Deputy Production Manager - PM | Rochdale

Drive the day-to-day execution, safety, and performance of our late-shift production operations in line with our operational plan.

What you will be doing

Working primarily Monday to Friday from 14:00 to 23:30, though flexibility regarding working hours or shift patterns may be required to support operational needs, you will provide real-time leadership on the production floor, driving key performance goals across labour efficiency, yield, output, and downtime reduction. Your focus will centre on directing the late-shift team, managing line escalations, and maintaining continuous operational flow through the following responsibilities:

• Lead the production floor on shift, acting as the primary escalation point for Area Supervisors to resolve operational issues quickly and effectively.
• Coordinate and manage Short Interval Control (SIC) to track, report, and respond to line performance, starts, and targets in real time.
• Manage in-shift labour adjustments alongside the Labour Controller and Planning teams to maintain flow, optimise deployment, and minimise over- or under-manning.
• Ensure all production activity strictly meets food safety, quality, and compliance standards by reinforcing right-first-time behaviours and adhering to SOPs.
• Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Quality, and Planning to stabilise lines, reduce waste, and implement continuous improvements.

What you will bring

We are looking for an analytical, action-oriented leader who brings a disciplined approach to fast-paced shop floor dynamics. You must be comfortable managing multiple priorities simultaneously and executing decisive leadership under pressure to maintain high operational standards.

• Experience: Proven supervisory or management experience within a fast-paced food manufacturing or FMCG environment, with a demonstrable track record of coordinating large-scale operations.
• Soft skills: Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making capabilities, with a collaborative approach that supports, aligns, and empowers frontline leadership teams.
• Hard skills: A solid understanding of labour deployment, yield performance drivers, continuous improvement methodologies, production systems (such as SAP or Arolink), and food safety compliance (HACCP, GMP, and BRC).

Why join us

Joining Danish Crown at our Rochdale site offers a fantastic opportunity to take true ownership of a key operational shift. In this permanent, full-time position, you will have the autonomy to drive real-time improvements on the production floor, directly influencing labour efficiency, line performance, and waste reduction while working closely with the Production Manager to shape our operational success.

In return for your commitment and expertise, we offer a competitive salary of £42,966 alongside a core Monday-to-Friday working pattern, with the understanding that flexibility in hours or shift coverage may be required to meet business demands. More than just a shift schedule, this role provides a clear pathway for professional growth within a highly collaborative environment, where your impact is felt daily and your development is actively supported by an ambitious leadership team.

About us

Danish Crown UK is a business built on trust, teamwork and ambition. We exist to deliver food that people believe in, and we know that takes strong leadership and collaborative cultures.

Our leadership principles guide us. We act for the good of the whole organisation. We hire brilliant people and help them grow. We are ambitious, curious and open to new ideas. We build trust by accepting mistakes as part of development. We believe real leadership is earned through example, not title.

Whoever joins us will help create a workplace where people feel safe to speak up, share ideas, challenge old ways of working and stretch themselves to achieve more. If that sounds like the environment where you thrive, we would love to hear from you.