Operations Manager

Company description:

Company Description

We are FBC UK, Fox's Burton's Companies!...And we bake the UK's most incredible biscuits (we might be slightly biased, but we will leave that for you to judge). 
FBC UK was a match made in heaven, with two of the top UK biscuits manufacturers (Burton's Biscuits and Fox's Biscuits) coming together to create one unique, integrated company. 
We are home to famous iconic brands, including Maryland, Fox's, Jammie Dodger & Rocky, to name just a few. We bake our incredible biscuits at eight bakeries across the UK, located at Ilse of Arran, Livingston, Blackpool, Llantarnam, Edinburgh, Kirkham, Batley & Dorset. We also have offices for our supporting services in St Albans, Liverpool and Moreton. Together, we employ circa 4,000 amazing employees across all our locations.  
We are currently the second biscuit manufacturer in the UK market with a strong ambition of becoming the number two biscuit manufacturer worldwide.
We are proud to be part of the Ferrero enlarged family: such a fantastic and successful business. The Ferrero Group operates in more than 50 countries, with products sold in over 170 countries, represented by almost 38.000 employees worldwide, and a consolidated turnover of €12.7 billion (2020-21).
Along with our fantastic brand portfolio, we also have long-term agreements to manufacture several sweet & savoury snacks across Mars, Jacobs, and LU branded products. In addition, we are proud to be a strategic partner for many retailer-branded products.
Our employees make our business special. With strong family values, we believe FBC UK is a more prosperous and fun place to work with when people feel free to be themselves. We believe in the power of being authentic, entrepreneurial and supporting each whilst meeting our business goals. 
And don't forget… work hard but play harder!

Job description:

About the Role

As the Operations Manager at Llantarnam, you will play a pivotal role in overseeing the day to-day operations of our production facilities at Llantarnam, ensuring efficient manufacturing processes, and maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety. You will be responsible for managing a diverse team of professionals, optimising workflows, and supporting the Factory General Manager with implementing strategic initiatives to drive operational excellence and meet business objectives.

Main Responsibilities

• Collaborates with senior management to develop and execute strategic plans and initiatives aligned with the site goals and objectives.
• Provides input and insights into operational strategies to drive growth, efficiency, and profitability.
• Continuously evaluates and improves processes to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and increase productivity using Lean Manufacturing techniques.
• Identifies opportunities for innovation and implements new technologies or methodologies to optimize operations.
• Acts as the conduit for all site wide projects via the gate process.
• Develops and manages the operations budget, tracking expenses and identifies cost-saving opportunities.
• As a role model for our company values, foster a culture of innovation and encourage team members to contribute and implement ideas for business improvement.
• Provides strong leadership to the operations team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Coaches, mentors, and develops direct reports to enhance their skills and capabilities as leaders of the operations department
• Create a safe working environment and ensures compliance with health and safety regulations
• Leads the Site Operation Leads to continually develop the FBC UK Ltd production system to maximise performance across all metrics
• Supports and coordinates budget objectives (labour, energy, maintenance, investments) for production unit – productive, maintenance, investments and general exp. budget interacting with the specific functions

Who we are looking for

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Engineering, or related field; master’s degree preferred. A formal qualification or significant experience in continuous improvement. In-depth knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles, Six Sigma methodologies or other continuous improvement frameworks.
• Proven and extensive experience in a leadership role within manufacturing industry.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
• A credible leader operating with optimism and persistence practising personal, team and company accountability
• Demonstrated ability to lead and support cross-functional teams and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Certification in food safety (e.g., HACCP, SQF, GMP) is highly desirable.
• Certification in Lean Six Sigma (Black Belt) is highly desirable.

Diversity Statement

FBC UK is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all of our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at FBC UK. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative and highly rewarding.