Operations Manager
Role Overview
This is a key leadership position within our Billingham site, responsible for leading a large manufacturing area and delivering strong results across Safety, Quality, Service, Cost and People. Reporting into the Site Leadership Team, you will lead through a team of managers and supervisors, creating an environment where performance, capability and engagement thrive.
With accountability for around 180 colleagues and eight direct reports, you will own the operational performance and strategic direction of your area. You'll play a critical role in developing future leaders, driving continuous improvement and ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality and operational excellence.
We're looking for an experienced manufacturing leader who can successfully manage change, build high-performing teams and embed an Intersnack Work Systems (IWS) culture. You'll use data and insight to make decisions, remove losses and deliver sustainable improvements across the operation. The role also provides the opportunity to influence site strategy, support major improvement projects and help shape the future direction of manufacturing at KP Snacks.
What is IWS?
The Intersnack Working System (IWS) is our approach to continuous improvement. It provides a structured framework that helps us improve performance, eliminate losses, develop colleague capability and build sustainable improvements across our manufacturing sites.
What’s in it for you? We believe in rewarding our colleagues and helping them thrive. Here’s a flavour of what we offer:
Competitive annual salary, annual salary review and annual bonus opportunity (target 10%), plus a £7,500 car allowance
plus KP Pension Plan with up to 7% matched contributions
25 days holiday, with the option to buy up to five additional days, plus additional holiday after five years’ service
Comprehensive healthcare including Single Cover Private Healthcare, Health Cash Plan, Digital GP and Employee Assistance Programme
KP4ME benefits platform with discounts, cashback and wellbeing support, plus access to the EV Car Scheme
Enhanced family-friendly policies to support colleagues at every stage of life
What will you be doing?
Leading a large manufacturing operation Leading a team of managers and supervisors to deliver safe, efficient and effective manufacturing performance across a complex production area
Driving operational excellence and continuous improvement Embedding IWS, Lean and TPM principles to reduce losses, improve performance and create a culture of continuous improvement
Developing capability across the organisation Coaching leaders, building succession plans and creating opportunities for colleagues to grow and progress within the business
Delivering business performance targets Managing key operational measures across Safety, Quality, Service, Cost and People, whilst identifying opportunities to improve productivity and reduce costs
Supporting strategic growth and change Contributing to site strategy, leading transformational change and supporting the successful delivery of investment and capital improvement projects
Full Job Posting
About the role
This is a key leadership position within our Billingham site, responsible for leading a large manufacturing area and delivering strong results across Safety, Quality, Service, Cost and People. Reporting into the Site Leadership Team, you will lead through a team of managers and supervisors, creating an environment where performance, capability and engagement thrive.
With accountability for around 180 colleagues and eight direct reports, you will own the operational performance and strategic direction of your area. You'll play a critical role in developing future leaders, driving continuous improvement and ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality and operational excellence.
We're looking for an experienced manufacturing leader who can successfully manage change, build high-performing teams and embed an Intersnack Work Systems (IWS) culture. You'll use data and insight to make decisions, remove losses and deliver sustainable improvements across the operation. The role also provides the opportunity to influence site strategy, support major improvement projects and help shape the future direction of manufacturing at KP Snacks.
What is IWS?
The Intersnack Working System (IWS) is our approach to continuous improvement. It provides a structured framework that helps us improve performance, eliminate losses, develop colleague capability and build sustainable improvements across our manufacturing sites.
What’s in it for you? We believe in rewarding our colleagues and helping them thrive. Here’s a flavour of what we offer:
Competitive annual salary, annual salary review and annual bonus opportunity (target 10%), plus a £7,500 car allowance
plus KP Pension Plan with up to 7% matched contributions
25 days holiday, with the option to buy up to five additional days, plus additional holiday after five years’ service
Comprehensive healthcare including Single Cover Private Healthcare, Health Cash Plan, Digital GP and Employee Assistance Programme
KP4ME benefits platform with discounts, cashback and wellbeing support, plus access to the EV Car Scheme
Enhanced family-friendly policies to support colleagues at every stage of life
What will you be doing?
Leading a large manufacturing operation Leading a team of managers and supervisors to deliver safe, efficient and effective manufacturing performance across a complex production area
Driving operational excellence and continuous improvement Embedding IWS, Lean and TPM principles to reduce losses, improve performance and create a culture of continuous improvement
Developing capability across the organisation Coaching leaders, building succession plans and creating opportunities for colleagues to grow and progress within the business
Delivering business performance targets Managing key operational measures across Safety, Quality, Service, Cost and People, whilst identifying opportunities to improve productivity and reduce costs
Supporting strategic growth and change Contributing to site strategy, leading transformational change and supporting the successful delivery of investment and capital improvement projects
Requirements
- We’d love to hear from you if you can bring:
- Proven manufacturing leadership experience Experience leading large-scale manufacturing operations with accountability for 150+ colleagues through direct and indirect reporting structures
- Strong people leadership capability A track record of leading through managers and supervisors, developing talent and building robust succession plans
- Safety-led leadership Demonstrable success creating a strong safety culture and leading operational teams with safety as the number one priority
- Continuous improvement expertise Strong knowledge of Lean, TPM, IWS or similar operational excellence methodologies, with experience delivering measurable business improvements
- Commercial and operational focus A proven ability to improve productivity, service and cost performance using data-driven decision making and problem solving
- FMCG or high-volume manufacturing experience (desirable) Experience operating within a fast-paced manufacturing environment where service, quality and efficiency are critical
- Our purpose At KP Snacks, we're passionate about creating happy snacking moments through our great tasting snacks and iconic brands. Every day, millions of people enjoy our products, including Hula Hoops, McCoy's, KP Nuts, Tyrrells, Skips, POM-BEAR and Butterkist, making us one of the UK's leading snack manufacturers.
- For decades, we've been delighting consumers by combining well-loved favourites with exciting innovations that reflect changing tastes and expectations. We're equally passionate about our people and committed to creating a workplace where everyone can grow, develop and make a real impact.
- As part of the Intersnack Group, one of the world's leading snack manufacturers, we combine global expertise with a shared commitment to creating happy snacking moments every day.
- We’re committed to inclusion We’re building a workplace where everyone belongs. If you don’t tick every box, we’d still love to hear from you – your unique perspective could be just what we need. And if there’s anything we can do to make the process easier for you, just let us know.
- #LI-Onsite
About KP Snacks
British private snack manufacturer producing branded and own-label crisps, nuts, popcorn, and other savoury snacks for UK consumers.
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