Factory Operations Manager

Factory Operations Manager role is an important role which will help us achieve our ambitious profit and growth targets. 

apetito have seen year on year growth for over the past 15 years both in volume and product range and this has led to increased pressure in the Manufacturing facilities. 

In particular there is pressure to reduce all production costs in order to negate the increases in raw material prices whilst delivering world class customer service, maintain high quality standards and release capacity.

The role will be challenging, stimulating and varied.  It will enjoy a good level of autonomy and thus this role is for an experienced, self-starter who can create their own strategic direction, through liaison with the General Manager - Manufacturing and lead people to implement them.

The role has several key areas:

• Maintain a safe environment whilst achieving industry leading customer services levels
• Reduce operational costs, raising quality standards and increase efficiency plus capacity using our current facility and low-cost investment items,

Factory Operations Manager will need experience of managing complex manufacturing units.

You will be results focused and have excellent leadership skills. You'll have sufficient gravitas, be able to interact with customers, the UK Executive Board and the international Board of our parent company,

You will be logical, self-assured and be able to present ideas both verbally and through written reports. 

The ability to influence at all levels and negotiate will be essential to success whilst working with colleagues to support the entire business results, focusing on safety, quality, Delivery, costs, innovation and people.

This role is hands on- you will need to lead, influence, coach and support a varied team both in experience and competency to generate the right first time quality products safely and efficiently.

Manufacturing predominantly operates 5 days a week from Sunday night to Friday night manufacturing a range of frozen Meals and Desserts across a variety of production lines with maintenance and deep cleaning taking place on the weekend as well as between shifts.

This is a fast-paced environment with several change overs per shift requiring a true leader to engage with the team and repeatedly demonstrate what good looks like, focusing on customer service through right first time efficient productivity and team development.

apetito is the UK’s leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors serving more than 1,300 care homes, health care and education settings.

Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness.

Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK’s largest ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.

• Improve product quality, reduce customer complaints and reduce the cost of rejected product
• Leadership of planning and co-ordination of operational activities to ensure required customer service levels are achieved, including occasional out of hours contact due to escalation.
• Achieve production plan on a weekly and monthly basis improving overall productivity whilst reducing labour variance, material variance and overheads through a growth mind-set.
• Ensure customer service remains at >99.9 per cent availability
• Continuous improvements in personal safety and an annual reduction in accidents
• Understand all the factors effecting production costs and provide a continuous reduction in unit cost
• Continuous improvement for productivity, waste management and environmental factors
• Have an up to date knowledge of all suppliers and current machinery which will develop the business for the future
• Create a people plan that will improve the working conditions and engagement levels for all our staff and create depth and calibre that is appropriate for our future needs
• Bring expertise and professionalism that will improve the functioning of the Manufacturing Senior Team as well as develop direct and indirect reports.
• Food safety, authenticity, legality, and quality – focussing on factory standards and associated decisions, implementing, and monitoring corrective actions, closure of non-conformances and addressing customer complaints.
• Deputise for General Manager – Manufacturing

Essential experience: 

• Working in manufacturing FMCG environments prioritising safety and quality.
• Managing and developing large diverse teams, efficiently delivering right first time
• Budget management with responsibility for accounting for profit and loss
• Working in a change environment

Essential skills & behaviours:

Adhering to principles and values

• Upholds ethics and values
• Encourages organisational and individual responsibility towards the community and the environment

Leading and Supervising

• Provides staff with development opportunities and coaching to achieve not only adherence to legal compliance as well as our policies and procedures but also their own career development.
• Motivates and empowers others to be the best they can be
• Sets appropriate standards of behaviour
• Promotion of culture where all employees are engaged and able to raise their suggestions.

Planning and organising

• Identifies and organises resources needed to accomplish tasks
• Monitors performance against deadlines and milestones

Delivering results and meeting customer expectations

• Sets high standards for safety, quality and efficiency
• Focuses on customer needs and satisfaction through liaison with internal and external customers

Creating and innovating

• Seeks opportunities for organisational improvement

Desirable skills & behaviours:

Deciding and initiating action

• Makes prompt, clear decisions which may involve tough choices or considered tasks
• Takes responsibility for actions, projects and people

Analysing

• Probes for further information or greater understanding of a problem
• Produces workable solutions to a range of problems

Adapting and responding to change

• Adapts interpersonal style to suit different people or situations

Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking

• Keeps up to date with competitor information and market trends
• Controls costs and thinks in terms of profit, loss and added value

This role will require some travel within the UK plus occasional international travel. 

• Competitive salary – accredited Living Wage employer
• 25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays
• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days holiday per year
• Generous annual bonus scheme
• Pension scheme - employer matched contributions up to 5%
• Life assurance scheme worth at least 2x annual salary
• Subsidised canteen 
• Free turkey or voucher at Christmas
• apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts

As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of.

We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers.

We are driven by a passion for service and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people.

We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040.

Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer.
Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future.

We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we're on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.