Head of Manufacturing

Puratos Group; Sittingbourne; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global food company is seeking a Head of Manufacturing to drive operational excellence at their site in Kent, near Sittingbourne. This role demands proven leadership in food manufacturing, strategic thinking, and exceptional communication skills. Candidates should hold NEBOSH or IOSH qualifications along with Level 4 certification in Food Safety. The position is critical in ensuring compliance with food safety standards and leading a culture of continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in food manufacturing.
• Understanding of complex production processes.
• Exceptional communication skills to inspire teams.

Responsibilities

• Champion safety-first culture across all activities.
• Lead and develop the operational team for performance.
• Ensure compliance with legal regulations and food safety standards.

Skills

Leadership experience in food manufacturing

Understanding of production processes

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Project management

Decisiveness

Education

NEBOSH or IOSH qualified

Level 4 certified in Food Safety and HACCP

Tools

SAP or similar ERP systems

Job description

Overview

Head of Manufacturing role based at our site in Kent (Fourayes Farm Ltd), near Sittingbourne & Maidstone. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced manufacturing leader to drive operational excellence, safety, and continuous improvement, ensuring the site operates at optimum efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Champion a safety-first culture across all site activities, reducing risk and promoting proactive safety behaviours.
• Lead and develop the local operational team, driving performance across SHE, Quality, Service, Cost, and People.
• Ensure full compliance with legal regulations and international food safety standards including HACCP, BRC, and environmental requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement through KPIs and the OPX programme toolkit (continuous improvement), collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Define and implement customer-oriented processes to meet service level agreements and exceed expectations.
• Develop and execute the site’s Master Plan in alignment with strategic goals.
• Foster a ‘Great Place to Work’ culture through clear objective setting and team development.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders including HR, Finance, and Group functions.
• Own the annual operational budget, implement cost control strategies, and optimise inventory management to reduce waste and maximise profitability.
• Propose and deliver the Capex Plan aligned with site and Group priorities.
• Lead the development and execution of the site’s annual QSHE Plan.

Profile

We’re seeking a dynamic and experienced manufacturing leader who’s ready to make a real impact. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and are passionate about driving operational excellence, this could be your next big move.

Your Expertise

• Proven leadership experience in food manufacturing, with a strong track record of delivering results and developing teams.
• Deep understanding of complex production processes and operational management.
• Exceptional communication skills to inspire teams, engage stakeholders, and lead with clarity.
• A strategic thinker with broad business acumen across all functions.
• Skilled in project ideation, execution, and Capex process management.
• A confident communicator who can negotiate, coach, mediate, and challenge constructively.
• Comfortable engaging with customers and navigating high-stakes conversations.
• Calm under pressure, leading by example in a dynamic, ever-evolving environment.
• Decisive and accountable, with the courage to own site-wide decisions.

Your Impact

• Build a culture of accountability and performance, using KPIs to drive continuous improvement.
• Leverage the expertise of your site management team to make informed, effective decisions.
• Champion growth—for yourself, your team, and the business.

Your Credentials (Ideally)

• NEBOSH or IOSH qualified.
• Level 4 certified in Food Safety and HACCP.
• Experienced in SAP or similar ERP/data systems.

At Puratos, we create innovative food solutions for the health and well-being of people everywhere. We are a global leader in bakery, patisserie and chocolate ingredients with a presence in over 80 countries and a turnover of around 3 billion euros (as of 2023). Our culture emphasizes innovation, teamwork, and local community engagement.