Production Manager
Location: Birmingham, B18 5AY
Salary: £45,000 - £50,000 per annum
Contract: Full time, Permanent - 40 Hours per week
Benefits: Competitive salary, 24 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, Pension scheme contributions, Staff discounts on our Island Delight range, Staff Tester Card - access exclusive discounts on food, clothing, cinema tickets, and popular retailers such as TK Maxx, McDonald’s, and more, Free on-site parking and care charging, Opportunities for learning, development, and career progression, A supportive and inclusive working culture where contributions are valued and being part of a passionate, innovative team in a company with strong heritage and growth plans!
Cleone Foods Ltd is a leading UK food manufacturer, specialising in high‑quality Jamaican patties and frozen Caribbean food products under our flagship Island Delight brand. With over 30 years of heritage, we have built a strong reputation for producing authentic, flavourful, and innovative food products enjoyed by customers nationwide. Our team‑driven culture values collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. At Cleone Foods, we combine traditional recipes with modern production techniques, ensuring every product meets rigorous quality standards. We are committed to sustainability, maintaining high food safety standards, and delivering exceptional service to our customers. Joining Cleone Foods means becoming part of a passionate team where your contribution is valued, your career growth is encouraged, and you are supported in a safe, inclusive, and rewarding work environment.
Key Responsibilities and Main Tasks
Production Planning & Delivery
* Own daily/weekly production plans, ensuring labour, materials, and equipment are aligned to meet customer demand and site targets.
* Manage shift handovers and daily management routines to maintain stable, efficient production flow.
* Monitor output and performance, responding quickly to downtime, quality issues, and operational constraints.
People Leadership & Team Performance
* Lead, coach, and develop production teams (including supervisors / team leaders), driving high standards of performance, behaviour, and engagement.
* Support recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance management to ensure capability and coverage across shifts.
* Create a positive, safe, and accountable culture on the factory floor.
Food Safety, Quality & Compliance (HACCP / GMP)
* Ensure full compliance with site food safety, hygiene, and GMP standards, and that products meet internal specifications and regulatory requirements.
* Work closely with the Quality Auditor and Technical Manager to investigate non‑conformances, implement corrective actions, and prevent recurrence.
* Maintain accurate production documentation and traceability records to the required standard.
Health, Safety & Environment
* Drive safe systems of work and ensure compliance with health & safety requirements, risk assessments, PPE, and training expectations.
* Lead investigations into accidents / near misses and implement robust corrective / preventative actions.
Continuous Improvement & Performance KPIs
* Identify, prioritise, and deliver continuous improvement initiatives to increase efficiency, reduce waste, and improve right‑first‑time quality.
* Use performance data to drive improvement (e.g., yield, waste, downtime, throughput), tracking actions to completion.
* Standardise processes and embed best practice across teams and shifts.
Cost Control, Materials & Equipment Reliability
* Manage labour and production costs against budget; monitor usage of raw materials, packaging, and consumables to minimise losses.
* Partner with Engineering / Maintenance to ensure equipment is maintained, downtime is reduced, and reliability is improved.
* Coordinate with Procurement / Planning / Stores to ensure availability of ingredients and materials.
Stakeholder & Cross‑Functional Working
* Collaborate with Technical / Quality Auditor, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Logistics to ensure a smooth end‑to‑end operation from materials intake to despatch.
* Produce clear performance reporting for senior stakeholders and contribute to operational reviews.
Required Qualifications
* Proven production / operations leadership experience in a food manufacturing / FMCG environment for a minimum of 4 years.
* Strong working knowledge of food safety and hygiene controls (e.g., HACCP / GMP) and quality compliance.
* Confident people management skills with experience leading multi‑shift teams and driving performance.
* Data‑driven decision‑making and ability to track / report operational performance.
Desired Qualifications
* Experience of management of a bakery / pastry facility.
* Experience and knowledge of microbiological requirements for food safety.
* Knowledge and ability to ensure 100% compliance with food legislation and regulations.
* Experience of working closely with food manufacturing clients and ingredient suppliers to meet high standards and levels of satisfaction.
* Experience and knowledge of Quality and continual improvement of the procedures carried out and products.
* A proven track record in product and process development.
* Experience in chilled or frozen environments.
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