Operations Manager

At Pilgrim's Europe, we are proud to be one of the leading food manufacturers, dedicated to delivering high-quality meat products across the UK and Europe. With a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, and operational excellence, we are now seeking an experienced Operations Manager to join our team at our King's Lynn site.

Job Title – Operations Manager

Location – King's Lynn

Salary – Competitive

Contract Type – Permanent, Full-time

The purpose of this role is to lead the Operational teams to ensure the site is running efficiently and effectively, and that all targets are met, by developing the capacity and capability of your direct team of managers and by taking ownership of all operation areas.

Key Responsibilities

• Representing the Production / Operations team, as part of the Senior Leadership Team – delivering KPIs hourly, daily and weekly – to include providing actions and evidencing results, ensuring SIC boards are completed accordingly and in a timely manner to engage the wider team.
• Strategically planning both from a resource and capacity planning perspective (to include controllable improvements with standard manning / labour).
• Driving continuous improvement in all processes and quality.
• Challenging, mentoring and coaching people (to include objectively assessing own teams' performance) as well as challenging processes and practices within production.
• Actively promote and deliver improved health and safety behaviours – leading the achievement of a strong Health & Safety culture (and environmental awareness); living and breathing the ethos of “Safety is a Condition"
• Ensure excellent standards of General Manufacturing Practice and that the Production areas are audit ready at all times
• Manage all aspects of budgeted requirements incorporating management structures, staffing levels and all maintenance and operational costs ensure all resources are optimised across the site.
• Ensure the sites products are prepared and produced cost effectively in full compliance with legal standards and prescribed specifications
• Identify areas to reduce cost and maximise profit paying attention to standard yield and labour variance.
• Develop and maintain customer relations and be a contact for customers with responsibilities for liaising with and exceeding customer's expectations
• Assist with the formation of the sites Business and Quality / HACCP plans.
• Ensure compliance to the ETI base code and Ethical audits (Sedex/SMETA audits)
• Support and manage the 5S process within your areas of responsibility to drive continuous improvement and culture change
• Support the Operational Excellence Coordinator in the implementation and sustainability of the Management Pillar.

You Will Need:

• Previous experience of FMCG Manufacturing Operations.
• Qualifications – Food Safety, IOSH Managing Safely, HACCP, TACCP
• Working under and coping under pressure within a fast paced and ever-changing environment
• Foresee and identify challenges / problems and taking ownership of these through to conclusion.
• Understand the factors that affect efficiency
• Strong coaching and management development skills
• Capability to drive performance across a site and operate in an efficient and effective manner
• Has experience of setting and achieving targets (KPI'S), delivering desired margins.
• Sound knowledge of product costing's, budgetary management controls and manufacturing excellence standards applying prompt remedial action where necessary to avoid shortfalls in performance
• Has a comprehensive knowledge of manufacturing planning, processing and distribution
• Knowledge of continuous improvement tools and techniques e.g. 5s with the experience of rolling out change management programmes

Why Join Pilgrim's Europe?

• Competitive Pay – we reward performance with fair, competitive salaries
• Career Progression – As part of a global food business, you'll have access to genuine opportunities for development and promotion
• Training&Development – From structured learning pathways to hand-on experience, we're committed to helping you grow
• Pension&Life Assurance – Enjoy peace of mind with a solid workplace pension scheme and life cover
• Mental Health&Wellbeing Support – Access to mental health resources, and wellbeing initiatives
• Inclusive Culture – Be part of a diverse and supportive environment where everyone is encouraged to contribute and thrive
• Sustainability Focus – Work for a company that's actively reducing its environmental impact and driving responsible food production

Join us at King's Lynn and become part of a business where you can make a real difference – to your career, our customers, and the future of food!

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