Assistant Production Manager

Job Summary

To support the Production Manager in the day\-to\-day management of production operations, ensuring efficient, safe, and cost\-effective packing activities within the avocado and mango facility. The Assistant Production Manager will drive operational performance through effective leadership, workforce management, continuous improvement, quality assurance, and compliance with food safety and health and safety standards.

Essential Duties \& Responsibilities

• Support the Production Manager in the day\-to\-day running of production operations and deputise when required.


• Oversee and support training and development activities to enhance team performance and ensure adherence to best practices, fostering a culture of continuous improvement throughout the production area.


• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide coaching and development support to team members.


• Share responsibility for communication with temporary labour providers, ensuring staffing forecasts are communicated effectively and production requirements are met with appropriately skilled personnel.


• Assist with the recruitment, onboarding, training, probation reviews, and retention of production employees, helping to ensure a positive employee experience and compliance with company procedures.


• Minimise waste while maximising production yields.


• Analyse production performance results and support the implementation of improvement action plans to drive efficiency, productivity, and quality.


• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Technical teams to ensure packed product consistently meets customer specifications.


• Review production schedules with the Planning team to establish priorities and resource requirements.


• Maintain effective inventory control processes to minimise shortages and prevent excess stock.


• Take direction from the Technical Director to ensure all requirements relating to BRCGS, SMETA, and customer standards are achieved.


• Conduct spot checks to verify that the correct packaging materials and labels are being used across all production lines.


• Monitor production run rates and escalate any performance concerns to the Production Manager and Planning team.


• Review daily production KPIs and communicate issues, trends, and achievements from previous shifts.


• Lead, develop, mentor, and coach production team to achieve performance and quality targets.


• Assist with Workday administration, including time amendments and holiday approvals.


• Act as a delegate for Senior Line Leaders as required.


• Carry out routine checks to ensure that production data entries and records are accurate, complete and up to date.


• Assist with Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Fishbone investigations.


• Undertake monthly Glass \& Hard Plastic audits and other routine checks that may be required to ensure compliance.


• Assist with workplace investigations and formal processes as required.


• Assist with Health \& Safety risk assessments as required.


• Create, review, and maintain SOPs and SWPs for Production.


• Undertake Return to Work interviews as required.


• Attend meetings and communicate actions and instructions effectively.


• Support customer, grower, auditor, and third\-party visits as required.


• Promote a culture of food safety, quality, continuous improvement, and workplace safety.


• Complete any other reasonable duties consistent with the role.

• Minimum 2 years' experience in a production, manufacturing, or fresh produce environment is preferred; However, equivalent qualifications will also be considered.


• Previous supervisory or team leadership experience.


• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.


• Good written and verbal communication skills.


• Strong organisational and time\-management skills.


• Competent problem\-solving and decision\-making skills.


• Understanding of food safety and quality standards, including BRCGS.


• Working knowledge of Health \& Safety requirements.


• Experience using ERP systems, preferably Microsoft D365\.


• Intermediate Microsoft Office skills.

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Dartford DA2 6QB: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

• production, manufacturing, or fresh produce environment: 2 years (required)


• fresh produce: 2 years (required)

• United Kingdom (required)

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