Manufacturing Shift Lead in Manchester

Location: Lightbody, Hamilton, 73 Bothwell Road, Hamilton, ML3 0DW

Shift: 4on4 off shift (06:30am – 18:30pm)

Salary: Competitive

We have an exciting opportunity to join the Operations team in the role of Manufacturing Shift Lead at our Lightbody of Hamilton Ltd site as part of Finsbury Food Group. With over 135 years of craft baking heritage, Lightbody is proud to be the UK’s largest supplier of celebration cakes. From branded favourites like Disney, Mars, Universal and Thorntons to supermarket own‑label products, we produce over 55 million cakes and sweet treats every year right here in Hamilton. This is a fantastic opportunity to join one of the UK’s leading bakery and food manufacturing businesses, offering excellent opportunities for growth and development.

At Finsbury Food Group, we are passionate about investing in our people and creating an environment where talent can thrive. We’re looking for a driven and hands‑on leader to take ownership of shift performance across our manufacturing operation. As part of the Shift Leadership Team, you’ll play a critical role in delivering operational excellence — driving performance across key metrics including cost, efficiency, quality, and people. You’ll work closely with Technical, Engineering, CI, and Supply Chain teams, ensuring consistent delivery against targets while embedding a culture of continuous improvement.

This is a role for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced FMCG environment and is passionate about leading teams to deliver their very best.

What you’ll actually do

• Lead from the front, taking full responsibility for the performance of your shift and ensuring that manufacturing operations run efficiently, safely, and in line with business targets.
• Drive performance through structured ways of working, implementing and sustaining the group’s standard MARA meeting framework, including shift handovers, leader routines, and tiered accountability meetings.
• Take ownership of key cost levers such as labour and material variance, using data and performance systems to identify opportunities and deliver measurable improvements.
• Lead root cause problem solving (RCPS) activities, applying structured methodologies such as A3 to resolve issues and improve performance beyond standard cost models.
• Ensure consistent output across multiple production lines, proactively managing any issues that may impact efficiency or delivery.
• Work closely with Engineering to improve asset reliability, address breakdowns, and support preventative maintenance strategies that enhance long‑term performance.
• Champion the use of performance systems and tools, acting as a subject‑matter expert on key platforms such as ERP systems, performance dashboards, and CI tracking tools.
• Lead on yield improvement, energy awareness initiatives, and value engineering activities to support overall site performance.
• Take accountability for quality and compliance on shift, ensuring all testing, sampling, calibration, and product evaluations are completed to the highest standards.
• Support product trials, launches, and process changes, ensuring they are delivered effectively and in line with operational requirements.
• Lead, coach, and motivate your team — creating a high‑performing, engaged culture where individuals understand their goals, feel supported, and are empowered to deliver results.
• Demonstrate strong and visible leadership, taking full ownership of shift performance and standards while building and developing a motivated, high‑performing team that drives accountability and engagement across all areas.
• Deliver against key KPIs, including labour variance, material variance, OEE, yield, and adherence to plan, while leading and embedding continuous improvement activities that support site‑wide initiatives and performance roadmaps.
• Work closely with Technical, Engineering, and Warehouse/Stores teams to ensure smooth and efficient operations while maintaining full compliance with food safety, health & safety, and quality standards, including BRC and customer codes of practice.
• Ensure the consistent application of GMP standards, allergen controls, and hygiene requirements across your shift, while acting as the senior operational lead, making informed decisions to maintain performance and resolve issues effectively.
• Support and mentor other leaders, contributing to the development of the wider leadership team, and deputise for the Site Manufacturing Lead when required, supporting your own ongoing development and career progression.

Ideally this is you!

• Motivated, resilient leader who champions teamwork, ownership, honesty, communication, and respect.
• Passionate about leading people and driving performance through engagement and accountability.
• Thrives in a fast‑paced, challenging environment and embraces change with a positive mindset.
• Has strong analytical skills and uses data to drive decision‑making and improvements.
• Confident influencing at all levels and building strong cross‑functional relationships.
• Organised, adaptable, and committed to continuous improvement and personal development.

Essential Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience within a fast‑paced FMCG or manufacturing environment.
• Strong track record of delivering KPIs (labour/material variance, OEE, yield) and driving continuous improvement.
• IOSH Managing Safely and Level 3 Food Hygiene qualified.
• Experience using ERP systems and performance management tools.
• Strong problem‑solving capability (e.g. root cause analysis, A3).
• Solid understanding of BRC, GMP, allergen controls, and food safety standards.
• Ability to lead, motivate, and develop high‑performing teams.

Desirable Qualifications

• Food manufacturing experience.
• Internal auditing experience and knowledge of customer codes of practice.
• Food & Drink Operations Level 3 (or working towards).
• Project management experience, including trials and product launches.
• Green Belt (or equivalent) in Continuous Improvement.

What’s in it for you?

• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to allow quality time with your new arrival!
• Enhanced Pension Scheme for our employees.
• Death in Service Benefit.
• Free Employee Assistance Programme (open to colleagues and their families).
• Retail discounts accessible via our Benefits Hub platform!
• Refer a Friend Scheme (up to £300 per referral – T&C’s dependent).
• Employee Recognition Awards.
• Extensive Learning & Development opportunities (including opportunities for sponsored professional memberships and our own in‑house development course!).
• An opportunity to be part of a fantastic, growing organisation.

Our vision is to be the leading specialty bakery group in the UK, and we want the best people in place to achieve this. Our continued success is built entirely on the talented people who work here, so employee development is important to us because everyone is a valued member of the team, and we want every individual to have the skills and capabilities to achieve both your own personal goals and our business goals. We want good people to join our company, to help our company continue to go from strength to strength. If this sounds like you, please get in contact to learn more!