Group Operational Excellence Manager

Princes Group; Bradford; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food and beverage manufacturer in Bradford is seeking a Group Operational Excellence Manager to drive performance and efficiency across its sites. This mid-senior level role involves collaboration with factory managers and requires a deep understanding of lean principles. The position offers a hybrid work model and competitive benefits including a cash car allowance and enhanced family policies.

Benefits

Cash Car Allowance

25 Days Annual Leave

14.5% Pension

Private Medical Insurance

Learning & Development Opportunities

Qualifications

• In depth practical experience of Lean Manufacturing and evidence of improvement projects.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to engage teams.
• Strong leadership and team building skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive continuous improvement across manufacturing sites.
• Support site General Managers with performance and operational plans.
• Implement sustained improvements to reduce factory costs.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

5S

Leadership

Coaching

Project Management

Job description

Group Operational Excellence Manager

Location: Bradford, United Kingdom

Employment Type: Permanent

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Country: United Kingdom

Business Area: Operations

About Princes: The Princes Group has over 7,000 employees with offices and production sites in the UK, Netherlands, Italy, Poland, France and Mauritius. Princes manufactures 350 different food and drink products responsibly sourced and enjoyed by consumers every day. None of this would be possible without striving to be an employer of choice, where our colleagues are proud to represent our business.

Role Description

Are you an experienced Group Operational Excellence Manager looking for your next opportunity? We have an exciting opportunity to work with the Head of Operational Performance Transformation and help further drive continuous improvement within one of Europe's fastest growing food and drink businesses. This position is responsible for the whole of the UK & Mauritius.

Due to the nature of the role, please note that there will be an element of weekly travel required. Due to some of our sites being overseas there may be an opportunity to visit and support them overseas.

Job Purpose

To ensure optimal operational efficiency at lowest cost through the delivery of targets against the strategic objectives of the function: Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery and People.

Work with the Head of Operational Performance Transformation and Factory General Managers to support the delivery of an agreed manufacturing vision and strategy through continuous improvement, ensuring optimum efficiencies, effectiveness and profitability, initiating and implementing change as appropriate to meet the needs of the business through the identification and sharing of best practice through driving out waste and variability and the creation of a proactive improvement culture.

Principal Accountabilities

• Have in depth understanding of the Princes Operating System (POS) / Lean Principles, Systems, Tools and behaviours, conducting Lean maturity assessments, and site must win battle plans
• Support and lead lean manufacturing principles, systems, tools and behaviours, including 5S, Asset Excellence, Floor Management System, Standard Working Methods and Practical Problem Solving to drive performance and continuous improvement activities in our manufacturing sites
• In conjunction with the Head of OPT and site General Managers, roll out the consolidated medium to long term implementation timetable for Operational Excellence and be accountable for maintaining and reporting the progress against the POS for the sites, ensuring at all times alignment with the strategic objectives of the business.
• Support the site General Managers in performing a detailed gap analysis across site processes, performance and Operational Plans affecting any aspect of the manufacturing process.
• Support the Head of Operational Performance Transformation (OPT) and General Managers in the development of the appropriate technical and behavioural skills to enable a culture of continuous sustained improvement in achieving low-cost, high-quality operations.
• Support, prioritise, co-ordinate and lead / facilitate teams to implement sustained improvements to reduce factory costs, and ensure effective development of our leadership teams through successful project delivery in conjunction with the lighthouse improvement plans, driving a culture of performance improvement with the Factory General Managers
• Coach and train all site based colleagues so that they have the prerequisite knowledge and skills to apply POS concepts and behaviours on an ongoing basis.
• Challenge the status quo, support the Factory General Manager in creating a culture of best practice and continuous improvement that focuses on elimination of waste in all forms by initiating and facilitating the development of a team working culture in pursuit of highly participative and highly motivated teams, to reinforce the POS / continuous improvement culture
• These are the key daily tasks, not a comprehensive list of all tasks undertaken by the jobholder. Flexibility is required by the business & this will be agreed with the Individual’s line manager.
• All colleagues should carry out their duties in a responsible manner giving due consideration to Safety, Environmental & Quality procedures.
• Contribute to the health & safety of self and others by applying health and safety principles to the required standards whilst undertaking designated activities and tasks.

General Responsibilities

• Understanding and implementation of POS / lean manufacturing principles, systems, tools and behaviours, to drive performance / continuous improvement activity throughout the group sites.
• Have a detailed understanding of the Princes Operating System (POS) and the Site Strategic Must Win Battle Plans
• Ensure all training for direct reports is documented using the appropriate skills matrix.
• You must exercise reasonable skill and care for the health and safety of yourself and other people at work and you must not interfere with or obstruct anything provided in the interests of health and safety at work.
• The incumbent should demonstrate behaviours which are in line with the Company values & help to improve the Quality, Safety & Environmental culture.
• Support the business in working towards delivering our ethical trading and human rights vision.
• When engaging with internal and external stakeholders (such as consumers, customers or suppliers) maximise any potential opportunities to communicate Princes’ ethical trade and human rights approach.

Benefits

• Cash Car Allowance
• 25 Days Annual Leave plus Birthday off
• Based at the respective site x4 days with x1 day working from home
• 14.5% Pension – 5% employee opt in / 9.5% employer
• Flexible Holiday Option - Buy 5 Additional Days
• Enhanced Family Friendly & Carers Policies
• Life Assurance Cover
• Private Medical Insurance
• Critical Illness Cover
• Learning & Development Opportunities

Role Requirements

• In depth practical experience of Lean Manufacturing, 5S, FMS, Asset Excellence, Standardised Working Methods, Practical Problem Solving, Kata Coaching, Process Confirmation, VSM, SMED, Kaizen with evidence of how improvement projects have delivered real results financially and behaviourally.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, articulate and engaging and the ability to quickly establish good relationships with internal and external customers.
• The ability to motivate, mentor and engage teams to enable them to take on new skills and translate into operations.
• Negotiating and influencing skills to avoid the potential for internal tensions.
• Strong leadership, team building, coaching and development skills
• Project management skills

If you are interested in making your mark within a leading manufacturing business then please apply now to be considered!

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Job function

Management and Manufacturing

Industries: Food and Beverage Services