At a Glance
- Tasks: Analyse manufacturing data to drive operational improvements and enhance factory performance.
- 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: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in food manufacturing while developing your analytical skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in food manufacturing and strong analytical skills required.
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.
Position type: Permanent, full time
Hours: 37.5 per week
Salary: £32,000 - £33,000
Shift Pattern: Monday - Friday, 08:30 - 16:30
Closing date: 12/06/2026
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.
- Analyse conformance-to-plan performance and identify areas impacting customer service levels.
Continuous Improvement & Factory Performance
- 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.
- Support site material improvement initiatives and cost reduction activities.
ERP & Operational Systems Support
- 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 operational process compliance relating to material movements, traceability, and work order management.
- Support internal and external audits relating to ERP controls and material traceability.
- Ensure ERP transactions accurately reflect factory activity and material consumption.
Stock Accuracy & Material Control
- 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.
- Monitor PFU materials to ensure timely processing and inventory control.
- 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.
About Us
Humdinger Bromborough (Wirral) is a major UK nut processing and packing site, employing around 200 people within a 67,000 sq. ft purpose built facility. The site has a long heritage in nut and peanut processing and became part of Humdinger in 2023. Today, Bromborough processes and packs over 23,000 tonnes per year, supplying high quality nut snacks, peanut products and ingredients across retail, food service and ingredient channels. With a strong focus on allergen control, dry roasting expertise and operational excellence, the site plays a critical role in delivering safe, compliant and high quality snacking products to customers.
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.
Production Data Analyst employer: Zertus UK & Ireland
Humdinger is an exceptional employer located in Bromborough, offering a dynamic work environment that prioritises employee growth and operational excellence. With a strong focus on continuous improvement, employees benefit from comprehensive training opportunities, a supportive team culture, and a competitive benefits package including generous holiday entitlement and a healthcare cash plan. Join us to be part of a dedicated team that values innovation and collaboration in the food manufacturing sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Production Data Analyst
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Humdinger's values, products, and recent news. This will help you tailor your conversation during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the team.
✨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
Don’t underestimate the power of networking! Connect with current or former employees on LinkedIn. They can provide insights about the company culture and even give you tips on how to ace your interview.
✨Tip Number 4
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. Don’t forget to follow up after applying!
We think you need these skills to ace Production Data Analyst
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Production Data Analyst role. Highlight your experience in manufacturing operations analysis and any relevant skills, like ERP system usage and data reporting. We want to see how your background fits with what we're looking for!
Be Clear and Concise:When filling out your application, keep your answers clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate straightforward communication, especially when it comes to your experience and achievements.
Show Your Analytical Skills:Since this role is all about analysing data and driving improvements, make sure to showcase your analytical skills in your application. Share specific examples of how you've tackled operational challenges or improved processes in previous roles. We love a good success story!
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our careers portal! It's the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to create an account and upload your CV. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Zertus UK & Ireland
✨Know Your Numbers
Before the interview, brush up on key metrics related to manufacturing performance, such as yield rates and waste percentages. Being able to discuss these figures confidently will show that you understand the operational side of the role.
✨Familiarise Yourself with ERP Systems
Since this role involves working with ERP systems like QAD, make sure you have a basic understanding of how they function. If you’ve used similar systems before, be ready to share specific examples of how you’ve leveraged them for operational improvements.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions during the second stage interview. Think about past experiences where you identified variances or implemented process improvements, and be ready to explain your thought process and the outcomes.
✨Show Your Analytical Skills
During the interview, highlight your analytical thinking by discussing how you've approached problem-solving in previous roles. Use specific examples to illustrate how you’ve tackled challenges related to material usage or stock accuracy.
