Overview
At PepsiCo UK, we’re proud to make some of the nation’s favourite snacks and drinks—like Walkers, Quaker, Doritos, Pipers, and Monster Munch. With sites across the UK, including our Quaker mill in Cupar and Doritos factory in Coventry, we’re also home to one of the world’s largest crisp factories in Leicester. At the end of 2025 we will move our UK office to a vibrant new Reading town centre location, just minutes from Reading train station.
Why Join Us?
We offer a competitive salary, bonus, car allowance, flexible working, and a wide range of benefits—from critical illness cover and discounted gym memberships to enhanced parental leave and electric car schemes. Our commitment to wellbeing and career growth makes us a Top Employer for 14 years running.
We are seeking a proactive and people-focused Operations Team Leader (OTL) to join our manufacturing team. In this key frontline leadership role, you will be responsible for driving performance, safety, and continuous improvement within your area of responsibility while leading, coaching, and developing a high-performing team.
You will act as the first point of escalation for your team, supporting day-to-day operations and ensuring that production runs safely, efficiently, and in line with our operational standards. This is a hands-on leadership position requiring strong communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Note: This position operates on a Continental Shift Pattern - 12 hours.
Responsibilities
1. Engage your team to drive performance improvement across all aspects of your operational area.
2. Act as the first escalation point for frontline employees (FLEs) on the production line.
3. Conduct regular development and performance conversations with team members.
4. Coach teams in problem-solving, continuous improvement, and positive behavioural change.
5. Escalate any service, performance, or behavioural concerns to the appropriate forum and provide feedback to relevant stakeholders.
6. Lead investigations on shift relating to performance, people, quality, safety, or environmental incidents as required.
7. Take responsibility for the safety of all employees, visitors, and contractors on shift.
8. Respond effectively to critical issues, including breakdowns, unplanned stops, and emergency situations.
9. Facilitate line balancing, material flow, material planning, and risk management within your area.
10. Provide cover for colleagues’ absence when required.
Qualifications
11. Experience in a manufacturing environment.
12. Strong Team worker and contributor.
13. Good analytical skills with a strong attention to detail.
14. Understanding of Lean processes, in particular SIC/QCDM and RCA.
15. Good computer skills.
16. Good coaching skills.
17. Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to make informed decisions.
18. Able to deal with sensitive information appropriately.
A Space to be You
We celebrate individuality and are committed to building an inclusive workplace. Our Employee Resource Groups help embed inclusion into our culture, ensuring everyone feels valued and heard.
Equal Opportunities
We’re an equal opportunity employer, committed to the Equality Act 2010. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and will provide any necessary adjustments to support you through the recruitment process.
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $92 billion in net revenue in 2024, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.