Manufacturing & Logistics Operations Manager

Manufacturing & Logistics Operations Manager South East England Our client, a fast-growing and innovative food manufacturing business, is seeking an experienced and commercially focused Manufacturing & Logistics Operations Manager to lead end-to-end site operations. This is a senior leadership role with full accountability for manufacturing, logistics, food safety compliance, health & safety, planning, maintenance, and continuous improvement across the operation. This position offers an exciting opportunity to shape operational excellence within a dynamic and scaling environment. Job Role Reporting to the senior leadership team, the Manufacturing & Logistics Operations Manager will take full ownership of production and logistics performance, ensuring safe, compliant, efficient, and cost-effective operations. You will lead site compliance (SALSA & BRC), production planning, labour management, maintenance strategy, and supply chain coordination, embedding structure, accountability, and a culture of continuous improvement across the business. Responsibilities * Act as site lead for SALSA & BRC certification, audits, corrective actions, and ongoing compliance. * Ensure HACCP systems, allergen controls, traceability, and recall readiness are robust and maintained. * Promote and embed a strong food safety and quality culture across the site. * Ensure full compliance with health & safety legislation and internal policies. * Conduct risk assessments, accident investigations, and implement corrective actions. * Develop and manage short- and medium-term production plans aligned to demand forecasts. * Balance labour, capacity, and materials to optimise output and efficiency. * Monitor daily production performance and resolve operational bottlenecks. * Coordinate inbound materials and outbound finished goods to maintain OTIF performance. * Manage supplier performance, warehousing standards, stock accuracy, and FIFO compliance. * Lead labour planning including recruitment, onboarding, training, performance management, and rota planning. * Oversee preventative and reactive maintenance programmes to maximise equipment reliability and uptime. * Manage maintenance contractors and support capital expenditure planning. * Monitor and improve KPIs including yield, waste, labour efficiency, downtime, and cost per unit. * Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and margin. * Develop SOPs and embed operational discipline across manufacturing and logistics teams. * Provide strong, visible leadership and foster a culture of accountability and ownership. Personal Profile * Proven experience in food manufacturing operations leadership. * Strong working knowledge of SALSA, BRC, or equivalent food safety standards. * Demonstrated people leadership and team development capability. * Experience in production planning, supply chain coordination, and cost control. * Strong understanding of health & safety legislation and compliance. * Hands-on, structured, and solutions-focused approach. * Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. * Commercially aware with experience managing operational budgets. * Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders. * Continuous improvement mindset with a track record of driving measurable results. Ref Code: CV13239 To apply, please send your comprehensive CV in strict confidence, quoting the reference above and for the attention of Jon Hemming-Nash. Please include current salary details within your application. Due to high response levels, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you have not received a response within one week, regrettably your application has not been successful on this occasion