Production ManagerOverviewA growing dairy manufacturing business is seeking an experienced and hands-onProduction Managerto lead daily operations across a facility producing approximately 20 milk and cream products. This role requires a strong people manager who can motivate an 8-person production team while ensuring products are manufactured safely, efficiently, and in line with forecasted demand.While this is not a highly automated or software-driven environment, the business has strong ambitions to modernise. The successful candidate will bring structure, improved efficiency, and smart KPI-driven management to help the organisation scale sustainably.Key ResponsibilitiesProduction Planning & OutputEnsure daily production volumes meet forecasted demand across ~20 SKUs.Create simple but effective production plans that optimise labour, materials, and equipment usage.Monitor yields, wastage, and efficiency ratios, implementing improvements where possible.Maintain accurate production records and batch documentation.People ManagementLead, motivate, and supervise a team of 8 production operatives.Provide coaching, support, and on-the-job training to develop skills and performance.Build a positive, collaborative, accountable team culture.Manage staff scheduling, performance reviews, and daily role allocation.Operational Excellence & ModernisationIntroduce modern production practices suited to a small manufacturing environment.Develop and implement meaningful KPIs around efficiency, labour utilisation, downtime, quality, and customer fulfilment.Identify opportunities to improve processes, reduce waste, and increase throughput.Drive continuous improvement across production operations without unnecessary complexity.Quality & ComplianceEnsure all products are manufactured to required safety, quality, and hygiene standards.Work closely with technical/quality to maintain strong food safety culture and audit readiness.Support root cause analysis and corrective actions where deviations occur.Materials & InventorySupport raw material and packaging usage tracking to meet production requirements.Work with procurement/owner to ensure appropriate inventory levels are maintained.Cross-Functional CollaborationLiaise with sales and forecasting teams to anticipate demand and plan accordingly.Communicate production challenges or capacity constraints proactively.Support NPD or new product rollouts where required.Experience & QualificationsEssential3–5+ years' experience in a Production Manager, Shift Manager, or Senior Production Supervisor role within food or beverage manufacturing (dairy experience desirable).Proven track record of managing, motivating, and developing small teams.Strong understanding of production planning, throughput, efficiency improvement, and day-to-day factory operations.Experience implementing KPIs and simple performance management structures.Familiarity with food safety standards (HACCP, GMP, hygiene).Ability to thrive in a hands-on role within a small but growing business.Strong problem-solving and organisational skills.DesirableExperience in a dairy or liquid processing environment.Some exposure to basic production planning tools or process improvement methodologies (Lean, continuous improvement).A relevant technical qualification (Food Science, Production Management, Operations, Engineering, or similar).Personal AttributesPractical, pragmatic, and confident working in a low-automation environment.Strong communicator who can bring people with them on a journey of improvement.Positive leadership style with a focus on accountability and team morale.Ambitious and excited to support a growing family business with expansion plans.