Role Purpose:
The Production Team Lead is a key operational role responsible for leading and supporting the production team on the shop floor to deliver safe, efficient and high-quality output.
This role combines hands on involvement on the production lines with first line leadership responsibilities. The Production Team Lead supports the Production Manager by coordinating daily activities, maintaining standards and feeding back clear, accurate information in a fast-evolving manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Team Leadership and Development
- You will lead, motivate and support the production team during your shift to achieve daily production targets.
- You will lead by example, working alongside the team on the production lines and demonstrating strong standards and work ethic.
- You will deliver toolbox talks to communicate safety updates, production priorities and operational improvements.
- You will support training, inductions and ongoing development, ensuring team members understand health and safety, GMP, hygiene and site standards.
- You will provide day to day coaching and feedback, escalating performance or conduct issues to the Production Manager when required.
- You will work closely with the Production Hygiene Team Lead to ensure production and hygiene activities are aligned and standards are consistently maintained.
Operational Delivery
You will coordinate daily production activities, including workload allocation and task assignment, in line with plans set by the Production Manager.
You will oversee and actively support production lines to maintain output, manage changeovers and resolve issues as they arise.
You will monitor production performance, including output, waste and downtime, and raise issues promptly.
You will ensure all products meet specification, including quality, labelling, date coding and food safety requirements.
You will complete accurate production records, CCP checks, HACCP documentation and shift handovers.
You will liaise with warehouse and other support teams to ensure smooth product flow and accurate information exchange.
You will support waste reduction, right first time and continuous improvement initiatives as the business develops.
Health, Safety and Compliance
- You will ensure full compliance with GMP, food safety and health and safety requirements always.
- You will maintain high standards of housekeeping and safe working practices across production areas.
- You will actively participate in risk assessments, investigations and problem solving to prevent repeat issues.
Key Holder Responsibilities
You will act as a key holder and open the facility when required, ensuring the site is operationally ready for production.
You will complete opening and closing checks and escalate any concerns appropriately.
Skills and Experience
- Experience working in a production environment is essential, ideally within food manufacturing or FMCG.
- Previous experience as a team leader, line leader or senior operator is desirable.
- You will have practical knowledge of shop floor production and quality requirements.
- You will be confident supervising people and dealing with day to day operational challenges.
- You will be comfortable completing production records and basic reports.
- Experience working in a growing or changing business is an advantage.
Personal Qualities
- You are a visible, hands on leader who supports the team rather than manages from a distance.
- You are organised but able to adapt when priorities change.
- You communicate clearly and calmly under pressure.
- You take ownership of standards and raise issues early.
- You are comfortable working in an environment that is still developing and improving.
What we offer
- A hands on leadership role within a growing confectionery manufacturer.
- Clear support and direction from the Production Manager.
- Training and development to build leadership and technical capability.
- Competitive pay and progression opportunities as the business grows