Product Manager (Food Manuacturing)
* Annual Salary: Up to £38,000
* Location: Aylesford, Kent
* Job Type: Full-time
We are seeking a Product Manager who will be instrumental in managing all product categories, both current and future. This includes making critical allocation decisions, managing stock, ensuring product quality, and overseeing consignment profitability. This role serves as the primary liaison among the production, buying, commercial, and technical teams, ensuring optimal quality decisions for our customers and supporting the business in achieving budgeted profit margins.
Day-to-day of the role:
* Make informed product allocation and quality decisions, communicating effectively across functional teams.
* Manage the end-to-end operational flow of product consignments to ensure delivery of budgeted profitability.
* Oversee stock management in coordination with the procurement team, including updating stock sheets, preparing stock reports, and managing stock arrivals and delivery discrepancies.
* Collaborate with third-party service providers to ensure consistent and efficient QA processes, reducing customer complaints, rejections, wastage, and associated costs while maintaining product quality.
* Build and maintain professional relationships with third-party QA, warehouse, site, and operational teams.
* Support the technical function with customer management, including direct customer contact when required.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
* Proven experience in management, communication, and negotiation.
* Strong relationship management skills and attention to detail.
* Solid understanding of operations and processes within the fresh produce sector.
* Ability to make informed decisions quickly and confidently.
* Proficiency with computers, software, and customer systems.
* Must have a driving licence, vehicle, and willingness to travel (expenses covered).
Benefits:
* Competitive salary of up to £38,000 depending on experience.
* 40-hour work week with weekend work on a rota basis (1 in 5).
* 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
* Discretionary annual bonus based on business performance.
* Opportunities for professional growth and travel.