Dan Walker

Location: Nottinghamshire
The Opportunity: Fancy taking ownership of production planning at a growing food manufacturing business?

We're working with an established fresh produce manufacturer that's experienced significant growth over recent years and is continuing to invest in its operations. Following the acquisition of an additional production site, they're looking for a confident Supply Chain & Production Planner to help shape how the site operates and keep production running smoothly.

This is a great opportunity to make a genuine impact rather than simply follow an existing plan!

The Role
Reporting to the Planning Manager, you'll take responsibility for production planning at the site, working closely with factory teams to ensure customer orders are delivered efficiently and on time.

In this role, you will:

• Take ownership of daily production schedules, ensuring the right products are produced and packed at the right time.
• Coordinate customer orders, stock and materials, keeping production running smoothly in a fast-paced environment.
• Work closely with production, technical and operational teams to overcome challenges and respond to changing demands.
• Drive improvements in efficiency, helping reduce waste, improve performance and support the introduction of new planning systems.

About You
We're looking for someone who enjoys the challenge of keeping a busy factory organised and isn't afraid to get stuck in!

Essential

• Previous experience in a Production Planning, Factory Planning or similar role within food manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of production scheduling, stock management and coordinating customer orders.
• Confident using Excel and working with production planning or stock management systems.
• A proactive problem-solver who can work independently, communicate effectively across departments and adapt to changing priorities.

Desirable

• Experience within fresh produce manufacturing, particularly vegetables or potatoes.
• Familiarity with EDI, ERP or Business Intelligence systems, such as Power BI.
• Experience identifying opportunities to reduce waste, improve production efficiency or streamline planning processes.
• Exposure to major retailer supply chains and the demands of short shelf-life products.

 
About the Business
An established and growing fresh produce manufacturer supplying some of the UK's leading supermarkets. With significant investment, an expanding workforce and continued development across its production sites, the business offers an exciting environment for someone looking to make their mark.

What's On Offer?

• Salary: Circa £34,000 per annum (annual equivalent), paid weekly at £16.20 per hour.
• Overtime: Available at £20.25 per hour (time and a quarter) for hours above 40 per week.
• Working pattern: Monday–Friday, 6am–3:30pm.
• Contract: Permanent, full-time.
• Location: Nottinghamshire.
• Development: Opportunity to take ownership of production planning at a growing site, with support and training on new systems.

We are seeking applications from talented Production Planners, Factory Planners, Supply Chain Planners and Manufacturing Planners based in or around Newark, Mansfield, Ollerton, Southwell, Worksop and Nottingham.

Why True North Talent?
True North Talent specialises exclusively in recruitment across the UK food and drink manufacturing industry. We understand the sector, the challenges businesses are facing and the experience required to succeed within it.

Our specialist consultants work closely with both clients and candidates to ensure we're not simply matching a CV to a job description – we're helping people make the right career move and businesses secure the expertise they need.

Interested?
If you're an experienced Production or Supply Chain Planner professional within the food and drink manufacturing sector and this sounds like the kind of opportunity you're looking for, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply directly or contact Dan Walker - 07830 944183 at True North Talent for a confidential conversation about the role, quoting Ref No DW/TNT/3503.

We may hold your data, as per our privacy policy detailed on our website.
We are only able to consider candidates who have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we can only contact successful applicants.
 

Location: West Yorkshire
Overview: Ready to take ownership of hygiene and put your own stamp on how things are done?
We’re working with an established food manufacturer looking to appoint a Hygiene Supervisor to take responsibility for hygiene standards, systems and processes across its manufacturing operation.

This is more than simply making sure cleaning schedules are completed.

You’ll have the opportunity to review how hygiene currently operates, identify where improvements can be made and introduce better ways of working – while leading and developing the hygiene team around you.

If you’re looking for a role where you can take genuine ownership rather than simply follow an established routine, this could be a great next step.

Why this role?
The business wants someone who can become its go-to person for hygiene.

You’ll be trusted to look at the current operation with a fresh pair of eyes, from cleaning procedures and schedules through to chemicals, equipment, training and documentation, and identify opportunities to strengthen standards and improve efficiency.

You’ll work closely with the Technical team but have responsibility for driving hygiene day-to-day, giving you the autonomy to make recommendations and turn improvements into practical changes on the factory floor.

It could suit an established Hygiene Supervisor, but equally someone ready to take the next step and take greater ownership of a hygiene function.

What will you be doing?
You’ll take ownership of a broad production remit, including:

• Leading the day-to-day hygiene operation and ensuring consistently high standards across the site.
• Supervising, supporting and developing the hygiene team.
• Managing and reviewing cleaning schedules, procedures and hygiene standards.
• Ensuring cleaning activities are completed effectively, safely and to the required standard.
• Reviewing existing hygiene processes and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Assessing the effectiveness of cleaning chemicals, equipment and methods and recommending changes where appropriate.
• Ensuring chemicals are correctly controlled, stored and used in line with COSHH requirements.
• Developing and maintaining hygiene procedures, records and documentation.
• Training employees in appropriate cleaning methods, chemical use and hygiene procedures.
• Monitoring hygiene performance and ensuring any issues or non-conformances are addressed.
• Supporting environmental monitoring, audits and corrective actions where required.
• Working closely with Technical, Production and other departments to maintain strong site standards.
• Helping build a proactive hygiene culture rather than simply reacting when issues arise.

About the business
Our client is an established food manufacturer supplying products to customers across the UK food industry.

The business operates from a dedicated manufacturing site in West Yorkshire and places a strong emphasis on quality, food safety and maintaining high manufacturing standards.

They are now looking to strengthen their hygiene function by bringing in someone who can take greater ownership of the area and continue developing the systems and standards already in place.

It’s an opportunity to join an established business while still having the freedom to influence how your own function operates.

What are they looking for?
Essential

• Previous experience within hygiene in a food manufacturing environment.
• Experience operating at Hygiene Supervisor, Hygiene Team Leader, Hygiene Lead level or similar.
• A strong practical understanding of factory cleaning and hygiene requirements.
• Knowledge of cleaning chemicals, chemical control and COSHH.
• Experience working with cleaning schedules, procedures and hygiene documentation.
• Understanding of food safety, GMP and hygiene standards within food manufacturing.
• Confidence leading, training and developing others.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify where standards or processes could be improved.
• A proactive, hands-on approach and willingness to take ownership rather than wait for direction.
• Strong communication skills and the confidence to work closely with Production and Technical teams.

What’s in it for you?

• £35,000 salary
• The opportunity to become the site’s key point of contact for hygiene.
• Genuine autonomy to review existing processes and introduce improvements.
• The freedom to assess cleaning methods, chemicals and equipment rather than simply inherit a fixed way of working.
• The opportunity to develop your leadership experience and build capability within the hygiene team.
• Broad exposure across Technical, Production, food safety and site operations.
• A position where the improvements you introduce can have a visible impact on site standards and performance.
• The opportunity to join an established food manufacturer offering stability alongside the scope to make the role your own.

Why speak to True North Talent?
We're specialists in food and drink manufacturing recruitment, so we understand the production, technical, quality and operational landscape you're working in.

If you're a Hygiene Supervisor looking for greater ownership, a Hygiene Team Leader ready for your next step, or come from a Quality/Technical background with strong hands-on hygiene experience, we'd love to have a confidential conversation.

Interested?
If you have the desired experience, please send your CV quoting ref DW/TNT/3405, or call 0161 399 1575 / 07830 944183 for a confidential discussion.

We may hold your data, as per our privacy policy detailed on our website.

We are only able to consider candidates who have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we can only contact successful applicants.
 

Location: East Yorkshire
Shift Pattern: Monday to Thursday (40 hours)
Overview: Ready to take ownership of a fast-paced manufacturing operation and make a genuine impact on the factory floor?
We’re working with an established food manufacturer looking to appoint a Manufacturing Manager into a newly created position within its operations team.

This is a hands-on leadership role with responsibility for the day-to-day performance of a busy, short-shelf-life manufacturing operation, leading through a team of experienced Section and Team Leaders.

With new business creating further growth across the site, they need someone who can bring structure, accountability and strong operational leadership while continuing to develop the people and processes around them.

Why this role?
This isn’t a role where you’ll spend your week sitting behind a desk.

You’ll be highly visible across the factory floor, working closely with your teams to ensure the production plan is delivered safely, efficiently and to the required quality standards.

The role has been created to strengthen the operational structure as the business grows, giving you the opportunity to take real ownership and influence how the factory performs.

You’ll have experienced people around you, but they’re looking for someone who can challenge where needed, develop the leadership team and continually look for ways to improve performance.

And with a Monday to Thursday working week, it offers something increasingly difficult to find within food manufacturing.

What will you be doing?
You’ll take ownership of a broad production remit, including:

• Leading the day-to-day manufacturing operation and ensuring the production plan is achieved.
• Managing and developing a team of Section and Team Leaders across the operation.
• Maintaining a strong presence on the factory floor, supporting teams and resolving operational issues as they arise.
• Driving performance across throughput, labour efficiency, waste and productivity.
• Ensuring high standards of food safety, GMP, health & safety and quality are maintained.
• Reviewing production performance and identifying opportunities to improve processes and ways of working.
• Ensuring labour and resources are effectively deployed against production requirements.
• Building accountability and consistency across the operational leadership team.
• Coaching and developing Team and Section Leaders to strengthen capability across the factory.
• Working closely with Technical, Planning, Engineering, Despatch and wider Operations teams.
• Supporting continuous improvement initiatives and helping embed a culture of ongoing operational improvement.
• Responding quickly to changing production requirements within a fast-paced, short-shelf-life environment.

About the business
Our client is an established UK food manufacturer with a significant production operation and a strong reputation within its market.

The site employs approximately 180 people, with more than 120 working across factory operations, and continued commercial growth is creating further opportunities across the business.

This Manufacturing Manager position is a newly created role, providing additional operational leadership and helping the site successfully manage its next stage of growth.

It’s an opportunity to join a close-knit manufacturing business where you can be visible, have genuine influence and see the impact of the decisions you make.

What are they looking for?
Essential

• Previous experience in a Manufacturing Manager, Production Manager, Operations Manager, Production Shift Manager or similar operational leadership position.
• Strong experience within fresh or short-shelf-life food manufacturing.
• Proven experience leading production teams through Team Leaders, Section Leaders or Supervisors.
• A hands-on leadership style and willingness to spend significant time on the factory floor.
• Strong understanding of production planning, labour, throughput, efficiency and waste.
• Good knowledge of food safety, GMP and health & safety within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing performance and developing operational teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to make decisions in a fast-moving environment.
• A continuous improvement mindset and the confidence to challenge existing ways of working.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work cross-functionally with Technical, Engineering, Planning and other departments.

What’s in it for you?

• £40,000 - £50,000 salary
• Monday to Thursday working week, offering a genuine three-day weekend.
• A senior operational position with the freedom to make decisions and implement your own ideas.
• The opportunity to work closely with the senior leadership team and have a real voice in how the operation develops.
• Scope to strengthen your experience across people leadership, operational performance and continuous improvement.
• The opportunity to join at an important stage for the business, with new customer wins and increased production volumes creating further opportunities.
• A role where good performance and improvements are visible and recognised, rather than getting lost within a large corporate structure.

Why speak to True North Talent?
We're specialists in food and drink manufacturing recruitment, so we understand the production, technical, quality and operational landscape you're working in.

If you're a Manufacturing Manager looking for greater ownership, or a strong Production Manager, Operations Manager or Production Shift Manager ready for your next step, we'd love to have a confidential conversation.

Interested?
If you have the desired experience, please send your CV quoting ref DW/TNT/3419, or call 0161 399 1575 / 07830 944183 for a confidential discussion.

We may hold your data, as per our privacy policy detailed on our website.

We are only able to consider candidates who have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we can only contact successful applicants.
 

Location: Central Scotland
Overview: An opportunity to use your livestock knowledge in a commercial buying role, working directly with farmers and suppliers across Scotland for an established food manufacturing business.

We are working with a leading food manufacturing business that is looking for an experienced Livestock Buyer to join its procurement team in Central Scotland. This is a varied, supplier-facing role where you’ll be responsible for sourcing cattle and sheep, developing strong relationships with farmers and suppliers, and ensuring the business has the right quality and quantity of livestock available to meet production requirements.

Previous livestock experience is essential. This could come from livestock buying, farming, agricultural markets, auctioneering or another closely related background where you have developed a strong practical understanding of cattle and/or sheep.

Why this role?
If you already know the livestock industry and want to develop the commercial side of your career, this is an opportunity to combine your agricultural knowledge with procurement and relationship management.

You won’t be confined to a desk. A significant part of the role involves getting out into the agricultural community, visiting farms, speaking directly with producers and developing long-term supplier relationships.

You’ll also gain exposure to the wider food manufacturing process, developing an understanding of how livestock procurement connects with supply chain, animal welfare, production, carcass yields, customer specifications and production planning.

Joining an established procurement team, you’ll have the opportunity to build on your existing livestock knowledge while developing further commercially within a major food manufacturing environment.

What will you be doing?
You’ll take responsibility for a broad livestock procurement remit, including:

• Procuring cattle and sheep from livestock suppliers through regular farm visits and direct communication.

• Ensuring sufficient livestock is sourced to meet weekly business and production requirements.

• Negotiating commercially and helping ensure livestock is procured at the best possible value.

• Building and maintaining strong, long-term relationships with farmers and the wider supplier base.

• Working with farmers, livestock agents, hauliers and other suppliers to coordinate livestock deliveries.

• Ensuring livestock is sourced in accordance with relevant farm assurance requirements.

• Monitoring livestock quality, availability and wider market conditions.

• Providing livestock procurement advice and market information to management when required.

• Ensuring animal welfare legislation and company procedures are followed in relation to the safe movement and handling of livestock.

• Attending agricultural shows and other relevant industry events.

About the business
Our client is an established food manufacturing business with a significant presence across the UK.

Agriculture and livestock procurement sit at the heart of its operation, with the business working closely with farmers and suppliers to maintain a consistent supply of high-quality livestock for its customer base.

The business continues to invest in its operations and supply network, making this an opportunity to join an established procurement function where strong relationships with the agricultural community are fundamental to its success.

You’ll be joining a business that can also give you exposure beyond livestock purchasing, allowing you to develop your understanding of the wider journey from farm through to finished product.

What are they looking for?
Essential

• Previous experience working within the livestock or agricultural sector.

• Practical knowledge of cattle and/or sheep.

• Experience that could come from livestock buying, farming, agricultural markets, auctioneering or a closely related livestock background.

• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to work directly with farmers and suppliers.

• Commercial awareness and an interest in developing further within livestock procurement.

• Highly motivated, ambitious and comfortable working in a fast-moving environment.

• Strong organisational and time-management skills.

• The ability to work independently and manage a role involving regular travel.

• Comfortable working under pressure and adapting to changing market conditions.

• Good attention to detail.

• Competent using Microsoft Office.

• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable

• Previous livestock procurement or buying experience.

• Knowledge of the Scottish livestock market and supplier base.

• Existing relationships within the farming or agricultural community.

• Experience working with both cattle and sheep.

• Previous procurement, commercial or supply chain exposure within agriculture or food manufacturing.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience.

• Performance-related bonus opportunity.

• Pension scheme.

• Free on-site parking.

• Employee Assistance Programme.

• Permanent, full-time position.

• A varied role combining livestock, agriculture, procurement and food manufacturing.

• Significant time spent working directly with farmers and suppliers rather than being purely office based.

• The opportunity to develop your commercial and procurement experience within an established food manufacturing business.

• Exposure to the wider supply chain and manufacturing process.

• The opportunity to build long-term relationships across the Scottish agricultural community.

Why True North Talent?
True North Talent specialises exclusively in recruitment across the UK food and drink manufacturing industry. We understand the sector, the challenges businesses are facing and the experience required to succeed within it.

Our specialist consultants work closely with both clients and candidates to ensure we're not simply matching a CV to a job description – we're helping people make the right career move and businesses secure the expertise they need.

Interested?
If you have experience within livestock buying, farming, agricultural markets, auctioneering or another livestock-focused environment and are interested in developing your career within livestock procurement, we'd love to have a confidential conversation about the opportunity and whether it could be the right next step for you.

Apply directly or call Dan on 0161 399 1575 / 07830 944183 for a confidential discussion about this role, quoting Ref No DW/TNT/3397.

We may hold your data, as per our privacy policy detailed on our website.
We are only able to consider candidates who have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we can only contact successful applicants.

Location: Lincolnshire
Overview: This is a great opportunity for an experienced Hygiene Supervisor/Hygiene Team Leader to join a well-established food manufacturing business at a large multi-factory site in Lincolnshire.

Shifts: Tuesday - Saturday 9:30pm - 6:30am

Working within the fresh food operation, you’ll report into the Group Hygiene Manager and take responsibility for leading the hygiene function throughout the night shift. You’ll have 2 Hygiene Team Leaders reporting directly into you, with a wider team of around 10 Hygiene Operatives.

This is a hands-on leadership position where you’ll have real ownership of hygiene standards, team performance and continuous improvement across the operation.

About you…

• Previous hygiene experience within a food/FMCG manufacturing environment, ideally at Supervisor or Team Leader level.
• Strong people-management skills with experience leading, coaching and developing hygiene teams.
• Good knowledge of food hygiene, HACCP, chemical safety and hygiene best practice.
• As Hygiene Supervisor, you will have experience conducting hygiene audits and driving improvements against hygiene KPIs.
• Confident working independently and making decisions, particularly as you may be one of the most senior people onsite during the night shift.
• Strong communication and cross-functional working skills, with a practical and hands-on approach.

What will you be doing?

• Leading the night hygiene operation and ensuring the factory consistently meets required food safety, customer and business standards.
• Managing and developing the Hygiene Team Leaders and wider hygiene team, ensuring cleaning activities are completed safely, effectively and on time.
• Monitoring and auditing hygiene performance, identifying areas for improvement and driving standards beyond basic compliance.
• Ensuring the correct use of chemicals, equipment and resources while maintaining strong health & safety standards.
• As Hygiene Supervisor, you will be working closely with other departments across site to ensure hygiene supports the wider production operation.
• Managing team performance, hours and holidays through TMS and supporting longer-term hygiene planning.
• Taking responsibility for key decisions during the night shift, including stopping operations where hygiene or safety standards are not being met.

So, what can they offer you?
You’ll be joining an established food manufacturing business where hygiene, food safety and continuous improvement are central to the operation. This role offers genuine responsibility and autonomy, with the opportunity to lead a sizeable team and have a real influence on standards across the factory.
You’ll also be part of a larger multi-factory site and wider group, providing plenty of exposure and scope to continue developing your career within hygiene and site leadership.

We are keen to speak with Hygiene Supervisors, Hygiene Team Leaders, Hygiene Shift Managers and Senior Hygiene Team Leaders based within Lincolnshire and surrounding areas, including Lincoln, Sleaford, Grantham, Newark, Boston and Gainsborough.

How to Apply
If you have the desired qualifications and experience, please send your CV quoting re DW/TNT/3363 or call 0161 399 1575 / 07830 944183 for a confidential discussion.

True North Talent is recognised as a trusted supplier of permanent, contract and interim recruitment services to the food manufacturing and FMCG industries. Our teams of specialist recruiters operate across food manufacturing Operations Jobs, food manufacturing Engineering jobs, food manufacturing Technical jobs, food manufacturing NPD jobs, food manufacturing Supply Chain jobs and food manufacturing Commercial jobs. We may hold your data, as per our privacy policy detailed on our website.

We are only able to consider candidates who have the legal right to work in the UK. The company cannot offer sponsorship. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we can only contact successful applicants.