CPU Manager
At Ole & Steen, every product leaving our stores carries our name — and we're looking for someone who understands exactly what that means.
We need a CPU Manager who'll be visible where it matters most: on the production floor. Someone who leads from the front, develops Team Leaders into real leaders, protects our standards under pressure, and makes continuous improvement part of everyday work.
THE OPPORTUNITY
- Up to £52,000, depending on experience
- Night shift: 8 pm – 5 am
- 5 days out of 7
- A leading role across production, people leadership, quality and continuous improvement — with full ownership of the Food Production department
PACKAGE
- Free food whilst on shift
- Pension scheme
- GP Helpline
- Colleague discount across our stores
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- 5+ years' experience in food manufacturing, chilled food or CPU operations, with real people leadership responsibility
- A proven track record of leading and developing Team Leaders and operational teams in a fast-paced production environment
- Strong understanding of food safety, GMP, hygiene, allergens and traceability
- SALSA or BRCGS audit experience is critical — you know what "audit-ready" really looks like every day, not just before the auditor arrives
- Working knowledge of Continuous Improvement tools — 5S, visual management, VSM, Kaizen, structured problem solving / RCA
- Confident using KPIs and data to identify gaps, prioritise action and measure improvement
- A calm, visible and decisive leader who protects standards and people, even under pressure
A NIGHT IN THE LIFE
- Walking the production floor across shifts — setting clear priorities, checking deployment and running strong handovers
- Monitoring throughput, OTIF, yield, waste, downtime and cost per unit, and acting fast on adverse trends
- Owning food safety, GMP, hygiene, allergen and traceability standards — containing defects before they're passed forward
- Coaching and developing Team Leaders — briefing, recognising, challenging and building their capability to own performance
- Leading Continuous Improvement activity — 5S, Kaizen, structured problem solving — turning recurring losses into measurable projects
- Keeping the site audit-ready every day (SALSA/BRCGS) — not just when the auditor's due
- Managing labour, budget and material usage in partnership with Procurement, Warehouse and Logistics
- Working cross-functionally with Technical, Safety, Engineering and People to solve problems and deliver site priorities
- Supporting new product trials and launches, making sure the team's ready and the process stays stable
