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 50000 - 60000 £ 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 employer: The Bread Factory Private
The Bread Factory is an exceptional employer that prioritises its people, offering a vibrant work culture where creativity and sustainability thrive. As a leader in the artisan bakery sector, employees benefit from opportunities for professional growth, a commitment to innovation, and the chance to contribute to a mission-driven organisation dedicated to feeding people better. Join us in shaping the future of sustainable baking while enjoying a supportive environment that values your contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Recruitment Lead — Manufacturing & Bakery
✨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. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for baking and sustainability! When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers or during interviews, make sure to highlight your enthusiasm for purpose-led recruitment and how you can contribute to their mission of feeding people better. We want to see that spark!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews by researching The Bread Factory and its values. Understand their commitment to sustainability and innovation, and think about how your skills align with their goals. We love candidates who come in ready to discuss how they can help us become one of the top 5 bakeries in the world!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for talent that fits our culture and values, so make sure to showcase your unique skills and experiences that align with our bakery and manufacturing needs.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Recruitment Lead — Manufacturing & Bakery
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 our ambitious goals.
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 creative sourcing strategies you've used!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've built talent pipelines and improved recruitment processes in the past. Make it personal and engaging!
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 this exciting opportunity 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, especially if you have a background in manufacturing or food production. Understanding the nuances of artisan baking and the specific challenges faced by bakeries will show your genuine interest and help you connect with the interviewers.
✨Showcase Your Sourcing Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience in talent acquisition, particularly in sourcing skilled bakers and manufacturing talent. Share specific examples of how you've built talent pipelines and attracted top candidates, as this aligns directly with the role's requirements.
✨Emphasise Sustainability
Since The Bread Factory is focused on sustainability, come ready to discuss how you've incorporated sustainable practices into your recruitment strategies. Highlight any initiatives you've led that promote long-term workforce sustainability and capability building.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Demonstrate your ability to act as a trusted advisor to hiring managers. Prepare to share examples of how you've collaborated with stakeholders to align recruitment with business goals. This will showcase your strategic thinking and partnership skills, which are crucial for this role.
