At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead production planning, manage teams, and ensure food safety compliance.
- Company: Join Cleone Foods, a leading UK food manufacturer with a rich heritage.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, 24 days leave, staff discounts, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic work culture focused on collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Be part of a passionate team making authentic Caribbean food products.
- Qualifications: 4+ years in food manufacturing leadership and strong knowledge of food safety.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 50000 £ per year.
Location: Birmingham, B18 5AY
Salary: £45,000 - £50,000 per annum
Contract: Full time, Permanent - 40 Hours per week
Benefits: Competitive salary, 24 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, Pension scheme contributions, Staff discounts on our Island Delight range, Staff Tester Card - access exclusive discounts on food, clothing, cinema tickets, and popular retailers such as TK Maxx, McDonald’s, and more, Free on-site parking and care charging, Opportunities for learning, development, and career progression, A supportive and inclusive working culture where contributions are valued and being part of a passionate, innovative team in a company with strong heritage and growth plans!
Cleone Foods Ltd is a leading UK food manufacturer, specialising in high‑quality Jamaican patties and frozen Caribbean food products under our flagship Island Delight brand. With over 30 years of heritage, we have built a strong reputation for producing authentic, flavourful, and innovative food products enjoyed by customers nationwide. Our team‑driven culture values collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. At Cleone Foods, we combine traditional recipes with modern production techniques, ensuring every product meets rigorous quality standards. We are committed to sustainability, maintaining high food safety standards, and delivering exceptional service to our customers. Joining Cleone Foods means becoming part of a passionate team where your contribution is valued, your career growth is encouraged, and you are supported in a safe, inclusive, and rewarding work environment.
Key Responsibilities and Main Tasks
- Production Planning & Delivery: Own daily/weekly production plans, ensuring labour, materials, and equipment are aligned to meet customer demand and site targets. Manage shift handovers and daily management routines to maintain stable, efficient production flow. Monitor output and performance, responding quickly to downtime, quality issues, and operational constraints.
- People Leadership & Team Performance: Lead, coach, and develop production teams (including supervisors / team leaders), driving high standards of performance, behaviour, and engagement. Support recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance management to ensure capability and coverage across shifts. Create a positive, safe, and accountable culture on the factory floor.
- Food Safety, Quality & Compliance (HACCP / GMP): Ensure full compliance with site food safety, hygiene, and GMP standards, and that products meet internal specifications and regulatory requirements. Work closely with the Quality Auditor and Technical Manager to investigate non‑conformances, implement corrective actions, and prevent recurrence. Maintain accurate production documentation and traceability records to the required standard.
- Health, Safety & Environment: Drive safe systems of work and ensure compliance with health & safety requirements, risk assessments, PPE, and training expectations. Lead investigations into accidents / near misses and implement robust corrective / preventative actions.
- Continuous Improvement & Performance KPIs: Identify, prioritise, and deliver continuous improvement initiatives to increase efficiency, reduce waste, and improve right‑first‑time quality. Use performance data to drive improvement (e.g., yield, waste, downtime, throughput), tracking actions to completion. Standardise processes and embed best practice across teams and shifts.
- Cost Control, Materials & Equipment Reliability: Manage labour and production costs against budget; monitor usage of raw materials, packaging, and consumables to minimise losses. Partner with Engineering / Maintenance to ensure equipment is maintained, downtime is reduced, and reliability is improved. Coordinate with Procurement / Planning / Stores to ensure availability of ingredients and materials.
- Stakeholder & Cross‑Functional Working: Collaborate with Technical / Quality Auditor, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Logistics to ensure a smooth end‑to‑end operation from materials intake to despatch. Produce clear performance reporting for senior stakeholders and contribute to operational reviews.
Required Qualifications:
- Proven production / operations leadership experience in a food manufacturing / FMCG environment for a minimum of 4 years.
- Strong working knowledge of food safety and hygiene controls (e.g., HACCP / GMP) and quality compliance.
- Confident people management skills with experience leading multi‑shift teams and driving performance.
- Data‑driven decision‑making and ability to track / report operational performance.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience of management of a bakery / pastry facility.
- Experience and knowledge of microbiological requirements for food safety.
- Knowledge and ability to ensure 100% compliance with food legislation and regulations.
- Experience of working closely with food manufacturing clients and ingredient suppliers to meet high standards and levels of satisfaction.
- Experience and knowledge of Quality and continual improvement of the procedures carried out and products.
- A proven track record in product and process development.
- Experience in chilled or frozen environments.
Production Manager in Willenhall employer: Cleone Foods Ltd
Cleone Foods Ltd is an exceptional employer located in Birmingham, offering a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package that includes generous annual leave, pension contributions, and exclusive staff discounts. With a strong commitment to employee growth and a supportive, inclusive culture, you will thrive in a dynamic environment where your contributions are valued, and you can be part of a passionate team dedicated to producing high-quality Caribbean food products.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Production Manager in Willenhall
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the food manufacturing industry, especially those who work at Cleone Foods. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info about the company culture and what they really value in a Production Manager.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your knowledge of HACCP and GMP standards. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've improved production processes or led teams in previous roles. Show them you're not just a fit, but the perfect fit!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to highlight your leadership skills! Talk about how you've motivated teams and created a positive work environment. Cleone Foods values collaboration, so make sure they see your team spirit shining through.
✨Tip Number 4
Finally, apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining the Cleone Foods family. Good luck!
We think you need these skills to ace Production Manager in Willenhall
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Production Manager role. Highlight your experience in food manufacturing and any leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Share your passion for food production and how you can contribute to our team at Cleone Foods. Be sure to mention specific experiences that relate to the job description.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use numbers and examples to demonstrate how you’ve improved processes or led successful teams in previous roles. We love seeing results!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cleone Foods Ltd
✨Know Your Production Basics
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of production planning and delivery. Be ready to discuss how you would manage daily production plans and handle any operational constraints. Showing that you understand the importance of aligning labour, materials, and equipment will impress the interviewers.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Production Manager, you'll need to lead and develop teams. Prepare examples of how you've successfully coached and motivated teams in the past. Highlight your experience in creating a positive culture on the factory floor and how you’ve driven performance and engagement among your team members.
✨Demonstrate Food Safety Knowledge
Familiarise yourself with HACCP and GMP standards, as well as food safety regulations. Be prepared to discuss how you ensure compliance and maintain high-quality standards in production. Sharing specific instances where you've tackled non-conformances or implemented corrective actions will show your expertise.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Talk about your experience with continuous improvement initiatives. Be ready to provide examples of how you've used data to drive efficiency and reduce waste in previous roles. This will demonstrate your proactive approach to enhancing production processes and achieving operational excellence.
