Production Team Leader

Production Team leader - Wednesbury - up to £42k

 

Due to expansion our client is looking for an experienced Production Team Leader with experience within the food industry to join their team.

The role owns end-to-end leadership of the shift-based production team, ensuring output, quality, food safety and health & safety standards are consistently met across the full shift and deputises for the Production Manager in their absence. The Team Leader translates the production plan into safe, efficient, on-time execution, holds full accountability for shift performance and provides coaching and direction to Production Operatives.

 

The role of Production Team leader-

• Take full ownership of shift-level leadership and supervision across the production team, including responsibilities previously held at Production Supervisor level, to meet Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery and People (SQCDP) targets.
• Plan and allocate labour across the shift/lines in line with the production schedule, adjusting resource in real time to meet output requirements and covering gaps across the shift as needed.
• Ensure all products are manufactured in accordance with BRCGS, HACCP and site quality procedures, and that hygiene and GMP standards are maintained throughout the shift.
• Own shift-level health & safety compliance, including toolbox talks, risk assessments and immediate escalation of near-misses or incidents; act as the senior on-shift point of escalation for H&S matters.
• Monitor, record, and take ownership of line and shift performance (OEE, waste, downtime, cost), identifying root causes and driving continuous improvement using Lean / Six Sigma tools.
• Deputise for the Production Manager during absence or leave, representing Production in cross-functional meetings and taking decisions on shift priorities.
• Carry out return-to-work interviews, absence management and employee relations casework for the team, escalating to HR where required.
• Deliver on-the-job training, coaching and skills development for operatives, including induction of new starters and cross-skilling across the line.
• Complete shift handover reports and communicate effectively with the incoming shift and Production Manager, ensuring continuity across shift changeovers.
• Lead recruitment input, onboarding and performance management (1-2-1s, objective setting, mid-year and end-of-year reviews) for the shift team.
• Ensure correct use, care and reporting of faults for plant, equipment, and PPE, liaising directly with Engineering on breakdowns and prioritising repairs.
• Champion a positive, engaged team culture and act as a role model for site standards and behaviours, providing the senior operational presence on the shop floor during the shift.

 

 

The details -

Up to £42k

20 days holiday plus bank holidays

8am-5pm Monday to Friday

 

The person -

Essential

• Proven experience as a Team Leader, Shift Leader, or Supervisor within a food manufacturing, FMCG, or fast-paced production environment, with demonstrable ownership of a full shift.
• Working knowledge of food safety, hygiene and quality standards (HACCP, BRCGS, or equivalent).
• Sound understanding of health & safety legislation and safe systems of work, with experience acting as the senior on-shift escalation point.
• Strong people-management skills, with experience motivating, coaching and holding teams accountable, including ER casework.
• Numerate and comfortable working with production data, KPIs and basic reporting (Excel / ERP systems).
• Clear, confident communicator across all levels of the site, able to represent Production in the Production Manager's absence.

Desirable

• Lean Six Sigma / Continuous Improvement training.
• IOSH Managing Safely or NEBOSH qualification.
• Experience in a chilled / ambient food production or fresh food environment.
• Formal supervisory or management qualification (ILM Level 3 or equivalent).
• Prior experience operating at Production Supervisor level or equivalent.

 

 

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