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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the start-up of new production lines and drive performance improvements in pet food manufacturing.
- Company: Join Mars Petcare, a purpose-driven company dedicated to pet health and happiness.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonuses, and strong development opportunities in a global organisation.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for career growth and a focus on sustainability.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on pet nutrition while championing continuous improvement and innovation.
- Qualifications: Engineering degree or equivalent experience with a background in FMCG or high-volume manufacturing.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Location: Birstall, Leeds
Salary: Competitive + Bonus + Benefits
Type: Full-time, Permanent
The Role
We’re looking for a Start-Up Manager to play a pivotal role in delivering new production assets and driving performance across a fast-paced pet food manufacturing environment. You’ll lead commissioning, validation, and start-up of equipment while owning the site’s loss analysis agenda—identifying where we lose efficiency, speed, and quality, and turning those insights into high-impact improvement projects. This role is critical to ensuring our lines start strong, run efficiently, and continuously improve in a high-volume, high-demand setting—helping us deliver the quality pet nutrition that millions of pets rely on every day.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Lead commissioning, validation, and start-up (CVS) of lines/equipment and new product development
- Drive safe, right-first-time start-ups with a strong focus on quality, food safety, and compliance
- Own and lead site-wide loss analysis across key metrics (OEE, waste, downtime, speed loss)
- Identify and prioritise the biggest losses impacting throughput, cost, and service
- Build and manage a pipeline of focused improvement projects aligned to business priorities
- Lead delivery of loss reduction initiatives—from data analysis through to shopfloor implementation and sustainment
- Apply structured problem-solving tools (RCA, 5 Whys, DMAIC) to eliminate root causes of chronic losses
- Champion TPM principles, embedding a culture of continuous improvement and operator ownership
- Work closely with production, engineering, and maintenance teams to improve line reliability and efficiency
- Support rapid ramp-up of new lines to target speeds, waste, and quality standards
- Support the delivery of site innovation projects (NPD/NPI) by identifying, monitoring, and escalating risks during relevant innovation stage-gate milestones across issues pertaining to People, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, H&S
What We’re Looking For
- Engineering or technical degree (or equivalent experience)
- Strong experience in FMCG or high-volume manufacturing environments (food/pet food preferred)
- Proven track record in commissioning/start-up and driving line performance improvements
- Deep understanding of OEE, loss trees, and waste reduction in a production setting
- Experience delivering measurable improvements in efficiency, waste, and downtime
- Knowledge of TPM, Lean, or Six Sigma methodologies
- Strong presence on the shopfloor with the ability to engage and influence operators and leaders
- Data-driven, results-focused, and comfortable working at pace
Why Join Mars Petcare?
- Be part of a purpose-driven business: A Better World for Pets
- Work on products that make a real difference to the health and happiness of pets globally
- Join a company guided by the Five Principles: Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, and Freedom
- Be empowered to own both start-up success and ongoing operational performance
- Access strong development opportunities within a global organisation that invests in its people
- Contribute to industry-leading standards in food safety, quality, and sustainability
Mars is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable adjustments for individuals with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or who are neurodiverse during the application and recruitment process. To request reasonable adjustments, complete our Reasonable Adjustment Request Form here.
Start Up Manager in Batley employer: Mars
Contact Detail:
Mars Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Start Up Manager in Batley
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you stand out as someone who genuinely cares about contributing to their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your problem-solving skills during interviews. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've tackled challenges in previous roles, especially in high-volume manufacturing settings. This will demonstrate your ability to drive performance improvements.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our brand.
We think you need these skills to ace Start Up Manager in Batley
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Start-Up Manager role. Highlight your experience in FMCG or high-volume manufacturing, and don’t forget to showcase your skills in commissioning and performance improvements. 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 passionate about pet nutrition and how your background aligns with our mission. We love seeing genuine enthusiasm, so let your personality come through!
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, be sure to mention specific examples of how you've used structured problem-solving tools like RCA or DMAIC in past roles. We’re all about continuous improvement, and we want to know how you’ve driven results in your previous positions.
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’re considered for the role. Plus, you’ll get to explore more about our company culture and values while you’re at it!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mars
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your engineering principles and technical knowledge related to FMCG and high-volume manufacturing. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully commissioned equipment or improved line performance in the past.
✨Show Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to demonstrate your understanding of structured problem-solving tools like RCA, 5 Whys, and DMAIC. Think of a time when you identified a chronic loss and how you tackled it—this will show your analytical skills and ability to drive improvements.
✨Engage with the Team
Since this role involves working closely with production, engineering, and maintenance teams, be prepared to talk about how you’ve effectively collaborated with others in the past. Highlight your ability to influence and engage operators and leaders on the shop floor.
✨Align with Company Values
Familiarise yourself with Mars Petcare's Five Principles: Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency, and Freedom. Be ready to discuss how your personal values align with these principles and how you can contribute to a better world for pets.