Area Process Manager

Area Process Manager

Step into a role where leadership, innovation, and people development go hand in hand. As Area Process Manager at Refresco Milton Keynes, you’ll own the performance of our Syrup and Ingredient operations, driving excellence while upskilling and empowering your team to achieve their very best.

Days – Monday to Friday

• Competitive salary with annual pay review
• 12.5% annual bonus
• Bupa Healthcare
• 3X Life assurance
• 6% pension
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Option to purchase extra holiday

As Area Process Manager, you’ll take ownership of performance across the Syrup Room and Ingredient Control areas, leading the way in safety, quality, hygiene, and yield. You’ll manage and develop a dedicated team to deliver against SQCDP and other key business targets, ensuring efficient ingredient management, optimised syrup processes, and consistent audit‑ready standards. You’ll also play a vital role in developing Refresco’s manufacturing strategy for high‑risk operations, including implementing new hygiene standards and driving capital investment projects for low / no preservative production.

• Lead and motivate the Syrup Room and Ingredient Control teams to deliver outstanding results in safety, quality, cost, delivery, and performance.
• Analyse ingredient and syrup yields, identify opportunities, and drive improvements through robust data insights.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing standards to ensure best practice and audit‑ready hygiene and quality.
• Partner with Technical, NPD, and Manufacturing teams to optimise product ratios, processes, and manufacturing performance.
• Identify and control key safety hazards within the syrup and ingredient process areas.
• Own the Syrup Room capital investment programme and establish robust capital standards.

• Proven leadership experience within FMCG or food / beverage manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, quality systems (ISO 9001 / 2000), and food safety standards.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and project management skills.
• Experience applying Lean principles and continuous improvement tools.
• Exceptional communication and coaching abilities, with a collaborative, cross‑functional approach.
• IT literacy (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and business systems).

You’re proactive, decisive, and performance‑driven. You lead by example, think strategically, and take pride in delivering high standards across everything you do. You’re passionate about developing people and processes and thrive in a fast‑paced, forward‑thinking environment.

Refresco is the global independent beverage solutions provider for global, national, and emerging brands, and retailers with production in Europe, North America, and Australia. Refresco offers an extensive range of product and packaging combinations from juices to carbonated soft drinks and mineral waters in carton, PET, aseptic PET, cans, and glass. Refresco continuously searches for new and alternative ways to improve the quality of its products and packaging combinations in line with consumer and customer demand, environmental responsibilities, and market demand.

Refresco is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and has more than 13,500 employees.

Refresco believes that equal opportunity for all is fundamental to our company's values and all our applicants can expect fairness and transparency in our recruitment process.