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Site Manager

Oxfordshire Permanent £95,000 - £110,000 per year View Job Description
As Site Manager, you will lead all manufacturing and engineering operations, ensuring that products are produced safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards of quality. You will drive operational excellence through continuous improvement, ensuring the site meets its regulatory, financial, and strategic targets. You will have a solid engineering background, with a sharp operational focus
  • One of the UK's leading independent food manufacturers
  • Fast-paced, collaborative culture focused on operational excellence

About Our Client

In a marketplace increasingly dominated by large branded businesses, our client offers something different by focusing on own-label products. This approach enables customers to create a genuine point of difference. Over the years, it has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality products with excellent service levels throughout the United Kingdom

Job Description

People

  • Lead, develop and motivate teams to create high-performing, autonomous and accountable workgroups
  • Foster a culture of continuous improvement, excellence, respect, and safety
  • Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and labour relations
  • Deal promptly with performance, conduct or capability issues; coach and develop individuals
  • Ensure a clean, safe, and legally compliant site environment



Plant

  • Deploy necessary tools and systems to improve asset reliability and site productivity
  • Ensure the various equipment and facilities on site are efficiently operated and cleaned by competent staff who understand and participate in asset care
  • Use appropriate CI tools like the OEE to conduct loss analysis and implement ensuing improvement actions sustainably
  • Engage with Production, Hygiene and Engineering teams to ensure appropriate maintenance regimes are in place and actioned to support the continuous running of factory equipment
  • Introduce and maintain best-practice standards in manufacturing processes; stay current with technical and commercial changes in the industry



Product

  • Work with others to manage and improve the manufacturing of products through extensive knowledge of ingredients, recipes, processes and equipment
  • Work closely with the Technical / Quality teams to uphold regulatory compliance in quality and food safety standards
  • Support new product development by collaborating with Consumer Insight, R&D, and Engineering to assess capability and scale-up



Process

  • Manage and develop the manufacture of product through extensive knowledge of products, processes and machines, keeping abreast of commercial and technical changes within the industry
  • Benchmark site manufacturing processes with best practices in the industry and lead the site in achieving improvements in site operations
  • Identify and reduce process variation and waste, and drive continuous cost-improvement projects



Profitability

  • Manage and control site budget, direct and indirect costs (labour, materials, utilities)
  • Ensure accurate cost tracking, reporting and cost-saving opportunities
  • Deliver P&L objectives for the site; drive initiatives that improve margin, reduce waste, improve productivity



Stakeholders and Cross-functional Working

  • Work closely with senior leaders to align site strategy with corporate goals
  • Engage with internal departments such as Supply Chain, Technical, Quality, HR, Finance, and Sales to ensure smooth operation and continuous improvement
  • Keep abreast of market, regulatory, technological and industry trends to inform strategy and innovation



The Successful Applicant

Qualifications & Experience

  • Proven leadership experience in a manufacturing or production environment, ideally within the food industry
  • Strong track record of managing teams and driving performance improvements
  • Experience in asset care, continuous improvement (CI), and lean manufacturing methodologies
  • Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and deliver against P&L objectives
  • Familiarity with regulatory compliance, particularly in food safety and quality standards
  • Experience working cross-functionally with departments such as Engineering, Technical, Quality, HR, and Supply Chain



Knowledge & Skills

  • In-depth understanding of manufacturing processes, equipment, and product development
  • Strong knowledge of CI tools such as OEE, root cause analysis, and loss analysis
  • Ability to identify and implement cost-saving and waste-reduction initiatives
  • Skilled in coaching, mentoring, and performance management
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
  • Competent in using data to inform decisions and drive operational improvements



Personal Attributes

  • A proactive and hands-on leader who fosters a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement
  • Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to lead change and manage complexity
  • Commercially astute with a focus on profitability and operational efficiency
  • Collaborative and inclusive, with a strong team ethic and respect for others
  • Committed to maintaining high standards of cleanliness, safety, and compliance



What's on Offer

  • Competitive salary depending on experience
  • Relocation subsidy offered if needed
  • Car allowance
  • Generous pension scheme
  • Opportunities for professional development and career progression
  • A supportive work environment focused on operational excellence
  • Generous holiday leave and other company benefits
Contact
Beth Horsley
Quote job ref
JN-092025-6836305
Phone number
+44 113 243 7721

Job summary

Job function
Engineering & Manufacturing
Subsector
General Management
Sector
FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods)
Location
Oxfordshire
Contract type
Permanent
Consultant name
Beth Horsley
Consultant phone
+44 113 243 7721
Job reference
JN-092025-6836305