Manufacturing Director (Ambient Cake)
Location: Carlton, Barnsley, S71 3HF
Where Passion Meets Purpose
At Premier Foods, we're proud to be one of Britain's biggest listed food companies, with over 4,000 colleagues across 13 sites. Our brands are found in 94% of British households, and our Sweet Treats division is home to some of the UK's best-loved products including Mr Kipling and Cadbury cakes.
About the Role
Reporting to the Chief Supply Chain Officer, the Manufacturing Director (Sweet Treats) is a pivotal senior leadership role with dual responsibility:
Cluster Leadership : You'll lead the strategic direction of the Sweet Treats (Cake) manufacturing cluster, comprising three factories-Carlton (home base), Moreton, and Stoke-on-Trent-with a combined headcount of approximately 2,000.
Factory General Manager : You'll also take direct ownership of the Carlton site, one of the largest purpose-built bakeries in the world, with up to 1,100 colleagues on site (peak) and 11 production lines of 350 SKUs.
Key Responsibilities
Lead top-line growth and profitability across the cluster
Shape and implement the operational strategy in partnership with commercial and marketing teams
Drive cross-functional collaboration to embed group strategies in HR, Technical, and other functions
Own cluster-wide and Carlton-specific P&L performance
Champion root cause analysis and continuous improvement
Align commercial demand planning with factory output and cost base
Actively contribute to strategic direction as an ELT-1 member
Manage the Sweet Treats capex budget, balancing infrastructure and cost-out investments
Role model Premier Foods' leadership behaviours and values
Foster inclusion and diversity across all sites
Additionally, as Factory General Manager - Carlton:
Ensure a safe, high-performing, and engaging workplace
Lead food safety, GMP, and quality standards
Reduce waste and customer complaints through effective maintenance and CI
Own the HACCP programme and site talent strategy
Deliver a 5-year strategic vision and capital investment programme
Align functional structures and KPIs to business goals
Lead site communications and decision-making across safety, quality, spend, and recruitment
What We're Looking For
With a commitment of over £20m in capex this year alone, and we're looking for a dynamic multi-site leader to drive transformational change and deliver results at pace, whilst demonstrating:
Senior operational leadership experience in manufacturing or FMCG
Proven success in leading multi-functional/multi-site teams and delivering strategic objectives
Experience leading large-scale capex projects and driving cultural change
Strong project management and continuous improvement expertise
Experience with trade unions and complex stakeholder environments
What We Offer You
Highly competitive, senior level package
On-target bonus
Generous pension contribution
Sharesave scheme and employee discount programme
Access to wellbeing and development programmes
A warm, inclusive, and people-first culture where individuality is celebrated
We're not just building careers-we're building a community where everyone can thrive. We believe in inclusion, authenticity and individuality, and we're committed to creating a workplace where every colleague can bring their true self to work. Apply now to join our journey.
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