Overview
Location: Lees of Scotland, North Caldeen Road, Coatbridge, ML5 4EF
Shift: Monday-Friday
We have an exciting opportunity to join the Operations team in the role of Site Excellence Lead at our Lees site as part of Finsbury Food Group.
Our Coatbridge bakery and household Scottish brand has been crafting iconic confectionery and meringues since 1931. Lees stands out for its ability to create confections that are more than just sweets – they’re edible nostalgia. Our iconic snowballs, teacakes, and meringues have woven themselves into the fabric of Scottish culture, becoming go-to treats for both everyday indulgence and celebratory moments.
To be successful in this role you will be a confident and collaborative leader who motivates others through a clear vision and strong engagement. As a strategic thinker with robust analytical skills, you’ll be committed to data-driven decision-making, balancing the demands of short-term performance with the pursuit of long-term improvement goals. Thriving in dynamic environments, you will be adaptable and responsive to evolving business needs.
About the Role
We are looking for a passionate and proactive Excellence Lead to drive strategic, site-wide operational excellence initiatives and drive continuous improvement. This role is responsible for leading lean and efficiency projects across manufacturing and support functions, cultivating a culture of continuous improvement, and embedding best practice standards that support sustainable business performance and growth.
A natural problem solver, you’ll have a keen eye for identifying value and driving tangible improvements across the organisation. You will demonstrate initiative, personal accountability, and a passion for operational excellence, constantly looking for ways to enhance processes and deliver results.
This is What You’ll Actually Do
* Lead and deliver group-standardised Lean, Excellence, and Practical Process Improvement (PPI) training to build in-house continuous improvement capabilities.
* Drive operational excellence through cross-functional CI projects aimed at improving efficiency across labour, materials, and overheads.
* Embed a high-performance, decision-making culture at all levels, enabling faster problem-solving and greater organisational agility. Work closely with internal customers and cross-functional teams to identify opportunities for improvement using Lean principles.
* Lead and facilitate the deployment of MARA, Finsbury’s management system, ensuring alignment across all site functions.
* Support the implementation and sustainability of Asset Care (TPM) in partnership with Engineering and Operations.
* Implement and streamline processes through “Process Blueprint” (Leader Standard Work) to improve quality, customer satisfaction, and key operational KPIs.
* Lead structured problem-solving sessions and ensure best practices are captured, shared, and applied consistently across sites through FFG workplace forums.
* Prepare and present OBP updates and reports to senior stakeholders and business forums.
* Model FFG’s core values and behaviours; champion a culture of continuous improvement and facilitate CI workshops and training sessions to upskill teams and embed Lean principles into daily operations.
* Drive improvements across safety, quality, service, cost, and people metrics. Lead CI projects from initiation through to delivery—on time and within budget.
* Act as a change agent, promoting an action-oriented mindset across the site and collaborating with engineering, operations, and support teams to identify bottlenecks and drive efficiency.
* Share learnings and replicate best practices across the Finsbury Food Group; conduct risk assessments and implement controls to ensure safe project delivery.
* Promote strong internal and external partnerships that support business objectives and successful project integration.
Ideally, This is You!
Essential:
* Proven experience in continuous/process improvement within a manufacturing environment.
* Track record of leading cross-functional teams and successfully delivering change initiatives.
* Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
* Detail-oriented, proactive, and highly organised in approach.
* Self-starter with strong prioritisation skills and ability to work under own initiative.
* Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
* Full driver’s license and ability to travel without restriction.
Desirable:
* CI experience within the food manufacturing or FMCG sector.
* Background in the implementation of lean structures and tools.
* Familiarity with bakery processes and food production environments.
* Knowledge of Six Sigma/SPC techniques in process manufacturing.
* Degree or HND in Food Science, Engineering, or related discipline.
* Hands-on experience with product and process optimisation.
What’s in it for you?
* Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to allow quality time with your new arrival
* Enhanced Pension Scheme for our employees
* Death in Service Benefit
* Free Employee Assistance Programme (open to colleagues and their families)
* Retail discounts accessible via our Benefits Hub platform
* Company shop available at sites (heavily discounted, yummy products)
* Refer a Friend Scheme (up to £300 per referral – t&cs dependent)
* Employee Recognition Awards and extensive Learning & Development opportunities (including sponsored memberships and in-house development courses)
* An opportunity to be part of a fantastic, growing organisation
Our vision is to be the leading specialty bakery group in the UK and we want the best people in place to achieve this. Our continued success is built entirely on the talented people who work here, so employee development is important to us because everyone is a valued member of the team, and we want every individual to have the skills and capabilities to achieve both your own personal goals and our business goals. We want good people to join our company, to help our company continue to go from strength to strength. If this sounds like you, please get in contact to learn more!
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