Production Manager - Accountable for Meal Assembly Lines and packing room, Food Manufacturing experience is a pre-requisite. Shift Patterns : Rotational shift patterns (including weekends, as per business needs). Onsite position based in Rainham, Essex About us Frive is the UK’s highest-rated meal plan service, cooked by chefs. We prepare, cook and deliver fresh and healthy meals to your door so you can save time and eat healthy at the same time. We work with people from all different backgrounds and communities and recognise our own biases. We strive to create a strong sense of belonging and believe we will be better equipped to achieve our goals by building a team that approaches problems from different angles, using different perspectives and experiences to solve problems. All qualified applicants will be considered and we have no regard for age, ethnicity, ability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, nationality, race, religion, or sexual orientation the more the merrier, and together we can achieve greatness Mission: To make healthy eating convenient, delicious and accessible, whilst championing locally sourced and organic ingredients. Vision: To inspire a global shift towards a healthier society by changing eating habits and restoring food to its purest form. Values Empowerment: We empower our people to make strong, independent decisions with confidence Transparency: We share information openly and with intention Open Communication: We communicate directly and honestly High Performance: We foster an environment that attracts, retains, and rewards high performance Agility: We encourage flexibility in our people by reducing blockers and prioritising their creativity and productivity Your Impact We are seeking a hands-on Meal Assembly Manager to lead and optimise our meal assembly operations. This is a critical role responsible for ensuring the efficient, high-quality, and safe assembly of meals while driving operational improvements. You will lead, mentor, and develop a team—including the Production Line Leaders—to meet production targets, maintain food safety standards, and be supportive of driving a culture of continuous improvement. This role requires strong hands on leadership, food manufacturing experience, and a keen eye for process optimisation as well as diligence in following procedure to get the highest quality and most consistently produced food. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including Quality Assurance (QA), Kitchen, and Operations, to ensure smooth operations and adherence to Frive’s high standards. Key Responsibilities Production & Process Management Oversee the end-to-end meal assembly process, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and adherence to production schedules. Ensure production lines are set up correctly for different SKUs, optimising equipment such as Proseal, Ravenwood, and scales to meet capacity targets. Implement continuous improvement initiatives, identifying and actioning opportunities to enhance productivity and reduce waste. Ensure all products meet Frive’s quality control standards, addressing any discrepancies swiftly. Work closely with engineers to troubleshoot and resolve machinery issues, ensuring minimal downtime. Leadership & Team Development Lead, develop, and motivate a team, including Production Line Leaders and Assembly Staff, fostering a high-performance culture. Provide on-the-ground leadership, offering guidance, support, and hands-on problem-solving where necessary. Ensure staff are properly trained in food hygiene, safety, and operational procedures, working closely with the Training Manager. Conduct regular performance reviews and provide constructive feedback to drive employee engagement and efficiency. Quality & Food Safety Compliance Ensure full compliance with food safety, allergen control, and hygiene standards at all times. Work with the QA team to positively release cooked ingredients and maintain food safety integrity. Monitor and maintain the highest standards of weight control, packaging, and labelling accuracy. Ensure all team members adhere to Health & Safety policies, conducting regular audits and corrective actions where required. Collaboration & Communication Act as the primary link between assembly, kitchen, logistics, and QA, ensuring smooth cross-department coordination. Maintain clear and open communication with the Head of Operations regarding production efficiency, challenges, and improvements. Work closely with supply chain teams to ensure seamless availability of raw materials and packaging supplies. About you Proven experience in food manufacturing – ideally in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. Strong leadership skills – experience managing teams in a factory or production setting, with the ability to develop and inspire staff. Continuous improvement mindset – a track record of identifying and implementing efficiency gains in manufacturing processes. Hands-on, problem-solving approach – able to proactively address challenges on the production floor. Knowledge of food hygiene & health & safety regulations – Level 3 Food Safety certification is desirable. Technical understanding of food production machinery – experience with Proseal, Ravenwood, and weighing/scaling equipment is a plus. Excellent communication skills – ability to work cross-functionally and drive alignment across teams. Flexibility & adaptability – comfortable in a fast-moving environment with changing priorities. Staff Benefits Private Medical Insurance 25 days Holiday Public Discount off our amazing food Cycle to work scheme Enhanced parental leave Mintago Financial Wellbeing Platform - offering salary sacrifice options to make your money work smarter Why apply and what's next: This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real impact in a rapidly growing business. If you are a passionate leader with food manufacturing experience and a drive for operational excellence, we want to hear from you If you are interested in learning more about the role and think this could be for you, then don't hesitate and apply now. We look forward to hearing from you and love hearing from people who are passionate about our purpose and vision.