Processing Sections Manager

Job Title: Processing Sections Manager

Location: Driffield

Salary: Circa £35,000, Negotiable depending in experience

Hours of Work: 6.20am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday

About the Opportunity

We are seeking a high-calibre Sections Manager to lead our daily operations across Lairage, Slaughter, Evisceration, and Chick Sort including managing a team of 30 staff, maintaining production standards, ensuring animal welfare and WATOK licensing compliance. This is a critical leadership role dedicated to maintaining world-class production standards, uncompromising animal welfare, and operational excellence.

The successful candidate will be a proactive problem-solver, with experience of managing a large team in a busy food processing operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership: Plan and allocate resources (staffing, budgets, materials) to meet daily throughput and quality targets.
• Compliance & Welfare: Ensure 100% compliance with WATOK regulations, food safety protocols, and Health & Safety legislation. Oversee internal and external audits.
• Team Management: Lead, motivate, and develop a team of Team Leaders and operatives. Responsible for performance management, appraisals, and succession planning.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive process enhancements using Lean methodologies (e.g., 5 Whys) to reduce costs and improve yield.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Coordinate with Engineering, Technical, Sales, and Planning departments to streamline factory performance.

What We Are Looking For

Essential Criteria:

• Food Industry Experience: Proven background in the food industry with a deep understanding of primary processing.
• Leadership: Significant experience managing large teams within a fast-paced food processing environment.
• Compliance Knowledge: Certification in Food Hygiene standards.
• Technical Skills: Proficient in data analysis (Excel/Word) with the ability to write reports and manage budgets.
• Problem Solving: A strategic thinker who is "hands-on" when addressing mechanical or operational discrepancies.

Desirable Criteria:

• Formal Management qualification.
• Specific experience in the poultry or meat processing industry.

Personal Attributes

• Confident & Driven: Ability to challenge the status quo and drive high performance.
• Resilient: Comfortable multi-tasking in a high-pressure environment.
• Emotionally Intelligent: Capable of managing conflict and fostering a positive, inclusive workplace culture.

How to Apply

If you are a proactive leader with a passion for operational excellence and animal welfare, we want to hear from you.

Closing date: 16.02.2026 (this may be brought forward depending on successful applications)

Hawk 3 Talent Solutions are operating as an employment agency on behalf of its client.

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Hawk 3 Talent Solutions are committed to the selection, recruitment, and development of the best people, basing judgements solely on suitability for the job. Whilst we endeavour to respond to all applications individually, due to high volumes, this is not always possible. Thank you for your interest in this role and we look forward to working with you in the future.