Area Manager - Packing

Sofina Foods•Suffolk, VA

1d•$20•Onsite

About The Position

Our new Area Manager (Packing and Despatch) will lead and develop high-performing teams, ensuring production targets are met while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, cost control and people management. This is a hands-on leadership role with full accountability for team performance, staffing, compliance and continuous improvement. Working closely with Planning, Technical and Operations teams, you will ensure customer demand is met through efficient packing, accurate despatch and full product traceability. This role is site-based and plays a key part in delivering operational excellence within a food manufacturing environment. The hours of work are 7am-3pm Monday to Friday at our Haverhill site. £20.46 per hour The Ideal Candidate You will be an experienced FMCG operational manager who thrives in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment. You will: Have a strong understanding of packing line equipment and throughput requirements within a food production environment Be confident identifying, preventing and resolving operational issues before they impact performance Communicate clearly and effectively, using data and insight to support decision-making Be a proactive self-starter who motivates and engages teams through inclusive leadership Take personal ownership of line and team performance Demonstrate a holistic understanding of day-to-day operational and business requirements Be willing to learn, adapt and collaborate productively with cross-functional teams Paid breaks Company pension Canteen& on-site parking Life insurance Referral programme Health & wellbeing support Online benefits hub Equal Opportunities Sofina Foods is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences – regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Your Key Responsibilities The new Area Manager will be responsible for leading safe, efficient and compliant packing and despatch operations, including: Managing packing and despatch teams in line with all risk assessments, company procedures and statutory requirements Embedding a Safety-First culture, ensuring full compliance with Health & Safety, COSHH and PPE standards Planning and delivering packing operations to maximise efficiency, throughput and Packs Per Minute, without compromising quality or hygiene Ensuring all finished goods are packed, palletised, documented and despatched accurately and on time Maintaining full control and traceability of finished goods, raw materials and packaging Monitoring, recording and assigning packing downtime accurately to support performance analysis Ensuring all operational paperwork is completed accurately and on time, keeping the department audit-ready at all times Supporting continuous improvement initiatives and deputising for the Shift Manager when required Lead packing and despatch performance in a fast-paced food manufacturing environmen

Requirements

Be an experienced FMCG operational manager who thrives in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.
Have a strong understanding of packing line equipment and throughput requirements within a food production environment
Be confident identifying, preventing and resolving operational issues before they impact performance
Communicate clearly and effectively, using data and insight to support decision-making
Be a proactive self-starter who motivates and engages teams through inclusive leadership
Take personal ownership of line and team performance
Demonstrate a holistic understanding of day-to-day operational and business requirements
Be willing to learn, adapt and collaborate productively with cross-functional teams

Responsibilities

Managing packing and despatch teams in line with all risk assessments, company procedures and statutory requirements
Embedding a Safety-First culture, ensuring full compliance with Health & Safety, COSHH and PPE standards
Planning and delivering packing operations to maximise efficiency, throughput and Packs Per Minute, without compromising quality or hygiene
Ensuring all finished goods are packed, palletised, documented and despatched accurately and on time
Maintaining full control and traceability of finished goods, raw materials and packaging
Monitoring, recording and assigning packing downtime accurately to support performance analysis
Ensuring all operational paperwork is completed accurately and on time, keeping the department audit-ready at all times
Supporting continuous improvement initiatives and deputising for the Shift Manager when required
Lead packing and despatch performance in a fast-paced food manufacturing environmen