Operations Manager

Overview

Are you a Shift Manager, or Production Leader who knows how to get the best out of a team without sacrificing quality? Do you pride yourself on running an efficient floor where "doing it right" is the default, not the exception?

We are representing a high-growth, industry-leading commercial grower in Suffolk. Supplying the UK's major retailers (Tesco, Waitrose, and the Co-op), they operate a sophisticated glasshouse environment that is as much about precision as it is about volume. They are looking for a Technical Operations Manager. This is an operations-led role focused on managing the day-to-day rhythm of the site while ensuring that technical and quality standards are woven into every process.

Your focus will be:

• Operational Execution: Leading from the front to ensure harvest and production targets are met while maintaining total compliance with site protocols.
• Standards Management: Acting as the bridge between the technical department and the production floor to ensure BRC and quality standards are followed in every task.
• Team Leadership: Directly managing and developing two Quality Controllers (QCs), mentoring them and acting as their point of escalation.
• Audit Readiness: Owning the site s physical readiness for BRC audits and retailer inspections.
• Process Improvement: Identifying ways to make operational workflows more efficient without compromising product integrity.

We are looking for a motivated "up-and-comer" with a strong production or shift management background who is ready to take on a role with more autonomy and influence.

• Operational Drive: You are a natural floor leader with experience as a Shift Manager or Production Supervisor within Fresh Produce or Food Manufacturing.
• Technical Understanding: You may not be a technical specialist, but you must understand the importance of food safety, HACCP, and BRC standards.
• Practical Mindset: You are a problem solver who can manage a team during peak periods and maintain discipline during quieter times.
• Reliability: This is a site-based role with start times between 07:00 and 08:30. The schedule is 5 days out of 7, including one fixed weekend day.

You ll be joining a business led by a highly experienced Senior Leadership Team in a facility that is considered a leader in its field. With turnover in the tens of millions and a high staff retention rate, this is a stable, professional, and ambitious environment where you can make a real impact as the site develops.

Ready to step into a role where operations and quality meet? If you have a strong leadership background and the right attitude to drive site standards, we want to hear from you.