Nottingham employer: Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)
Join a dynamic and supportive team as a Bakery Process Leader in our fast-paced manufacturing environment, where your leadership will directly impact operational excellence and team performance. We offer a comprehensive benefits package tailored to your needs, including generous pension contributions, health and wellbeing support, and opportunities for professional growth. Our collaborative work culture encourages innovation and continuous improvement, making it an ideal place for those looking to make a meaningful contribution in the food manufacturing sector.
Contact Details:
Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Bakery Process Leader — Drive Ops Excellence & Team Impact in Nottingham
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research their values, recent news, and any projects they’re working on. This will help you connect with the interviewers and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your storytelling skills! Prepare examples from your past experiences that highlight your leadership and process improvement abilities. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to keep your answers structured and impactful.
✨Tip Number 3
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn to get insights about the company culture and expectations. This can give you an edge in interviews and help you build relationships before you even step foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email reiterating your interest in the role and mentioning something specific from your conversation can leave a lasting impression. Plus, it shows you’re proactive and engaged!
We think you need these skills to ace Bakery Process Leader — Drive Ops Excellence & Team Impact in Nottingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Baking:When you're writing your application, let your love for baking shine through! Share any personal experiences or stories that highlight your passion for the industry. We want to see that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about what you do.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills:Make sure to emphasise your experience in leading teams and driving operational excellence. Use specific examples from your past roles where you’ve successfully managed people and processes. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and motivate others on the shop floor!
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send out a generic application! Take the time to tailor your CV and cover letter to match the job description. Highlight relevant skills and experiences that align with our needs at StudySmarter. This shows us that you’re serious about joining our team.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our company culture and values!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)
✨Know Your Bakery Operations
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of bakery processes and operations. Understand the key metrics that drive performance in a fast-paced environment, and be ready to discuss how you've improved efficiency or quality in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be prepared to share specific examples of how you've led teams in high-pressure situations. Highlight your hands-on approach and how you've built relationships with senior stakeholders to drive operational excellence.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Demonstrate your experience with continuous improvement initiatives. Bring along data or case studies that showcase your ability to identify opportunities for optimisation and how you've successfully implemented changes.
✨Communicate Effectively
Strong communication is key in this role. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently, especially when discussing cross-functional collaboration with technical and operational teams. Be ready to answer questions about how you handle challenges and foster teamwork.
