Central Kitchen Operations Manager in Slough

Site-based role – Central Kitchen, North Acton, London

Salary: £60,000 per annum

Reports to: Operations Director

Job Overview

We are looking for an experienced and highly capable Central Kitchen Operations Manager to lead the full operational performance of our Central Kitchen. This is a site-based leadership role responsible for production, product consistency, compliance, food safety, people development, and operational excellence at scale. You will own the production environment end-to-end — ensuring accuracy, quality, and efficiency across all processes, while driving continuous improvement and supporting Pure’s growth as a multi-channel, multi-site food business. This is a role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced CPU/CK environment, is deeply organised, understands traceability and SALSA standards, and can lead a team to deliver consistent output with pride.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Development
  • Lead, coach, and develop the entire Central Kitchen team, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and wellbeing.
  • Recruit, onboard, and train team members (including night shifts where applicable).
  • Build strong succession plans (“Plan Bs”) and maintain an accurate organisational structure.
  • Ensure daily briefs, performance check-ins, and strong communication channels.
  • Uphold high standards of professionalism, teamwork, and engagement.
• Operational Leadership
  • Oversee all day-to-day Central Kitchen operations to deliver safe, consistent, high-quality food at scale.
  • Ensure all production meets agreed specifications, weight, portions, and presentation standards.
  • Maintain full compliance with food safety, HACCP, SALSA, FoodBuy, and EHO requirements.
  • Implement and maintain traceability systems, batch coding, and robust record keeping.
  • Build and refine Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to standardise workflow, minimise waste, and improve accuracy.
  • Lead CP processes, daily run sheets, night shift workflows, and end-of-shift cleaning routines.
  • Manage equipment, maintenance schedules, and ensure the site remains fully operational at all times.
• Project Management & Strategic Improvement
  • Drive operational improvement projects including automation, digital traceability, process redesign, and new equipment implementation.
  • Lead strategic long-term development of the Central Kitchen — including potential relocation, expansion, or infrastructure upgrades.
  • Partner cross-functionally with Retail, Menu Development, Supply Chain, Finance, and Operations to ensure alignment and innovation.
  • Analyse operational data to identify trends, reduce waste, improve efficiency, and strengthen throughput.
• Financial Accountability
  • Manage the full P&L for the Central Kitchen, ensuring labour, waste, purchasing, and overheads stay within target.
  • Produce accurate forecasts, budgets, and weekly financial reports.
  • Constantly look for cost efficiencies without compromising product quality.
  • Control ordering, purchasing, and supplier performance for optimal value and consistency.
• Quality, Food Safety & Compliance
  • Ensure all products consistently meet Pure's highest quality standards.
  • Maintain and strengthen quality assurance systems, cross-checking production accuracy, weights, temperatures, and shelf life.
  • Conduct internal audits and ensure readiness for SALSA, EHO, and internal compliance checks at all times.
  • Implement corrective actions swiftly when deviations occur.
  • Create a culture where food safety is non-negotiable at every stage.

Required Experience

• Significant experience in a Central Kitchen, CPU, large-scale kitchen, or food manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge and hands-on experience with traceability systems, SALSA standards, HACCP, and structured compliance procedures.
• Proven ability to build and implement new processes, SOPs, and production workflows.
• Demonstrated experience managing large, diverse teams across multiple shifts.
• Strong financial acumen and experience owning a P&L.
• Project management experience, ideally including automation or infrastructure upgrades.
• High organisational ability, calm under pressure, and solutions-focused.
• A passion for quality, consistency, and operational excellence.

What Your First 6 Months May Look Like

• Strengthened and stabilised your leadership team, creating a clear structure for success.
• Implemented improvements in traceability, automation, and SALSA procedures.
• Reduced waste, improved accuracy, and optimised batch production workflows.
• Built strong relationships with suppliers and internal teams.
• Created a long-term operational strategy that enables the Central Kitchen to scale sustainably — through new processes, equipment upgrades, or potential site development.

Our Values at Pure

At Pure, everything we do is guided by our values:

• THOUGHTFUL: We communicate clearly and act with awareness and respect.
• PASSIONATE: We bring energy, joy, and pride to our work.
• INVENTIVE: We move fast, stay agile, and take accountability.
• GENEROUS: We support each other and act with kindness every day.

These values shape how we work, lead, and deliver excellence across the Central Kitchen and the wider Pure family.

✨ Ready to Lead Our Central Kitchen? If you’re driven, operationally strong, passionate about food quality, and ready to make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and help shape the future of Pure’s Central Kitchen.