Operations Manager - Food Production

Operations Manager - Food Production

Location: Howden, Yorkshire
Pay Rate: 40,000 per annum
Shift: 5/7 Days per week, flexible working hours (including overtime and weekend work during peak periods)
Job Type: Permanent

Engineering @365 is recruiting for a client in the fresh produce industry. The client is a well-established and family-run business, specialising in growing and packing high-quality produce. They operate 24/7 and are continuously developing new value-added products at their Howden site.

Job Description:

The role involves managing the harvesting of produce with a focus on quality, yield, and efficiency. You will be responsible for managing the planning, organisation, and staffing of the growing houses, along with overseeing the performance of the Pickers, Placers, and Harvesting Supervisors. Additionally, you will be responsible for ensuring adherence to food safety standards, Health & Safety guidelines, and continuous improvement in harvesting processes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure picking quality and quantity meet set targets per hour per picker.
• Train, coach, and mentor Pickers, Placers, and Harvesting Supervisors to achieve desired pick rates.
• Complete manning plans for growing rooms and organise staff, including agency workers if needed.
• Make decisions on staffing, recruitment, and general people planning.
• Assess crops within growing houses daily and ensure staffing plans align with anticipated yields.
• Oversee proper picking techniques to maximise crop yield and quality.
• Ensure products meet the highest standards, focusing on weight, sizing, and overall quality.
• Attend daily operations meetings to plan people, yields, and hours for the following day.
• Ensure customer orders are fulfilled by coordinating picking with packhouse sales requirements.
• Ensure new Pickers & Placers follow safe working systems and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Foster positive teamwork to achieve picking targets.
• Liaise with Harvesting Team Leaders, Harvesting Supervisors, Growing Manager, Production Manager, and Engineering Manager to resolve issues with team members, yields, or machinery.
• Monitor picking statistics and ensure all harvesters meet minimum targets, using the disciplinary process if necessary.
• Report any issues immediately to the Operations Director.
• Champion industry best practices and encourage the introduction of new technologies where applicable.
• Adhere to and promote best practices in accordance with food safety legislation and company policies.
• Participate as a member of the site's Food Safety, HACCP, TACCP, and VACCP teams.
• Ensure GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and housekeeping standards are maintained.
• Control and minimise waste and actively contribute to continuous improvement efforts.
• Maintain a safe and hygienic working environment, ensuring compliance with FSA and health and safety regulations.

Essential Experience/Qualities:

• Previous experience in produce harvesting.
• Supervisory experience in a growing environment.
• Strong communication and people management skills.
• Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills.
• Basic IT and numerical skills.
• Strong team player.

How to Apply:

To apply, please submit your application above or contact Engineering @365 directly.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Engineering @365 is committed to fostering a diverse workforce and is an equal opportunities employer. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences.