Production Manager - Snacks

Production Manager – Snack Foods

The Company is seeking an experienced Production Manager with a strong background in snack food manufacturing, including extruded snacks, pellet snacks, potato crisps, or breakfast cereals. This role leads daily factory operations, ensuring consistent product quality, optimal output, and strict adherence to food safety standards. The Production Manager will manage teams across processing, frying, seasoning, packing, and maintenance and drive continuous improvement throughout the operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all snack production lines to ensure safe, efficient, and continuous operation.
• Manage shift supervisors, line operators, quality teams, and support staff.
• Implement production plans, monitor daily output, and meet agreed KPIs.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP, ISO, FSSC, GMP, and other food safety standards.
• Improve yield, reduce waste, minimise downtime, and strengthen line efficiencies.
• Lead root-cause analysis for breakdowns, quality deviations, and process issues.
• Collaborate with R&D on new product trials, formulations, and line commissioning.
• Manage maintenance schedules with engineering teams to ensure equipment reliability.
• Maintain strict hygiene, housekeeping, and workplace safety practices.
• Ensure accurate reporting, documentation, batch records, and stock controls.
• Train and mentor production teams to build technical skills, ownership, and discipline.

Qualifications and Experience

• Diploma or degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 8 years’ experience in snack food production.
• Strong understanding of extruders, fryers, tumble drums, seasoning systems, packing machines, and raw material handling.
• Proven ability to lead teams in a high-volume FMCG environment.
• Strong analytical, organisational, and communication skills.

Personal Attributes

• Acts with integrity, professionalism, and a strong sense of responsibility.
• Brings enthusiasm, drive, and a proactive approach to daily work.
• Maintains high attention to detail, accuracy, and quality in all tasks.
• Organised, disciplined, and consistent in follow-through and documentation.
• Collaborates well with colleagues, communicates respectfully, and supports a positive team environment.
• Calm under pressure, solutions-oriented, and able to make balanced decisions.
• Shows initiative, adaptability, and a continuous improvement mindset.