Head of Operations - Soups & Cerberus

Head of Operations – Soups and Cerberus

We rise to challenges together

Salary: Competitive

Benefits: 25% Bonus, £9,600 Car Allowance, Income Protection

Location: Spalding

Ways of Working: Site based

Hours of work: 37.5

Contract Type: Permanent

Please be informed that this role offers a job share option, which aims to promote a collaborative approach to workload management and improved work-life balance by sharing a full-time role with another colleague.

Why join us?

We’re ready for anything. We thrive on challenge and change. The undeniable pressure and pace of our 24/7 operation keeps us on our toes and offers a variety of career pathways and options to explore and pursue. We encourage everyone to work hard, push further and show resilience. And it’s exciting. Because only by mentoring and role modelling our success and innovation, will we continue to diversify, grow as individuals and succeed together.

What we do.

Bakkavor Spalding is a versatile Business Unit comprising the Deli, Soups & Sauces, and Cerberus manufacturing facilities, along with the Spalding Distribution Centre.

Our core capabilities include the production of hand-crafted sandwich wraps, food-to-go salads, pasta salads, chilled dips, soups, and sauces.

About the role.

We are looking for an experienced, credible, and inspiring Head of Operations to lead our Soups and Cerberus factories, driving exceptional performance across safety, quality, efficiency, and employee engagement.

This is a pivotal senior leadership role, with full accountability for site operations and a key influence on the long-term business strategy.

Accountabilities:

Lead the deployment of the operational site strategy in alignment with evolving business goals. Oversee manufacturing and supporting functions such as Engineering, Planning, and Supply Chain. Foster a strong health and safety culture and ensure adherence to technical and food safety standards. Develop and coach a high-performing operations team aligned with Bakkavor values. Drive continuous improvement through the Bakkavor Operating System. Influence and lead change management initiatives to enhance business performance. Build and maintain effective relationships with key internal stakeholders and external customers. Manage site budgets and capital investments with a focus on value and return on investment. Champion innovation and engagement initiatives that boost team performance and culture.

About you.

A proven leader with experience in senior manufacturing operations roles, preferably within food or FMCG environments. Strong commercial acumen and the ability to interpret and act on complex financial data. A strategic thinker who can balance long-term vision with hands-on operational delivery. Experience managing large teams and developing talent at all levels. A collaborative and influential communicator who can drive alignment across cross-functional teams. Demonstrable success in managing change and delivering sustainable improvements.

What you’ll receive.

As an equal opportunity employer, we’re committed to providing a safe and rewarding environment for you to thrive in. This is why we work hard to deliver benefits, rewards and wellbeing offerings that are important to you.

You’ll Enjoy

Life Assurance (4 x salary) Car Allowance 25 % Short Term Bonus Scheme 25 days holiday + Bank Holidays Staff Shop Stakeholder Pension Scheme MyBargains Discount Platform Executive Health Screening Income Protection Personal Accident Insurance Free Independent Mortgage Advice Employee Assistance Programme A Range of voluntary benefits (holiday purchase scheme, additional life assurance, dental & hospital cash plans) Discounted tutoring for children Access to financial learning tools and affordable loans via your salary Private Medical Insurance Free Carparking

Plus, a commitment to your wellbeing that includes emotional, physical and financial support services delivered by our fantastic team of wellbeing champions.

Proud to be Bakkavor.

We’re proud to be the market leader in the UK fresh prepared food industry. We’re proud to supply meals, salads, desserts, pizza and bread to leading grocery retailers including Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. We’re driven by the hard work and passion of our people and are delighted to offer a wide range of careers across our business – come and join our dedicated Bakkavor team!

Find out more and apply.

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