Operations Manager

Ref: AS9065259

Sittingbourne, Kent

£60,000

• Permanent
• Food Manufacturing Leadership
• Lean Six Sigma Improvement
• High-Volume Production

About the candidate

An accomplished operations leader with a strong background in food manufacturing, bringing hands-on experience across high-volume production, food safety, quality and continuous improvement. They have led teams across busy shop floor environments, keeping production schedules on track while maintaining a clear focus on standards, accountability and team engagement.

Available to start in 2 weeks and looking for a permanent opportunity, this candidate would suit a fast-paced manufacturing business seeking a practical, people-focused manager who can improve processes, reduce waste and drive measurable operational performance.

What makes them great?

• Proven Efficiency Gains: Implemented Lean initiatives that reduced waste by around 20% and improved overall equipment effectiveness by approximately 15%.
• Quality Improvement Focus: Led root cause analysis activity that contributed to a 30% reduction in defects, alongside the rollout of improved training for production staff.
• Strong Production Leadership: Managed teams of up to 20 people and championed best practice changes that increased productivity by around 25% while maintaining high quality standards.

Areas of expertise

• Food Manufacturing Operations: Experienced in managing high-capacity production lines, ensuring food safety compliance, quality protocols and daily operational delivery.
• Continuous Improvement: Strong working knowledge of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, with experience leading root cause analysis and process improvement projects.
• Team Leadership: Confident leading and developing production teams, creating an engaged shop floor culture focused on performance, safety and quality.