Factory Manager; Night Shift

Mash Direct is a proud, family-run business producing real food, done properly. From our farm in County Down to supermarket shelves across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the UK, we grow, cook and pack vegetables we’re proud to put our name to.

We are on the lookout for someone who will take leadership and full operational ownership of Mash Direct’s night shift factory operations, ensuring the safe, efficient, and compliant manufacture of high-quality fresh vegetable products.

You will take full ownership of all night shift operations, ensuring efficient, safe, and high-quality production while maintaining rigorous food safety and hygiene standards. The manager is the key decision-maker on site during the night, leading the team to meet operational KPIs and foster a culture of continuous improvement and compliance.

Your role will include:

• Lead and manage all night shift production activities, ensuring production plans are executed in line with schedules and targets (e.g., efficiency, yield, and quality).
• Act as the primary point of contact for all site functions, resolving any operational issues or bottlenecks that arise during the shift.
• Monitor and manage operational costs, including labour efficiency, waste control, and utility usage.
• Coordinate with day shift teams and other departments (e.g., Quality, Engineering, Purchasing) to ensure seamless handovers and material flow.
• Prepare and provide accurate production data, performance reports, and shift summaries for senior management review. Hygiene and Food Safety
• Ensure the facility maintains the highest standards of cleanliness and food safety, strictly adhering to all relevant regulations (e.g., HACCP, BRCGS).
• Oversee the night hygiene team, ensuring all cleaning schedules (Master Cleaning Schedule) are completed effectively and verified through inspections and swab testing.
• Manage the safe handling and storage of cleaning chemicals in line with Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) requirements.
• Act as the site liaison for hygiene-related internal and external audits, ensuring the site is audit-ready at all times.
• Implement and enforce Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and a “Clean-As-You-Go” culture across the production floor.

• Champion a strong health and safety culture, ensuring all staff follow safe work practices and wear appropriate PPE.
• Lead, motivate, coach, and develop the night shift team, including conducting performance reviews, managing absence, and identifying training needs.
• Promptly report and investigate hazards, incidents, or equipment malfunctions, coordinating with the engineering team for maintenance issues.

You’ll work 5 nights over 6, Sunday to Friday, as part of a 45-hour working week.

• Pay that grows with your skills and experience
• Premium rate after 46 hours
• Supportive working environment
• Training & Development
• Free on-site parking
• Staff discounts on all Mash Direct products
• Cycle to Work scheme

You’ll be joining a culturally diverse workforce where people look out for each other and take real pride in what they produce.

We are looking for someone who has:

• Proven experience in a senior management role within a food manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrable experience managing production operations on a shift basis, preferably within a 24/7 or night-shift operation.
• Strong working knowledge of food safety and hygiene standards, including HACCP and BRCGS (or equivalent GFSI-recognised standards).
• Experience of managing hygiene operations, including Master Cleaning Schedules, inspections, and verification activities.
• Hands-on experience of people management, including team leadership, performance management, absence control, and staff development.
• Experience in monitoring and improving operational KPIs such as efficiency, yield, waste, and labour utilisation.

If you want to be part of a business that values hard work, teamwork and doing things the right way, we’d love to hear from you.

Mash Direct is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

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