Strategic Recruitment Lead — Manufacturing & Bakery in London

Strategic Recruitment Lead — Manufacturing & Bakery in London

London Full-Time 40000 - 50000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
The Bread Factory Private

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead recruitment for a top bakery, attracting the best talent in manufacturing and baking.
  • Company: Join The Bread Factory, London's leading Artisan Bakery with a mission to feed people better.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
  • Other info: Be part of a dynamic team focused on innovation and sustainability.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainable practices in a world-class bakery environment.
  • Qualifications: Experience in talent acquisition, especially in manufacturing or food production.

The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board. The Bread Factory is London's leading Artisan Bakery, known for award-winning breads, pastries, and cakes, supplying top-quality products across e-commerce, grocery, food services, and retailers such as our GAIL's Bakeries nationwide. We're on a mission to feed people better - and to become one of the top 5 bakeries in the world. That ambition starts with our people. From expert bakers to manufacturing specialists and support teams, we believe exceptional talent is the key ingredient in everything we do.

The Role

As Recruitment Manager you will own and deliver the end-to-end recruitment strategy for our bakery and manufacturing operations. You'll be responsible for attracting and hiring the very best bakers and best-in-class manufacturing talent across technical, engineering, quality, supply chain, and operational support functions. This role is both strategic and hands-on. You'll build long-term talent pipelines to support growth, innovation, and our evolving ambition to be a more sustainable business – ensuring we have the right skills today and for the future.

Every day is different at The Bread Factory, but here are some of the things you will be doing:

  • Recruitment Strategy & Workforce Planning
    • Own and deliver the recruitment strategy for bakery manufacturing, covering bakers, production, engineering, technical, and manufacturing support roles
    • Partner with business and operational leaders to understand current and future capability needs
    • Anticipate future skills required to support innovation, automation, and sustainable manufacturing
  • Sourcing & Attraction
    • Proactively source and attract skilled bakers and best-in-class manufacturing talent using creative, targeted sourcing approaches
    • Build robust talent pipelines across core and hard-to-fill manufacturing and support roles
    • Strengthen our employer brand as a destination for purpose-led, sustainable manufacturing careers
  • End-to-End Recruitment Delivery
    • Manage the full recruitment lifecycle from role briefing through to offer and onboarding
    • Deliver a high-quality, inclusive candidate experience that reflects our purpose, values, and ambition
    • Use data and insight to track recruitment effectiveness and inform continuous improvement
  • Sustainability & Future Focus
    • Embed our sustainability ambition into recruitment strategy and attraction messaging
    • Partner with leaders to identify and attract future-focused skills that support sustainable baking and manufacturing practices
    • Support initiatives that promote long-term workforce sustainability, capability building, and talent development
  • Stakeholder Partnership
    • Act as a trusted advisor to hiring managers, providing market insight and coaching on best practice
    • Collaborate with key stakeholders to align recruitment with wider business and culture initiatives

Experience & Skills

  • Proven experience in talent acquisition, ideally within manufacturing, food production, or FMCG
  • Experience recruiting across both operational and support functions
  • Strong sourcing capability and a track record of building talent pipelines
  • Ability to think strategically while remaining hands-on and delivery focused
  • Lead and coach a team to deliver overall Talent strategy

Personal Attributes

  • Passion for purpose-led recruitment and building future-ready teams
  • Strong commercial and stakeholder management skills
  • Curious mindset with an interest in sustainability, innovation, and continuous improvement
  • A natural connector who enjoys being close to the business

Why Join Us?

  • Shape the people strategy behind an ambitious, world-class bakery business
  • Make a tangible impact on how we grow, innovate, and operate sustainably
  • Help bring our mission to life: to feed people better

Strategic Recruitment Lead — Manufacturing & Bakery in London employer: The Bread Factory Private

The Bread Factory is not just a leading Artisan Bakery in London; it's a vibrant workplace where exceptional talent is nurtured and valued. With a strong commitment to sustainability and innovation, employees enjoy a collaborative culture that encourages personal growth and development, alongside competitive benefits. Join us to be part of a mission-driven team dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the world of baking.

The Bread Factory Private

Contact Details:

The Bread Factory Private Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Strategic Recruitment Lead — Manufacturing & Bakery in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the bakery and manufacturing sectors. Attend industry events, join relevant online groups, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential employers on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or a personal website that highlights your achievements and experience in recruitment. This is especially important for roles like Strategic Recruitment Lead where showcasing your strategic thinking and hands-on approach can set you apart from the crowd.

Tip Number 3

Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job postings to appear. Reach out directly to companies you admire, like The Bread Factory, and express your interest in working with them. Tailor your message to show how your skills align with their mission of sustainable manufacturing.

Tip Number 4

Utilise our website! We’ve got loads of resources and tips to help you nail that interview. Make sure to check out our guides on preparing for interviews, understanding company culture, and how to present yourself as the perfect fit for roles in manufacturing and bakery recruitment.

We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Recruitment Lead — Manufacturing & Bakery in London

Talent Acquisition
Recruitment Strategy
Workforce Planning
Sourcing Skills
Building Talent Pipelines
Stakeholder Management
Data Analysis

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your passion for baking and sustainability shine through. We want to see that you care about our mission to feed people better and how you can contribute to that goal.

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Strategic Recruitment Lead. Highlight your experience in talent acquisition within manufacturing or food production, and don’t forget to mention any relevant skills that align with our values and ambitions.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Be specific about your achievements in recruitment and how they relate to our bakery and manufacturing operations. We love a good story!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team at The Bread Factory!

How to prepare for a job interview at The Bread Factory Private

Know Your Bakery Basics

Before the interview, brush up on your knowledge of the bakery industry and The Bread Factory's mission. Understand their products and values, as this will show your genuine interest in the role and help you connect with the interviewers.

Showcase Your Sourcing Skills

Be prepared to discuss your experience in talent acquisition, especially within manufacturing or food production. Have specific examples ready that demonstrate your ability to build talent pipelines and attract top-notch candidates.

Emphasise Sustainability

Since sustainability is a key focus for The Bread Factory, think about how you can incorporate this into your recruitment strategy. Share ideas on how to attract future-focused skills that align with their sustainable practices.

Engage with Stakeholders

Highlight your experience in collaborating with hiring managers and stakeholders. Be ready to discuss how you've acted as a trusted advisor in previous roles, providing insights and coaching on best practices in recruitment.