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- Tasks: Lead daily operations in a fast-paced food manufacturing site and drive team performance.
- Company: Join a dynamic food manufacturing company focused on quality and safety.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a vibrant team culture.
- Other info: Opportunity to work in a collaborative environment with continuous improvement initiatives.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in food production while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in FMCG food manufacturing and strong leadership abilities required.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
The Operations Manager will be responsible for leading the day-to-day running of a fast-paced food manufacturing site. This role will drive performance across production, planning, training, quality, safety, and people management to ensure consistent delivery of service, standards, and output. The Operations Manager will lead multiple production lines, manage large teams, and continuously improve operational efficiency while upholding high food safety and audit compliance.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the daily operations across multiple production lines within a short shelf-life environment.
- Manage and develop cross-functional teams, ensuring strong communication and consistent performance.
- Oversee production planning, scheduling, labour allocation, and resource utilisation.
- Ensure all KPIs are delivered across yield, waste, downtime, labour efficiency, service, and OTIF.
Food Safety, Quality & Compliance
- Ensure full compliance with food safety, hygiene, GMP, HACCP, and audit standards.
- Lead and support customer and regulatory audits including preparation, hosting, and corrective action management.
- Maintain documentation and ensure all SOPs are followed consistently.
Training, Culture & People Development
- Work with Training teams to ensure all staff are trained, assessed, and competent.
- Drive a culture of accountability, engagement, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
- Lead performance management, absence control, succession planning, and staff development.
Continuous Improvement
- Identify and deliver improvements in output, labour utilisation, flow, and cost control.
- Support initiatives around lean manufacturing, standardisation, and efficiency.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Technical, Engineering, NPD, Planning, and HR.
- Act as the senior operational lead supporting the wider leadership team.
Key Skills & Experience
- Strong experience in FMCG food manufacturing.
- Proven leadership of large teams in a high-volume production environment.
- Experience managing KPIs, planning, training, and continuous improvement.
- Strong knowledge of HACCP, GMP, food safety standards, and audit expectations.
- Strong communication, decision-making, and organisational skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and lead through change.
Operations Manager in Newtownards employer: Protea Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Protea Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager in Newtownards
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the food manufacturing industry, especially those who work at companies you're interested in. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to operations management. Think about your past experiences and how they relate to the role. We want you to showcase your leadership skills and knowledge of food safety standards!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your achievements! When discussing your experience, highlight specific KPIs you've improved or projects you've led. Numbers speak volumes, so let them do the talking for you during interviews.
✨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 platform.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager in Newtownards
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Operations Manager role. Highlight your experience in FMCG food manufacturing and any leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your skills match up with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how you can drive performance across production and people management. Let us know what makes you the perfect fit!
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on specific achievements related to KPIs, continuous improvement, and team development. We love numbers, so if you can quantify your successes, even better!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can't wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Protea Recruitment
✨Know Your Operations Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the operations of a food manufacturing site. Familiarise yourself with key terms like HACCP, GMP, and the specific KPIs relevant to the role. This will not only help you answer questions confidently but also show your genuine interest in the position.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading large teams and managing cross-functional collaboration. Think of specific situations where you drove performance improvements or handled challenges effectively. This will demonstrate your capability to lead in a fast-paced environment.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Be ready to discuss your approach to continuous improvement and how you've implemented changes in previous roles. Share any successful initiatives you've led around lean manufacturing or efficiency gains, as this aligns perfectly with the expectations for the Operations Manager role.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the company's culture, their approach to training and development, and how they measure success in the role. This shows that you're not just interested in the job, but also in how you can contribute to the team's success and grow within the company.