Group Production Manager

Founded in 2003 Wasabi's vision is to lovingly create and serve delicious Asian food for a busy nation.

Wasabi now has 42 thriving restaurants across London and major UK cities and 4 in New York and in 2019, we introduced Wasabi Home Bento the grocery channel, launching exclusively in Sainsbury s. Building on that success, the grocery business broadened its reach to Tesco in September 2022, followed by exciting launches in Co-op and Morrisons in 2024. Wasabi grocery has seen phenomenal growth and is now a £62m RSV brand. Wasabi proudly stands as the No. 2 chilled ready-meal brand in the market, consistently attracting new customers to the category through an innovative East Asian range. Wasabi s menu is celebrated for its unique character, exceptional freshness, and bold flavours. Our diverse range is designed to delight a wide audience, delivering both comfort and excitement with every bite. We have an ambitious 5-year growth strategy, focusing on new restaurants, franchise partnerships, and international expansion.

As we prepare for our next phase of growth and innovation, we have an incredibly exciting opportunity for a Group Production Manager to join our Manufacturing Team based in Park Royal.

The Role:

To lead the team in achieving their business KPIs for the area, with a key focus on team member safety, product quality, customer service, environmental impact and process optimisation, providing daily support and coaching to all team members.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work cross functionally and build relationships to maximise performance.
• Ensure that each team member understands their role in delivering business goals.
• Build a high performing team.
• Minimise absenteeism and organise unplanned cover when required, taking the necessary steps to minimise cost.
• Train the team on all standards and track team member capability using versatility matrices.
• Involve the team in priority problem solving activities and promote a culture of learning and development.
• Communicate regularly and ensure goals and manufacturing targets are clear through team forums and PDRs.
• Address any performance issues promptly and discretely.
• Fully support the activities that are defined within the manufacturing strategy, maintaining a key focus on the KPIs of the area and any deadlines along with the impact of change on any team members.
• Use problem solving to remove obstacles which may prevent team members from completing their roles effectively.
• Deliver assigned CI projects through the team.
• Collect and analyse data to underpin decisions and the allocation of resources.
• Standardise all activities through the use of 5S, Work Element Sheets, Standard Operating Procedures and other standards required to run the area effectively.
• Conduct layered confirmation to confirm standards are in place and effective.
• Use visual management to communicate the team performance issues and what is needed to correct them.
• Deliver value; hourly, daily, and weekly maintaining attainment to plan and trigger the escalation process for any deviation in safety, quality, environment, service or throughput.
• Ensure that start-ups and changeovers are documented, planned, and executed efficiently to minimise cost.
• Ensure that shift handovers are documented and communicated effectively.
• Optimise labour, minimise waste and maximise OEE for the team.
• Ensure that poor quality is never passed on to the next stage of the process.
• Investigate all quality non-conformances, customer complaints or other issues, find root cause and prevent recurrence.
• Complete all documentation for safety, quality, operations, environmental and asset management as required.
• Ensure regular preventative maintenance is carried out on all machines as directed by Engineering.
• Build a culture of safety within the area of responsibility.
• Ensure that all activities have formal risk assessments and corrective actions have been completed as a priority.
• Promote positive safety behaviours, root causing near misses and coaching team members to work safely.
• Ensure that all team members have the appropriate training to do their required tasks in a safe manner.
• Complete all safety checks at the appropriate frequencies, and ensure the environment is as safe as possible for all team members to work in.
• Support site ESG agenda ensuring commitments are delivered across areas of responsibility.

Our Requirements:

• Proven experience in a FMCG manufacturing/production environment (ideally ready meals).
• Shift leadership experience (incl. coaching teams and managing agency labour).
• Excellent leadership and communication skills
• The ability to build a strong sense of team ownership and maintain a high level of morale within the team.
• Evidence of delivering against KPIs (service/output, labour, waste/yield, safety, quality/GMP).
• Confident running daily routines (start-up, hourly boards, handovers, escalation) and RCA (5 Whys/fishbone) to close actions.
• Good knowledge in Health & Safety, Food Safety, Food Quality and Environment requirements within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• BRC/audit exposure (desirable)
• Lean/CI (5S/standard work/visual management) trained (desirable)
• Familiarity with shopfloor systems/ERP (desirable)

In return we provide:

• A great working environment
• Pension scheme
• Target Bonus
• Refer A Friend Scheme
• Free Sushi or hot food (vegan options available)
• 50% discount in our Branches
• Employee Assistant Programme
• (a service providing health and wellbeing support)
• Long Service Awards
• Wagestream - a financial wellbeing benefit that lets you access your pay as you earn it in real time and manage savings
• Life Assurance
• Electric Vehicle Scheme through Octopus
  
• Cycle To Work
• Free on-site parking
• A variety of discounts (shopping, food & drink, entertainment and health & fitness) through Perkbox and
• The opportunity to develop your skills within a growing company.

Our people make us who we are. If you're looking for an exciting challenge and this sounds like the job for you please apply today as we can't wait to hear from you.

COME ROLL WITH US!