Area Manager - Packing in Haverhill

Summary

Lead packing and despatch performance in a fast‑paced food manufacturing environment.

The Role

Our new Area Manager (Packing and Despatch) will lead and develop high‑performing teams, ensuring production targets are met while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, cost control and people management. This is a hands‑on leadership role with full accountability for team performance, staffing, compliance and continuous improvement.

Working closely with Planning, Technical and Operations teams, you will ensure customer demand is met through efficient packing, accurate despatch and full product traceability. This role is site‑based and plays a key part in delivering operational excellence within a food manufacturing environment.

Hours of work: 7am–3pm Monday to Friday at our Haverhill site.

Pay: £20.46 per hour.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Managing packing and despatch teams in line with all risk assessments, company procedures and statutory requirements.
• Embedding a Safety‑First culture, ensuring full compliance with Health & Safety, COSHH and PPE standards.
• Planning and delivering packing operations to maximise efficiency, throughput and Packs Per Minute, without compromising quality or hygiene.
• Ensuring all finished goods are packed, palletised, documented and despatched accurately and on time.
• Maintaining full control and traceability of finished goods, raw materials and packaging.
• Monitoring, recording and assigning packing downtime accurately to support performance analysis.
• Ensuring all operational paperwork is completed accurately and on time, keeping the department audit‑ready at all times.
• Supporting continuous improvement initiatives and deputising for the Shift Manager when required.

The Ideal Candidate

• Experience as an FMCG operational manager in a fast‑paced food manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of packing line equipment and throughput requirements within a food production environment.
• Confidence identifying, preventing and resolving operational issues before they impact performance.
• Clear and effective communication, using data and insight to support decision‑making.
• Proactive self‑starter who motivates and engages teams through inclusive leadership.
• Personal ownership of line and team performance.
• Holistic understanding of day‑to‑day operational and business requirements.
• Willingness to learn, adapt and collaborate productively with cross‑functional teams.

Why Sofina Foods?

• Paid breaks
• Company pension
• Canteen & on‑site parking
• Life insurance
• Referral programme
• Health & wellbeing support
• Online benefits hub

Company Information

Sofina Foods isn\’t just a food company — it’s a place to build your future. With a team of over 13,000 people across 40 sites in Canada and Europe, we’re passionate about delivering quality meats and seafood products to consumers around the world. Join a company where innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction drive everything we do. At Sofina, you’ll grow your skills, make a real impact, and work with responsibly sourced products from more than 50 protein sources across five continents. Our vision is bold: to be the most successful food company in the world.

Equal Opportunities

Sofina Foods is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences – regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Schedule

Monday to Friday

Location

Haverhill, Suffolk

Hours of Work

Full‑time

Company

Sofina Foods

Country Code

GB