Operational Excellence Manager (OpEx Manager)
| Posting date: | 13 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £65,000 per annum |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 15 March 2026 |
| Location: | Middlesborough, TS6 6BJ |
| Company: | The Compleat Food Group |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 1640 |
Summary
Job Advert
Operational Excellence Manager (Opex Manager)
We have an exciting opportunity for an Operational Excellence Manager to join our team in Middlesbrough.
About The Compleat Food Group
At The Compleat Food Group, we’re proud to be a food business built on purpose and passion. Formed in 2021, we’re on a mission to
create Food to Feel Good - great quality, tasty and affordable food that people love to eat.
We’re home to some of the UK’s most exciting and loved food brands, including Wall’s Pastry, Pork Farms, Wrights, The Real
Yorkshire Pudding Co., unearthed, Vadasz, Squeaky Bean, Palace Culture, and Harvey & Brockless. Alongside our branded portfolio,
we’re a leading supplier of delicious own-label pastry, sweet bakery, party food, olives and antipasti, added-value egg products,
continental meats, dips and sauces and plant-based food to the UK’s major retailers, as well as across foodservice.
With over 6,000 talented colleagues across 17 sites, and an annual turnover of £1.3bn, we’re united by a shared ambition to shape
the future of food for the better.
We are backed by European private equity firm PAI Partners.
Location: Middlesbrough
Working Hours: Monday – Thursday: 8:30am – 5pm & Friday: 8:30am – 4pm
Salary: £65,000 per annum
Job Purpose:
We are looking for a highly motivated professional to drive the identification and quantification of the improvement agenda in
collaboration with the site leadership team, ensuring maximum focus and return on key strategic challenges. You will act as a
leading change agent within the business, identifying and closing gaps in operational efficiency, capacity utilisation, wastage,
quality, and safety against approved targets. A key part of the role is embedding an Operational Excellence (OpEx) culture across
the site by coaching, facilitating, and developing colleagues at all levels, contributing to ongoing OpEx delivery. Additionally,
you will manage projects from concept through to handover, taking full responsibility for delivering them to the required time,
cost, and specification standards while maintaining the highest levels of safety and quality compliance.
Key Duties, Responsibilities & Accountabilities:
* Lead the diagnostic cycle to define the annual ‘bottom up’ Operational Excellence budget
* To collaborate with manufacturing colleagues to identify improvement opportunities, utilising data analysis, process
observations and industry best practices and implementing flight plans to delivery.
* Provide analytic support to enable an understanding of Current state, baseline performance and capture existing issues.
* Implement principles of project governance and administration, including reporting on progress to plan and reporting of
benefits delivery
* Collaboratively support and lead multi skilled/cross functional teams
* Use industry knowledge, product and equipment knowledge, project management experience and relationships across the
organisation to enable successful delivery of complex/challenging projects.
* Collate data and present in an understandable format to be able to deliver required change
* Coaching and developing of Compleat Food colleagues from management to shop floor
* Develop and upskill colleagues in lean manufacturing principles, tools and techniques
* Facilitate, coach and support the effective deployment of a tiered Performance Management system at site level
Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
* Formal qualification in an OpEx methodology such as but not limited to Lean Six sigma, Lean, TPS
* Bachelor’s degree or qualification in a vocational or specialised field short of a degree level (HNC/HND) or Apprenticeship
* Minimum 5 years of work experience, preferably in manufacturing environments
* Proven experience of implementing and leading teams in delivery of continuous improvement projects and embedding an OpEx
culture with quantifiable business impact
* Experience of coaching, developing, facilitating and leading teams
* Strong financial acumen including the ability to accurately value the monetary impact of initiatives
* Formal Lean/Lean Six sigma, Continuous Improvement/ OpEx methodology knowledge
* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyse complex data and communicate findings
* Resilience and perseverance to establish an OpEx culture
* Experience of seeking and identifying cost opportunities, improving efficiencies, improving safety and quality capability,
generating innovative/creative solutions
* Proven leadership skills and business acumen and the ability to work with different functions within the organisation.
* Integrity to handle sensitive topics and respect/value the contributions of others
* Strong analytical, logical and numerical competence
* Highly developed influencing, persuasion and negotiation skills
* Excellent IT skills
Why Join Us?
At The Compleat Food Group, we believe our people are the heart of our success. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits
designed to support your lifestyle, wellbeing and career growth:
Financial & Lifestyle Benefits:
* Salary Sacrifice Schemes - including Electric Vehicles, Home & Tech, Cycle to Work, and SMART Pension
* 33 days annual leave with an option to purchase extra days
* Holiday Discounts via our online retail platform
* Access to enhanced retail discounts online and in-store
* Free product handouts across our sites, so you can sample and enjoy our delicious products first hand
* EV charging points - available at selected sites
Health & Wellbeing:
* 24/7 access to Grocery Aid for free financial, emotional, and practical support
* Physical Wellbeing Hub - free on-demand exercise classes, gym discounts
* Free diet & nutrition advice with access to thousands of healthy recipes
* Online wellbeing support - from mindfulness to lifestyle resources
* Financial wellbeing tools - including mortgage calculators, budgeting tools, and financial aid
Career Growth & Development:
* Access to a personalised online learning platform (LMS)
* Formal and informal training opportunities tailored to your role
* Performance Development Plans and regular Career Conversations
* Company Mentoring Scheme to add depth and really support your career journey
* Recognition through Club Compleat rewards
Community & Culture:
* 2 paid volunteering days per year to give back to causes that matter to you
* Charity initiatives and fundraising events
* Team socials to connect and celebrate together
* Employee networks & support groups - including Women @ Compleat
* New baby gift for new parents
The Compleat Food Group fosters an inclusive, respectful culture where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. We welcome
diverse talent, knowing it drives exceptional results and a better workplace.
We are committed to Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect, we ensure all colleagues can thrive by bringing their whole selves
to work. As an equal opportunity’s employer, we provide all the support you need to succeed.
Contact us with any questions about Diversity & Inclusion or accessibility during the application process.
Recruitment Agencies:
We have a small, active and trusted Preferred Supplier List to assist us if required. We do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or
unsolicited candidate introductions. We only accept CV submissions for roles released to you directly by our Talent Acquisition
team.
If you would be interested in working with us please send a message to recruitment@compleatfood.com
[recruitment@compleatfood.com] and should we have any roles we need additional support with we will reach out to you.
Operational Excellence Manager (Opex Manager)
We have an exciting opportunity for an Operational Excellence Manager to join our team in Middlesbrough.
About The Compleat Food Group
At The Compleat Food Group, we’re proud to be a food business built on purpose and passion. Formed in 2021, we’re on a mission to
create Food to Feel Good - great quality, tasty and affordable food that people love to eat.
We’re home to some of the UK’s most exciting and loved food brands, including Wall’s Pastry, Pork Farms, Wrights, The Real
Yorkshire Pudding Co., unearthed, Vadasz, Squeaky Bean, Palace Culture, and Harvey & Brockless. Alongside our branded portfolio,
we’re a leading supplier of delicious own-label pastry, sweet bakery, party food, olives and antipasti, added-value egg products,
continental meats, dips and sauces and plant-based food to the UK’s major retailers, as well as across foodservice.
With over 6,000 talented colleagues across 17 sites, and an annual turnover of £1.3bn, we’re united by a shared ambition to shape
the future of food for the better.
We are backed by European private equity firm PAI Partners.
Location: Middlesbrough
Working Hours: Monday – Thursday: 8:30am – 5pm & Friday: 8:30am – 4pm
Salary: £65,000 per annum
Job Purpose:
We are looking for a highly motivated professional to drive the identification and quantification of the improvement agenda in
collaboration with the site leadership team, ensuring maximum focus and return on key strategic challenges. You will act as a
leading change agent within the business, identifying and closing gaps in operational efficiency, capacity utilisation, wastage,
quality, and safety against approved targets. A key part of the role is embedding an Operational Excellence (OpEx) culture across
the site by coaching, facilitating, and developing colleagues at all levels, contributing to ongoing OpEx delivery. Additionally,
you will manage projects from concept through to handover, taking full responsibility for delivering them to the required time,
cost, and specification standards while maintaining the highest levels of safety and quality compliance.
Key Duties, Responsibilities & Accountabilities:
* Lead the diagnostic cycle to define the annual ‘bottom up’ Operational Excellence budget
* To collaborate with manufacturing colleagues to identify improvement opportunities, utilising data analysis, process
observations and industry best practices and implementing flight plans to delivery.
* Provide analytic support to enable an understanding of Current state, baseline performance and capture existing issues.
* Implement principles of project governance and administration, including reporting on progress to plan and reporting of
benefits delivery
* Collaboratively support and lead multi skilled/cross functional teams
* Use industry knowledge, product and equipment knowledge, project management experience and relationships across the
organisation to enable successful delivery of complex/challenging projects.
* Collate data and present in an understandable format to be able to deliver required change
* Coaching and developing of Compleat Food colleagues from management to shop floor
* Develop and upskill colleagues in lean manufacturing principles, tools and techniques
* Facilitate, coach and support the effective deployment of a tiered Performance Management system at site level
Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
* Formal qualification in an OpEx methodology such as but not limited to Lean Six sigma, Lean, TPS
* Bachelor’s degree or qualification in a vocational or specialised field short of a degree level (HNC/HND) or Apprenticeship
* Minimum 5 years of work experience, preferably in manufacturing environments
* Proven experience of implementing and leading teams in delivery of continuous improvement projects and embedding an OpEx
culture with quantifiable business impact
* Experience of coaching, developing, facilitating and leading teams
* Strong financial acumen including the ability to accurately value the monetary impact of initiatives
* Formal Lean/Lean Six sigma, Continuous Improvement/ OpEx methodology knowledge
* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyse complex data and communicate findings
* Resilience and perseverance to establish an OpEx culture
* Experience of seeking and identifying cost opportunities, improving efficiencies, improving safety and quality capability,
generating innovative/creative solutions
* Proven leadership skills and business acumen and the ability to work with different functions within the organisation.
* Integrity to handle sensitive topics and respect/value the contributions of others
* Strong analytical, logical and numerical competence
* Highly developed influencing, persuasion and negotiation skills
* Excellent IT skills
Why Join Us?
At The Compleat Food Group, we believe our people are the heart of our success. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits
designed to support your lifestyle, wellbeing and career growth:
Financial & Lifestyle Benefits:
* Salary Sacrifice Schemes - including Electric Vehicles, Home & Tech, Cycle to Work, and SMART Pension
* 33 days annual leave with an option to purchase extra days
* Holiday Discounts via our online retail platform
* Access to enhanced retail discounts online and in-store
* Free product handouts across our sites, so you can sample and enjoy our delicious products first hand
* EV charging points - available at selected sites
Health & Wellbeing:
* 24/7 access to Grocery Aid for free financial, emotional, and practical support
* Physical Wellbeing Hub - free on-demand exercise classes, gym discounts
* Free diet & nutrition advice with access to thousands of healthy recipes
* Online wellbeing support - from mindfulness to lifestyle resources
* Financial wellbeing tools - including mortgage calculators, budgeting tools, and financial aid
Career Growth & Development:
* Access to a personalised online learning platform (LMS)
* Formal and informal training opportunities tailored to your role
* Performance Development Plans and regular Career Conversations
* Company Mentoring Scheme to add depth and really support your career journey
* Recognition through Club Compleat rewards
Community & Culture:
* 2 paid volunteering days per year to give back to causes that matter to you
* Charity initiatives and fundraising events
* Team socials to connect and celebrate together
* Employee networks & support groups - including Women @ Compleat
* New baby gift for new parents
The Compleat Food Group fosters an inclusive, respectful culture where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. We welcome
diverse talent, knowing it drives exceptional results and a better workplace.
We are committed to Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect, we ensure all colleagues can thrive by bringing their whole selves
to work. As an equal opportunity’s employer, we provide all the support you need to succeed.
Contact us with any questions about Diversity & Inclusion or accessibility during the application process.
Recruitment Agencies:
We have a small, active and trusted Preferred Supplier List to assist us if required. We do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or
unsolicited candidate introductions. We only accept CV submissions for roles released to you directly by our Talent Acquisition
team.
If you would be interested in working with us please send a message to recruitment@compleatfood.com
[recruitment@compleatfood.com] and should we have any roles we need additional support with we will reach out to you.