Manufacturing Project Manager

Manufacturing Project Manager (known internally as Start Up Lead)
Billingham (Home of McCoys, POM-BEAR, Wheat Crunchies, and more…)
On-site | Monday - Friday

Join our snack-loving team
We’re looking for a Start Up Lead to join us at KP Snacks. If you’re ready to bring your ideas to the table, grow your skills and be part of a team that values what makes you, you – this could be your next big move.

Who are we?
We’re KP Snacks, part of the Intersnack family. Across more than 30 countries, over 15,000 of us work together to make the snacks people love – from Hula Hoops to McCoy’s. In the UK, we’re a team of around 2,400 colleagues, based across seven sites and our Slough HQ. We’re proud of our close-knit culture, where we speak up, celebrate differences and push boundaries together.

About the role
As Manufacturing Project Manager (Start Up Lead), you will take ownership of the commissioning, qualification and verification phases of a new process and packaging line, ensuring a safe, efficient and successful launch. Working closely with Engineering, Operations and external partners, you will coordinate all start-up activities, manage project risks and drive delivery against key milestones.

Once the start-up phase has been successfully completed, you will take on responsibility for leading the newly established production area, managing a 24/7 team and driving performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost and people development.

This role offers the opportunity to combine project delivery with operational leadership, making a lasting impact on one of KP Snacks' key manufacturing investments.

What’s in it for you?
We believe in rewarding our colleagues and helping them thrive. Here’s a flavour of what we offer:

• Competitive annual salary, annual salary review and annual bonus opportunity (target 7.5%), plus a £6,000 car allowance.

• KP Pension Plan with up to 7% matched contributions

• 25 days holiday, with the option to buy up to five additional days, plus additional holiday after five years’ service

• Comprehensive healthcare including Single Cover Private Healthcare, Health Cash Plan, Digital GP and Employee Assistance Programme

• Electric Vehicle Car Scheme, supporting more sustainable and cost-effective travel

• KP4ME benefits platform with discounts, cashback and wellbeing support

• Enhanced family-friendly policies to support colleagues at every stage of life

What will you be doing?

• Leading the start-up of a new manufacturing line by managing commissioning, qualification and verification activities, ensuring a safe and successful transition into full production

• Driving project delivery and stakeholder engagement through clear communication of progress, milestones, risks and outcomes across Operations, Engineering and external partners

• Managing risk and operational readiness by coordinating site-level mitigation plans, resolving issues proactively and ensuring all launch activities remain on track

• Embedding Continuous Improvement principles by ensuring all activities align with Intersnack Work Systems (IWS) and supporting the development of sustainable ways of working from day one

• Leading a high-performing production team following start-up, taking accountability for operational performance, colleague development and delivery of key business objectives alongside Process and Maintenance Leads

We’d love to hear from you if you can bring:

• Manufacturing leadership experience gained within a fast-paced food, FMCG or continuous manufacturing environment

• Project delivery expertise with experience managing complex operational projects, commissioning activities or major manufacturing investments

• Strong Continuous Improvement knowledge with an understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles and structured problem-solving methodologies

• Commercial and operational awareness including budget management, resource planning and performance management

• A strong commitment to safety and compliance with a thorough understanding of Health, Safety and Environmental responsibilities within a manufacturing environment

• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence, engage and collaborate effectively across multiple functions and organisational levels

Our purpose
At KP Snacks, we're passionate about creating happy snacking moments through our great tasting snacks and iconic brands. Every day, millions of people enjoy our products, including Hula Hoops, McCoy's, KP Nuts, Tyrrells, Skips, POM-BEAR and Butterkist, making us one of the UK's leading snack manufacturers.

For decades, we've been delighting consumers by combining well-loved favourites with exciting innovations that reflect changing tastes and expectations. We're equally passionate about our people and committed to creating a workplace where everyone can grow, develop and make a real impact.

As part of the Intersnack Group, one of the world's leading snack manufacturers, we combine global expertise with a shared commitment to creating happy snacking moments every day.

We’re committed to inclusion
We’re building a workplace where everyone belongs. If you don’t tick every box, we’d still love to hear from you – your unique perspective could be just what we need. And if there’s anything we can do to make the process easier for you, just let us know.

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