Kitchen Production Manager

Commutable from Shepton Mallet, Wincanton, Yeovil, Taunton, Frome, Glastonbury and surrounding areas.

Up to £43,000 DOE + Quarterly Bonus + Career Progression.

Lead the Future of Premium Food Production.

Are you an experienced Production manager with a real passion for food - looking to take ownership of a modern, purpose-built production kitchen? This is an opportunity to join a growing food manufacturing business with ambitious expansion plans, producing premium prepared foods for retail, wholesale and hospitality customers.

You'll lead a talented production team, influence the future of the operation, and play a key role in delivering exceptional food at scale. If you're passionate about quality, operational excellence and developing people, this could be the next step in your career.

The Role

As Production Head Chef, you'll take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the production kitchen, ensuring products are manufactured safely, efficiently and to the highest quality standards. Working closely with the Operations Manager and Technical team, you'll oversee production across a range of premium products including slow-cooked meats, soups, braises and frozen ready meals, while driving continuous improvement across people, processes and performance.

You'll be responsible for:

• Leading daily production across multiple product categories.
• Managing production within both low-care and high-care environments.
• Inspiring, coaching and developing Production Chefs, Kitchen Assistants and Hygiene Operatives.
• Delivering production targets while improving yield, efficiency and reducing waste.
• Maintaining the highest standards of food safety, hygiene and quality compliance.
• Working alongside technical teams to support audits, approvals and accreditations.
• Improving production planning, workflows and manufacturing processes.
• Supporting new product development and successful product launches.
• Creating a positive, high-performing team culture.

About You

You'll be a hands-on leader who enjoys working in a fast-paced production environment and understands how to balance quality, efficiency and team performance.

You'll bring:

• Proven experience leading a food production kitchen or food manufacturing operation.
• Experience producing ready meals, cooked meats or similar prepared food products.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, HACCP principles and regulatory compliance.
• Experience within high-care and low-care production environments.
• Excellent leadership, organisation and people management skills.
• A continuous improvement mindset with a focus on operational performance.

It would be great if you also have:

• Experience within chilled or frozen ready meal manufacturing.
• Knowledge of SALSA standards and Food Standards Agency approvals.
• Experience supplying retail, wholesale or hospitality customers.
• Food Safety, HACCP or leadership qualifications.

Why Join?

Our client is a well-established and growing food producer with an excellent reputation for producing premium products using high-quality ingredients. Operating from a modern manufacturing facility, they are investing in both their people and their production capabilities to support continued growth.

This is an opportunity to join a business where your ideas will be valued, your leadership will make a genuine impact, and your career can develop alongside the company's ambitious plans.

What's on Offer?

• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Quarterly performance bonus.
• 40-hour week across five days (with flexibility where required).
• Modern, purpose-built production facility.
• Supportive and collaborative leadership team.
• Genuine opportunities for career development and progression.
• The chance to shape and grow a high-performing production operation.

Reports to: Operations Manager.

If you're looking for a leadership role where you can combine culinary expertise with operational excellence in a growing food manufacturing business, we'd love to hear from you.