Area Manager

at  Finsbury Food Group

AREA MANAGER

Location: Memory Lane Cakes, Cardiff
Shift: Monday to Friday (although shiftwork as required with appropriate notice)
Salary: Competitive with Opportunity for Growth
We have an exciting opportunity for an Area Manager to join our manufacturing team at our Memory Lane Cakes site as part of Finsbury Food Group. This role is ideal for an ambitious individual looking for a role in a fast-paced shift leadership position with a view to further developing their career.
Our Memory Lane Cakes (MLC) site is part of our Cake Division within Finsbury Food Group. They make over 75% of the UK’s sharing cakes from retailer own brands cakes, tray bakes through to party cakes like Caterpillar cakes. They employ over 850 people on site and the sites runs 24/7, which encompasses a culture of teamwork, friendly and respectful leadership and a focus on continuous improvement at all levels.
The Area Manager will work closely with colleagues to develop the shift manufacturing team to deliver the site’s operational KPIs. Reporting in to the Manufacturing Lead, the Area Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the bakery with front line managers reporting in.
To be successful in this role, you will need to be passionate about leading and developing people and be driven to achieve results. Previous experience of working in the food processing/manufacturing industry is desirable and you will be experienced in leading people effectively.

This is a key role in our Operations team. Working on days initially, but with the potential to work on shift with appropriate notice, the successful candidate will be the most senior person on shift, responsible for all facets of the operation. You will report to the Manufacturing Lead and be tasked with leading and developing the shift-based manufacturing team to deliver the range/scorecard of operational Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) and objectives aligned to the business needs.
As the Area Manager you will put safety first, ensuring area compliance with all company and statutory regulations. You will be quality conscious, ensuring that products are consistently produced within specification and in a food safe way that meets customer audit and COP requirements. You will drive service to focus on the customer and the delivery of the schedule whilst aligning with budget requirements and identifying cost improvement opportunities. You will initiate and support CI projects and demonstrate an awareness and engagement with SIC, including escalation.
You will visibly lead your team to achieve hourly and daily KPI’s, utilizing performance management tools effectively to maximise engagement and delivery (set objectives, communicate, feedback, review performance). You will support the Manufacturing Lead with a plan for improving employee engagement and ensure effective and aligned communication within the shift, other shifts and cross functionally.
You will facilitate personal development plans for direct reports to meet both individual and business needs and engage with succession planning by identifying the next generation of Area Managers and Section Leads within the employee population. You will promote teamwork and an inclusive environment so that all employees in the area feel involved and are treated in a consistent way. You will focus on developing strong working relationships to promote daily collaboration and cross functional problem solving – implement APT approach.