Production Shift Manager
As ‘the UK’s No. 1 Bakery Brand’ we have been baking bread since 1876. Today, we are proudly a fifth-generation family, with the introduction of the sixth generation, supplying over 18,000 retail customers from 11 bakeries and 16 depots, producing a range of over 70 products including gluten and wheat free. Family and values are what makes us different, and we are a proud bunch, join us and you too could be proud to be Warburtons.
The Recipe
We’re looking for a high-performing Operations Support Manager to lead manufacturing operations within one of our fast-paced bakery sites. This is a pivotal leadership role, responsible for delivering safe, efficient, and high-quality production to ensure our products reach customers on time and in full, every day. You’ll lead from the front, taking accountability for safety, product quality, cost control, and plan achievement, while developing high-performing teams and driving continuous improvement across the factory.
The Role
Safety First
- Champion a safety-first culture, ensuring zero compromise on Health, Safety & Environmental standards
- Lead compliance with legislation and company policies, driving proactive risk management and behavioural safety
- Engage teams to take ownership of safety performance and continuously improve standards
Product Quality & Food Safety
- Ensure full compliance with food safety and quality standards
- Lead teams to consistently deliver right-first-time production
- Drive improvements in quality performance, reducing waste, complaints, and rework
Cost Control & Efficiency
- Manage labour, materials, and operational costs in line with site budgets
- Drive waste reduction, yield improvement, and asset efficiency
- Maintain tight control of resource utilisation to deliver cost targets
Plan Achievement
- Lead teams to deliver daily and weekly production plans in full and on time
- Respond decisively to operational challenges, ensuring minimal disruption
- Maintain a strong focus on KPIs including service, efficiency, and downtime
People Leadership & Engagement
- Lead, coach, and develop Team Managers and operators to build a high-performance culture
- Drive engagement through clear communication, accountability, and recognition
- Manage performance, capability and development, ensuring strong succession and skills growth
Continuous Improvement
- Identify and deliver CI opportunities to improve safety, quality, cost, and efficiency
- Embed CI tools and ways of working (e.g. waste elimination, downtime reduction, SMED principles)
- Lead cross-functional improvement initiatives across the site
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Engineering, Hygiene, Technical, Planning, and Supply Chain functions
- Ensure aligned priorities and strong teamwork across the factory
- Act as a key member of the Site Leadership Team, contributing to site strategy and performance
Essential Ingredients
- Use examples from your own experience where appropriate.
- Proven experience leading teams in a manufacturing environment (ideally FMCG)
- Strong track record in safety, quality, and performance delivery
- Highly effective people leader with the ability to engage and influence at all levels
- Commercial awareness with experience managing costs and KPIs
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise in a fast-paced 24/7 environment
- Continuous improvement mindset with experience delivering operational change
- Comfortable working cross-functionally and leading through collaboration
Extra Dough
At last and by no means yeast you will want to know what your breads worth:
- A slice of the annual profits (discretionary profit share)
- Family time is important to us and we know it will be to you so you have the opportunity to purchase up to an extra weeks annual leave.
- Award winning pension scheme with company contributions of 7%
- Private medical insurance and Life assurance
- Products you will love along with deals and discounts for you and the family through our Extra Dough website
- Continued investment in your personal development
- Fully stocked kitchens filled with our delicious products for you to enjoy with your daily brew!
- Support for your health and wellbeing, including access to free physiotherapy, 24/7 access to a confidential helpline for practical advice and a comprehensive occupational health service
We respect and value difference. We look to create an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Companies that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, or any other aspect which makes them unique, are proven to be better companies. More importantly, creating an environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best work, is the right thing to do.
