At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to ensure high-quality food production and safety standards.
- Company: Join Greencore, a leading UK convenience food creator with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, holidays, pension contributions, and exclusive employee discounts.
- Other info: On-the-job training and excellent career growth opportunities await you.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in food production while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing teams and advanced Food Hygiene accreditation required.
The predicted salary is between 30919 - 37789 £ per year.
Why Greencore? Following the combination with Bakkavor in January 2026, we’re one of the UK’s leading creators of convenience food, driven by a simple purpose: to make every day taste better. As a vibrant and fast-moving business, we’re proud to employ over 28,000 talented colleagues across 36 manufacturing sites and 21 distribution depots in the UK and the US. Together, we bring delicious food to life. Our products cover every meal occasion from breakfast through to dinner and dessert, with lunch and snacking in between. In FY25, our shared passion helped us achieve combined revenues of approximately £4bn. Our extensive direct to store (DTS) network, with 17 depots across the UK, allows us to deliver fresh and frozen food both our own and from trusted partners to thousands of stores every day, ensuring consumers enjoy the very best, whenever and wherever they shop.
Here at Northampton, we operate one of the most impressive facilities in Europe, based across a campus of 5 manufacturing units, and we have a team of around 2,000 colleagues making high quality premium products every day. We are the sole supplier of sandwiches, wraps, rolls and sushi for Marks & Spencer. At Greencore we actively encourage our colleagues to apply for our vacancies, whether as a lateral move to broaden experience or the next step up to progress your career and development. We also welcome applications from external candidates who are eager to grow their career with us.
What you’ll be doing
- As Production Zone Manager you will lead nominated colleagues and manage the consistent application of processes within a given department or zone to ensure products are prepared and manufactured to the agreed standards and production plans.
- Shift: Nights / Friday to Tuesday
- Deliver department/zone productivity and efficiency targets to produce goods in line with the agreed production plan.
- Continuously monitor raw materials/ingredients, all operational processes and the overall production environment to ensure that all activity comply with food safety manufacturing standards.
- Monitor and review labour deployment to ensure that the availability and alignment fits with the production requirements of the department.
- Effectively communicate with the operations team report progress against plan, highlighting any risks to the achievement of volumes and standards.
- Monitors the effectiveness of machinery and equipment, through Optimum Equipment Efficiency (OEE), to ensure performance consistency and reliability.
- Promote a Health, Safety and Environment culture within the department, complying to procedures, accident investigation, corrective actions and completing near miss reporting, promoting a safe working environment.
- Review operational trends within department / zone. Identify and act on opportunities that can make sustainable improvements in all areas including quality, performance and profit and the ultimately delivery of the operational plan.
- Monitor and review team capability, ensuring all colleagues are clearly focused on their key objectives and are developed to maximise their potential.
- Actively contribute to both customer and technical process development reviews to promote improvement to quality and consistency of production.
What we’re looking for
- Experience of managing diverse teams in a complex manufacturing environment.
- Holds an advanced Food Hygiene accreditation.
- Has a HACCP level 2 qualification and IOSH level 2 qualification.
If this sounds like you, join us and grow with Greencore, and be a part of driving our future success.
What you’ll get in return
- Competitive salary and job-related benefits.
- Holidays.
- Competitive matched pension contributions.
- Life insurance up to 4x salary.
- Company share save scheme.
- Exclusive Greencore employee discount platform.
- Access to a full Wellbeing Centre platform.
- Enhanced parental leave and menopause policies.
Throughout your time at Greencore, you will be supported with on the job training and development opportunities to further your career. We reserve the right to close this advertisement before the stated closing date.
Zone Manager in Northampton employer: Our Vacancies
Greencore is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and development. Located in Kiveton, the UK's largest quiche bakery, we provide competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and extensive training opportunities, ensuring our Hygiene Operatives can thrive in their roles while contributing to our commitment to high hygiene standards.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Zone Manager in Northampton
✨Join Local Manufacturing Groups
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✨Apply Directly Through Company Websites
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We think you need these skills to ace Zone Manager in Northampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In the manufacturing-production sector, it's crucial to highlight your technical skills and experience. Make sure your CV features any relevant qualifications, such as certifications in machinery operation or production management, and don’t forget about any specific systems or software you’re familiar with. This can really set you apart!
Emphasise Teamwork and Communication:Working in manufacturing often means being part of a larger team. Highlight your experience in collaborative projects or environments where communication was key. Maybe you have experience with lean manufacturing principles? Talk about how you worked with your team to improve productivity and maintain quality.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Company:Don’t just recycle an old cover letter! Take the time to tailor your cover letter to Our Vacancies specifically. Mention what excites you about their production processes or products, and how your previous experiences can contribute to their goals. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role!
Use Concrete Examples of Your Achievements:When detailing your work experience, include measurable achievements that can demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving efficiency by a certain percentage or successfully leading a project, these specifics can make a huge difference. Numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!
How to prepare for a job interview at Our Vacancies
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with Our Vacancies, brush up on the specific manufacturing processes relevant to the role. Understanding lean manufacturing principles or quality control techniques could give you a solid edge to discuss how you’d fit into their operations.
✨Technical Questions Are Key
Be prepared for technical questions around machinery, production scheduling, or materials handling. Make sure you can confidently explain how you've dealt with these in past experiences or internships. Knowing industry-specific software could also be a big plus!
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Manufacturing environments often focus on continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved a production issue or implemented a process improvement. It’s all about demonstrating your analytical thinking and hands-on approach.
✨Align Your Values with Quality and Safety
In a full-time role, companies like Our Vacancies value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.
