Pay: Up to £60k per year
Location: North Acton
Job Description:
We are looking for an experienced and highly capable Central Kitchen Operations Manager to lead the full operational performance of our Central Kitchen. This is a site-based leadership role responsible for production, product consistency, compliance, food safety, people development, and operational excellence at scale.
You will own the production environment end-to-end — ensuring accuracy, quality, and efficiency across all processes, while driving continuous improvement and supporting Pure’s growth as a multi-channel, multi-site food business.
This is a role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced CPU/CK environment, is deeply organised, understands traceability and SALSA standards, and can lead a team to deliver consistent output with pride.
Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership & Development
* Lead, coach, and develop the entire Central Kitchen team, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and wellbeing.
* Recruit, onboard, and train team members (including night shifts where applicable).
* Build strong succession plans (“Plan Bs”) and maintain an accurate organisational structure.
* Ensure daily briefs, performance check-ins, and strong communication channels.
* Uphold high standards of professionalism, teamwork, and engagement.
Operational Leadership
* Oversee all day-to-day Central Kitchen operations to deliver safe, consistent, high-quality food at scale.
* Ensure all production meets agreed specifications, weight, portions, and presentation standards.
* Maintain full compliance with food safety, HACCP, SALSA, FoodBuy, and EHO requirements.
* Implement and maintain traceability systems, batch coding, and robust record keeping.
* Build and refine Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to standardise workflow, minimise waste, and improve accuracy.
* Lead CP processes, daily run sheets, night shift workflows, and end-of-shift cleaning routines.
* Manage equipment, maintenance schedules, and ensure the site remains fully operational at all times.
Project Management & Strategic Improvement
* Drive operational improvement projects including automation, digital traceability, process redesign, and new equipment implementation.
* Lead strategic long-term development of the Central Kitchen — including potential relocation, expansion, or infrastructure upgrades.
* Partner cross-functionally with Retail, Menu Development, Supply Chain, Finance, and Operations to ensure alignment and innovation.
* Analyse operational data to identify trends, reduce waste, improve efficiency, and strengthen throughput.
Financial Accountability
* Manage the full P&L for the Central Kitchen, ensuring labour, waste, purchasing, and overheads stay within target.
* Produce accurate forecasts, budgets, and weekly financial reports.
* Constantly look for cost efficiencies without compromising product quality.
* Control ordering, purchasing, and supplier performance for optimal value and consistency.
Quality, Food Safety & Compliance
* Ensure all products consistently meet Pure’s highest quality standards.
* Maintain and strengthen quality assurance systems, cross-checking production accuracy, weights, temperatures, and shelf life.
* Conduct internal audits and ensure readiness for SALSA, EHO, and internal compliance checks at all times.
* Implement corrective actions swiftly when deviations occur.
* Create a culture where food safety is non-negotiable at every stage.
Required Experience
To be successful in this role, you must have direct, hands-on experience in a Central Kitchen, CPU, or food manufacturing environment.
* Significant experience in a Central Kitchen, CPU, large-scale kitchen, or food manufacturing environment.
* Strong knowledge and hands-on experience with traceability systems, SALSA standards, HACCP, and structured compliance procedures.
* Proven ability to build and implement new processes, SOPs, and production workflows.
* Demonstrated experience managing large, diverse teams across multiple shifts.
* Strong financial acumen and experience owning a P&L.
* Project management experience, ideally including automation or infrastructure upgrades.
* High organisational ability, calm under pressure, and solutions-focused.
* A passion for quality, consistency, and operational excellence.
Our Values at Pure
At Pure, everything we do is guided by our values:
* THOUGHTFUL: We communicate clearly and act with awareness and respect.
* PASSIONATE: We bring energy, joy, and pride to our work.
* INVENTIVE: We move fast, stay agile, and take accountability.
* GENEROUS: We support each other and act with kindness every day.
These values shape how we work, lead, and deliver excellence across the Central Kitchen and the wider Pure family.
✨ Ready to Lead Our Central Kitchen?
If you’re driven, operationally strong, passionate about food quality, and ready to make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and help shape the future of Pure’s Central Kitchen.