Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Support daily retail and production operations, ensuring smooth workflow and high food safety standards.
- Company: Join a family-run food business known for quality and innovation since 1997.
- Benefits: Enjoy free parking, gym access, discounts, and a yearly attendance bonus.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a supportive team while gaining valuable management experience.
- Qualifications: Previous management experience in the food sector and strong communication skills.
- Other info: Fixed-term maternity cover role with excellent career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Assistant Retail Manager Pontefract role available with a Yorkshire-based family food business, established in 1997 and recognised for quality, innovation and industry-leading animal welfare standards. This vacancy is based in Stapleton, near Pontefract, on a fixed-term maternity cover contract.
Role Overview
In this role, you will support the day-to-day management of retail and production operations, ensuring smooth workflow, high food safety standards and strong team performance. From day one, you will help deliver efficient production, motivate staff and drive continuous improvement. As a result, you will play a key role in maintaining service levels and operational consistency during the maternity cover period.
Key Responsibilities
- Ensure efficient daily running of allocated production lines
- Complete line setup, pre-operational checks and safe machinery operation
- Deliver production in line with plans to meet customer orders
- Apply lean manufacturing principles to maximise efficiency and yield
- Motivate, coach and develop staff to meet hygiene, efficiency and waste targets
- Arrange cover for holidays and sickness where required
- Manage staff rest breaks to maintain production continuity
- Promote continuous improvement using tools such as SQPDC, 5S and TPM
- Ensure all accidents and near-miss incidents are reported correctly
- Confirm return-to-work interviews are completed before staff return to line
What You’ll Bring
You bring previous management experience within the food sector, alongside a strong understanding of food hygiene and operational standards. In addition, you have experience supporting preparation of both hot and cold food, demonstrate a solid work ethic and communicate effectively with teams. You work well under pressure, remain organised and lead by example.
Pay, Hours and Location
This is a fixed-term maternity cover role (1 year) based in Stapleton, near Pontefract.
Hours: 38.5 hours per week
Shift pattern: 06:00–18:00
Week 1: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Week 2: Wednesday and Thursday only
Salary: Competitive, depending on experience
Benefits
- Free onsite parking
- Staff shop with products from £1
- 24/7 onsite gym
- Subsidised canteen
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Dovecote Rewards scheme with discounts at 1,000+ retailers
- Yearly attendance bonus (qualifying criteria apply)
Assistant Retail Production Manager | Pontefract employer: Dovecote Park Ltd
Contact Detail:
Dovecote Park Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Retail Production Manager | Pontefract
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the food industry, especially those who might know about opportunities at family-run businesses. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to a foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the company’s values and their approach to animal welfare. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you genuinely care about what they stand for.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your answers to common interview questions, but keep it natural. We want you to sound confident and authentic, so don’t just memorise – make it your own!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Retail Production Manager | Pontefract
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Assistant Retail Production Manager role. Highlight your previous management experience in the food sector and any relevant skills that match the job description. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention your understanding of food hygiene and operational standards, and how you can motivate and develop staff. Let us know what makes you tick!
Showcase Your Achievements: When filling out your application, don’t just list your duties from past jobs. Instead, showcase your achievements! Did you improve efficiency or reduce waste? We love to see concrete examples of how you've made a difference in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s super easy and ensures your application goes directly to us. Plus, you’ll get to see more about our company culture and values while you’re at it!
How to prepare for a job interview at Dovecote Park Ltd
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of food hygiene and operational standards. Familiarise yourself with lean manufacturing principles, as these will be key in your role. Being able to discuss how you've applied these in past experiences will show you're the right fit.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've motivated and developed staff in previous roles. Think about specific situations where you’ve led a team through challenges or improved efficiency. This will demonstrate your ability to manage and inspire others effectively.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific situations, like managing staff during busy periods or ensuring safety standards are met. Practise your responses to these scenarios so you can showcase your problem-solving skills and quick thinking.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few thoughtful questions ready about the company culture or the team you'll be working with. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you too.