Job Description

Job Title:

Shift Manager - Nights

Department:

Operations

Reports to:

Bakery Operations Manager / Senior Leadership Team (SLT)

Manages:

Bakery Supervisors, Line Operatives

Liaises with:

Engineering Manager, H&S Manager, SLT, HR, Technical & Quality Team, Hygiene Team, Dispatch, and Supply Chain

Main Objective

To manage the efficient and effective operation of bakery production during designated shifts, ensuring delivery of high-quality products in line with production targets, customer specifications, and company standards. This includes ownership of production schedules, labour management, product quality, hygiene compliance, health & safety, and communication across departments to support smooth operational delivery.

Primary Responsibilities

Oversee daily bakery production ensuring timely completion of scheduled products within specification, while monitoring efficiency, labour use, waste and product quality. Plan, coordinate, and adjust production schedules in collaboration with the Bakery Operations Manager and Dispatch team, ensuring alignment with customer delivery requirements. Lead, develop and motivate the team of supervisors and operatives, ensuring roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and performance expectations are met. Conduct daily shift briefings, lead handovers, and ensure communication is maintained throughout the shift and across departments. Complete verification of production start-up records, including pre-operational checks, batch verification, and allergen control measures. Take appropriate action when deviations occur. Monitor and ensure the completion of all in-process and end-of-line quality checks. Escalate any non-conformances to Technical and QA teams and implement agreed corrective actions. Drive a proactive approach to Health & Safety, ensuring team members are compliant with site safety rules, PPE usage, and reporting of hazards or near misses. Monitor and maintain hygiene standards within production areas. Work in coordination with the hygiene department and ensure corrective actions are completed in a timely manner. Collaborate with the Engineering department to report and follow-up on equipment issues that may affect production. Ensure traceability, mass balance and documentation (e.g., PC64, PC29, PC30, metal detection, attribute sheets, packing records) are completed in real-time and are audit-ready. Drive compliance to allergen control, cleaning schedules, GMP, and due diligence documentation. Ensure labour is effectively utilised to meet production plans, including reactive management of absenteeism or production variances. Deliver shift reports including output vs plan, waste, downtime, labour %, key issues, and handover updates. Lead investigations into product quality, process deviations, and customer complaints. Complete root cause analysis (e.g., fishbone, 5-why), implement corrective actions, and support technical documentation of findings. Support and lead any customer visits or audits conducted during the shift. Represent the company in a professional and knowledgeable manner. Take accountability for hygiene and quality verifications, including line sign-offs, allergen clean-down checks, and QAS reviews. Be actively involved in Continuous Improvement (CI) activities, driving performance improvements across KPIs including yield, labour efficiency, and right-first-time production. Work closely with HR and the Bakery Operations Manager to manage performance, conduct reviews, disciplinary meetings, return-to-work interviews, and support team development. In the absence of the Bakery Operations Manager, assume full operational responsibility for the site including decision-making and escalation management.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Production adherence to daily plan and schedule Waste and giveaway levels Labour % vs target Hygiene and GMP audit scores Health & Safety compliance and incident reporting Customer complaint reduction and QAS compliance Accuracy and completion of shift records and traceability Employee performance, development, and retention

Desirable Skills & Experience

Proven experience in food manufacturing and shift management Strong knowledge of BRCGS and customer standards (e.g., Tesco, M&S, Iceland) Excellent leadership, communication, and conflict resolution skills Confidence in using MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and internal systems Understanding of root cause analysis, lean manufacturing principles, and process control Demonstrable ability to drive performance through people and improve team culture
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 16.00-16.50 per hour

Expected hours: 34 - 45 per week

Work Location: In person

Expected start date: 25/08/2025