Location: Suffolk (factory is in Stowmarket, easily commutable from Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Norwich, and Colchester).
The role (what you’ll own)
Production & Scheduling
* Convert demand (single major customer + smaller accounts) into a 14 day run plan across three SKUs
* Manage capacity, shifts, changeovers, and labour planning; keep OTIF > 98%.
Supply Chain & Inventory
* Own raw & packaging procurement, supplier performance, and MRP/MPS cadence.
* Control stock accuracy (cold & dry stores), set reorder points, reduce waste.
People & Safety
* Lead a growing team of operators and line leads; hiring, onboarding, training, and rota.
* Champion H&S (risk assessments, SOPs, incident follow-up); IOSH/NEBOSH mindset.
Continuous Improvement & Capex
* Kaizen the shop-floor: yields, changeover time, labour productivity, giveaway.
* Build the case for pack-line upgrades and execute capex projects.
Systems
* Take us from smart spreadsheets → MRP-light (e.g., barcoding, lot tracking, simple WIP).
* Create visible dashboards: OTIF, yield %, scrap, inventory turns, batch right-first-time.
Not in scope: Sales ownership, pricing, customer acquisition, or financial reporting/FP&A (you’ll partner with those leads).
What success looks like (6–12 months)
* A stable 14 day rhythm across all three products with ≥98% OTIF.
* First-time pass on major-retailer audit; zero criticals.
* Inventory accuracy ≥ 98% and ingredient waste cut by 20%+.
* MRP-light live (PO dates auto-calculated, forward/ backward trace in one click).
* Engaged team: clear SOPs, daily stand-ups, and a safe, calm floor.
You’ll be great at this if you have
* 5+ years in operations/plant management within food & beverage (chilled or fermented a bonus).
* Hands-on experience with HACCP, retailer audits (BRCGS/IFS), and CCP management.
* Proven leadership of 10–30 production staff across shifts.
* Comfort moving from Google Sheets to MRP/ERP-light; data-driven, KPI-literate.
* Practical process improvement chops (Lean/6σ toolset—no buzzwords, real results).
* Calm under pressure; bias for action; sleeves rolled up.
Nice to have: HACCP L3/4, IOSH Managing Safely, experience with fermentation/pickling, basic maintenance coordination, barcoding/WMS exposure.
Why join us
* Real ownership of the factory end-to-end during a high-growth inflection.
* Backing of a major UK retail partner; tangible impact on everyday consumers.
* Career growth—build the function, the team, and your remit as we scale.
* Competitive salary + performance bonus; kit and training you actually need.
How to apply
Send your CV and a short note on a factory improvement you’re proud of to: nicola@theurbanfermentery.com.
Please include availability and earliest start date in your email.
We’re an equal-opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.
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