Head of Manufacturing

Who we are

Puratos is an international group offering a full range of innovative products, raw materials and application expertise to the bakery, patisserie and chocolate sectors. Our headquarters are just outside Brussels (Belgium), where the company was founded in 1919. Over a century later, our products and services are available in over 100 countries around the world and, in many cases, are produced by our network of local subsidiaries. Above all, we aim to be ‘reliable partners in innovation’, helping our customers around the world to deliver nutritious and tasty food to their local communities.

Position Overview

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Head of Manufacturing to lead our Operations Team at our site in Kent (Fourayes Farm Ltd), near Sittingbourne & Maidstone.

The Head of Manufacturing is responsible for driving operational excellence, safety, and continuous improvement, ensuring that the site is operating at optimum efficiency.

This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for ensuring the site operates efficiently, safely, and in full compliance with food industry standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Champion a safety-first culture across all site activities, reducing risk and promoting proactive safety behaviours.
• Lead and develop the local operational team, driving performance across SHE, Quality, Service, Cost, and People.
• Ensure full compliance with legal regulations and international food safety standards including HACCP, BRC, and environmental requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement through KPIs and the OPX programme toolkit (continuous improvement), collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Define and implement customer-oriented processes to meet service level agreements and exceed expectations.
• Develop and execute the site’s Master Plan in alignment with strategic goals.
• Foster a ‘Great Place to Work’ culture through clear objective setting and team development.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders including HR, Finance, and Group functions.
• Own the annual operational budget, implement cost control strategies, and optimise inventory management to reduce waste and maximise profitability.
• Propose and deliver the Capex Plan aligned with site and Group priorities.
• Lead the development and execution of the site’s annual QSHE Plan.

Profile

We’re seeking a dynamic and experienced manufacturing leader who’s ready to make a real impact. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and are passionate about driving operational excellence, this could be your next big move.

Your Expertise:

• Proven leadership experience in food manufacturing, with a strong track record of delivering results and developing trams.
• Deep understanding of complex production processes and operational management.
• Exceptional communication skills to inspire teams, engage stakeholders, and lead with clarity.
• A strategic thinker with broad business acumen across all functions.
• Skilled in project ideation, execution, and Capex process management.

Your Leadership Style:

• A confident communicator who can negotiate, coach, mediate, and challenge constructively.
• Comfortable engaging with customers and navigating high-stakes conversations.
• Calm under pressure, leading by example in a dynamic, ever-evolving environment.
• Decisive and accountable, with the courage to own site-wide decisions.

Your Impact:

• Build a culture of accountability and performance, using KPIs to drive continuous improvement.
• Leverage the expertise of your site management team to make informed, effective decisions.
• Champion growth—for yourself, your team, and the business.

Your Credentials (Ideally):

• NEBOSH or IOSH qualified.
• Level 4 certified in Food Safety and HACCP.
• Experienced in SAP or similar ERP/data systems.