Job Description

Role Description:

The Operations / Production shift supervisor is responsible for the safe, efficient, and compliant delivery of daily dairy production operations. The role holds full accountability for shift performance, ensuring production targets, food safety, quality, cost, and people standards are always achieved.



The role leads, coaches, and develops a team of up to 25 direct reports, acting as the first point of escalation for operational, quality, safety, and people-related issues. The post holder ensures the department remains audit-ready, drives continuous improvement, and demonstrates "What Good Looks Like" in GMP, safety, and leadership behaviours.






The Production Supervisor's primary responsibility is to supervise, coordinate, and lead the operation Daily, not to routinely work on the production line. The role exists to maintain oversight of safety, food quality, performance, documentation, and people management throughout the shift. The Production Supervisor may step onto the line only in exceptional circumstances, such as when the operation is short of suitably skilled personnel or to protect food safety, legality, or production continuity. This ensures the Supervisor remains focused on effective control, decision-making, and leadership of the shift always.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & People Management

Lead, coach, and develop a team of up to 25 colleagues, driving performance, accountability, and engagement.

Ensure all team members are trained, competent, and formally signed off for their roles.

Conduct shift briefings, manage attendance and performance issues, and support development plans.

Act as the first point of escalation for operational or people issues during the shift.

Create a positive working environment and strong cross-departmental relationships.


Production & Operational Control


Take full accountability for shift performance including output, plan attainment, downtime, waste, rework, and labour efficiency and reporting

Deliver the daily manufacturing plan with the correct labour, skills, and materials in place.

Monitor production against KPIs and take immediate corrective action where performance deviates.

Make real-time decisions to protect food safety, quality, and production continuity, including stopping or restarting production where necessary. Escalate this situation if it exceeds 30 minutes.

Assist in driving down all forms of waste and inefficiency.


Food Safety, Quality & Compliance


Always uphold the highest food safety and hygiene standards.

Ensure full compliance with GMP, HACCP, food safety and company procedures.

Always maintain the department in an "audit-ready" condition.

Act as first escalation point for food safety, quality, hygiene, or micro risks on shift.

Challenge and correct unsafe or non-compliant behaviours immediately.

Health, Safety & Environment (HSE / SHE)

Ensure all activities comply with company Health, Safety, and Environmental policies.

Lead by example on safe behaviours and PPE compliance.

Carry out routine safety checks, inspections, and ensure actions are closed out on safety culture.

Ensure risk assessments, safe systems of work, and control measures are followed.


Engineering & Asset Care Interface


Escalate equipment faults promptly and work closely with Engineering to minimise downtime following the correct procedures.

Ensure asset care standards are maintained and temporary fixes do not compromise food safety, legality, or quality.

Support preventative maintenance and continuous improvement initiatives.


Planning, Labour & Rota Control


Produce and maintain labour rotas aligned to production plans, skills matrixes, holidays, and absence.

Deal with daily absences and backfill using Agency if applicable

Ensure adequate cover for sickness, holidays, and training without compromising food safety or performance.

Approve overtime and shift swaps in line with company policy.

Deploy labour dynamically during shifts to meet operational priorities.


Documentation, Data & KPIs


Ensure all production, quality, hygiene, and safety documentation is completed accurately and on time.

Verify CCP, GMP, cleaning, and start-up checks are completed and signed off correctly.

Take ownership of shift KPIs including:

Plan attainment

Yield

Waste

GMP & Micro performance

Explain performance variances and support root cause analysis and corrective actions.

Ensure clear, accurate, and documented shift handovers.

Ensure PL7 & GD032 are ready and available on start-up of shift.
Continuous Improvement


Drive a culture of continuous improvement across safety, quality, cost, delivery, and people.

Identify and implement opportunities to improve efficiency, yield, waste reduction, and behaviours.

Work collaboratively with the Shift Managers and wider teams to improve standards and culture.

Experience & Qualifications

Essential

3-5 years' supervisory experience within FMCG (Food)

Basic Food Hygiene

HACCP knowledge

Good literacy and numeracy skills

PC literate

Desirable

Previous Dairy / Cheese manufacturing experience

Competencies & Behaviours

Strong problem-solving skills with a structured, root-cause approach.

High personal drive and sense of urgency to achieve targets and standards.

Ability to monitor performance, identify variances, and implement corrective actions.

Strong coaching and mentoring capability, building confidence and capability in others.

Demonstrates ownership, accountability, and calm decision-making under pressure.

Champions continuous improvement and positive culture change.

Functional Competencies

Functional Area



Essential Level



Desirable Level



Continuous Improvement



Basic



Proficient



Finance



Limited



Basic



Compliance Management



Basic



Proficient



Business Planning



Basic



Proficient



People Management



Basic



Proficient



Project Management



Limited



Basic



Food Safety Law / HACCP



Proficient



Advanced



Quality / Environmental Management



Proficient



Advanced



Dairy Product / Environmental Science



Proficient



Advanced



Asset Care



Proficient



Advanced



Energy Management



Basic



Proficient



Process & Packaging Technology



Proficient



Advanced



Supplier & Contractor Controls



Limited



Basic



Performance Management



Basic



Proficient



Customer Focus



Basic



Proficient



GMP / GLP



Proficient



Advanced



Health & Safety



Basic



Proficient




Experience & Qualifications

Essential

3-5 years' supervisory experience within FMCG (Food)

Basic Food Hygiene

HACCP knowledge

Good literacy and numeracy skills

PC literate

Desirable

Previous Dairy / Cheese manufacturing experience

Competencies & Behaviours

Strong problem-solving skills with a structured, root-cause approach.

High personal drive and sense of urgency to achieve targets and standards.

Ability to monitor performance, identify variances, and implement corrective actions.

Strong coaching and mentoring capability, building confidence and capability in others.

Demonstrates ownership, accountability, and calm decision-making under pressure.

Champions continuous improvement and positive culture change.

Functional Competencies

Functional Area



Essential Level



Desirable Level



Continuous Improvement



Basic



Proficient



Finance



Limited



Basic



Compliance Management



Basic



Proficient



Business Planning



Basic



Proficient



People Management



Basic



Proficient



Project Management



Limited



Basic



Food Safety Law / HACCP



Proficient



Advanced



Quality / Environmental Management



Proficient



Advanced



Dairy Product / Environmental Science



Proficient



Advanced



Asset Care



Proficient



Advanced



Energy Management



Basic



Proficient



Process & Packaging Technology



Proficient



Advanced



Supplier & Contractor Controls



Limited



Basic



Performance Management



Basic



Proficient



Customer Focus



Basic



Proficient



GMP / GLP



Proficient



Advanced



Health & Safety



Basic



Proficient



A Dairy Creamery Supervisor oversees day-to-day production to ensure milk is processed safely, efficiently, and to quality standards. They coordinate staff, monitor pasteurisation and cheesemaking operations, ensure hygiene and food safety compliance, track yields and losses, and respond to process issues. The role focuses on maintaining product quality, meeting production targets, and continuously improving efficiency while ensuring staff follow standard operating procedures.