At a Glance
- Tasks: Analyse manufacturing performance and drive operational improvements in a dynamic food production environment.
- Company: Join Humdinger, a leading UK nut processing site with a focus on quality and safety.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, pension plans, life assurance, and healthcare cash plan.
- Other info: Collaborative team culture with opportunities for career growth and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on food manufacturing efficiency and sustainability while developing your analytical skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in food manufacturing and strong analytical skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 32000 - 33000 € per year.
Humdinger are seeking an Operations Variance Analyst to support manufacturing performance, material control, and operational improvement across our food manufacturing site. This is a factory-facing analytical role focused on understanding manufacturing variances, material usage, yield performance, waste reduction, and operational process improvement within a nut processing and packing environment. The role acts as the operational lead for manufacturing data integrity and ERP process compliance, ensuring accurate work order management, material traceability, and stock accuracy while supporting continuous improvement across Production operations. This role is not a warehouse stock control or logistics analyst position. The successful candidate will work closely with Production, Operations, Planning, Warehouse, and Finance teams to analyse factory performance, investigate variances, and drive operational improvements.
Responsibilities
- Analyse and report on manufacturing variances including material usage, yield performance, waste, work order variances, and stock discrepancies.
- Review and validate work orders to ensure accurate material reporting before closure.
- Investigate root causes of operational and material variances across the site.
- Produce daily, weekly, and monthly operational performance reports.
- Monitor operational KPIs and identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
- Support Operational teams in achieving material usage and efficiency improvement targets.
- Work closely with Production and Warehouse Management teams to improve operational performance.
- Identify areas of non-conformance and implement corrective actions/countermeasures.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on waste reduction, material yield, stock accuracy, process compliance, and operational efficiency.
- Provide analysis and challenge to operational teams to drive best practice and performance improvements.
- Act as the site Operational Super User for QAD ERP processes.
- Provide coaching and guidance to operational teams on correct ERP usage and transaction accuracy.
- Support internal and external audits relating to ERP controls and material traceability.
- Facilitate and support site stock-taking activities.
- Manage annual audited stock-take ERP updates.
- Monitor cycle counting completion and stock accuracy performance within processing and packing.
- Analyse slow-moving, obsolete, short-dated, and end-of-life materials to minimise write-offs.
- Support corrective actions to eliminate recurring material variances.
Qualifications
- Experience within food manufacturing, FMCG, or factory operations.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
- Experience analysing manufacturing or operational performance data.
- Understanding of material usage, yield, waste, manufacturing variances, work orders, and ERP transactions.
- Experience using ERP/MRP systems (QAD desirable).
- Strong Excel and reporting skills.
- Comfortable working cross-functionally with operational teams on the factory floor.
- Ability to challenge processes and drive operational improvements.
Rewards Benefits
- 25 days holiday entitlement.
- 4% employer and 5% employee pension plan.
- Life assurance plan x4 basic salary.
- Various salary sacrifice schemes including pension payments, cycle to work and electric car (subject to meeting minimum criteria).
- Healthcare cash plan via paycare (Dental, Optical, Chiropody, Professional Therapy, Counselling) with a value over £400 each year.
Application & Interview Process
Please apply online via our careers portal: create your account, upload your CV, and answer all the requested questions. You will then be contacted by our Talent Acquisition team via phone call to explore your experience and suitability for the role in more detail.
First Stage Interview – Teams Call
If selected, you will be invited to an online 1st stage Teams interview. This will be a structured interview focused on your experience in manufacturing operations analysis, material and process variance investigation, operational reporting, ERP system usage, and your ability to identify and drive improvements in areas such as waste, yield, stock accuracy, and factory performance within a manufacturing environment.
Second Stage Interview – On Site
Successful candidates from Stage 1 will be invited to a second-stage on-site assessment and interview. This stage is designed to assess your analytical thinking, operational problem-solving, and ability to investigate manufacturing and material variances within a factory environment. As part of the assessment process, candidates will complete a scenario-based operational analysis exercise, and a practical Excel assessment relevant to operational reporting and data analysis.
Humdinger is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Please let us know if you require any special arrangements or adjustments to be made for your interview by speaking with the Talent Acquisition team at application stage.
For detailed information on how we process your personal data, please review our candidate privacy policy on our career’s portal.
Operations Variance Analyst employer: Zertus UK & Ireland
Humdinger is an exceptional employer located in Bromborough, offering a dynamic work environment focused on operational excellence and continuous improvement within the food manufacturing sector. Employees benefit from a supportive culture that encourages professional growth, with opportunities to engage in meaningful projects aimed at enhancing manufacturing performance and efficiency. With competitive benefits including generous holiday entitlement, a robust pension plan, and a healthcare cash plan, Humdinger is dedicated to the well-being and development of its workforce.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Variance Analyst
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Humdinger's operations, values, and recent news. This will help you tailor your conversation during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for common interview questions related to manufacturing analysis and operational improvements. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and highlight your problem-solving skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Network like a pro! Connect with current or former employees on LinkedIn to gain insights about the company culture and the role. They might even share tips that could give you an edge in the interview process.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows that you're proactive and serious about joining the Humdinger team.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Variance Analyst
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Operations Variance Analyst role. Highlight your experience in food manufacturing, analytical skills, and any relevant ERP system knowledge. We want to see how your background fits with our needs!
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:In your application, emphasise your problem-solving capabilities and your experience with manufacturing performance data. We love candidates who can dig deep into variances and suggest improvements, so don’t hold back!
Be Clear and Concise:When filling out the application, keep your answers clear and to the point. Use bullet points if necessary to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate straightforward communication that gets right to the heart of your experience.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our careers portal! Create your account, upload your CV, and answer all the questions. This helps us keep everything organised and makes sure your application gets the attention it deserves.
How to prepare for a job interview at Zertus UK & Ireland
✨Know Your Numbers
As an Operations Variance Analyst, you'll be dealing with a lot of data. Brush up on your understanding of manufacturing variances, material usage, and yield performance. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past experience where you successfully analysed these metrics.
✨Master the ERP System
Familiarise yourself with ERP systems, especially QAD if possible. During the interview, highlight your experience with ERP transactions and how you've ensured data integrity in previous roles. This will show that you're prepared to take on the operational super user role.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to discuss how you've tackled operational challenges in the past. Think of specific instances where you identified variances or inefficiencies and implemented corrective actions. This will demonstrate your analytical thinking and ability to drive improvements.
✨Be Ready for Practical Assessments
Since the second stage involves practical exercises, practice your Excel skills and be prepared for scenario-based questions. Brush up on your reporting techniques and be ready to showcase how you can analyse data effectively to support operational performance.
