Deputy Production Manager

Full-Time Role – Seaham, County Durham

• Competitive Salary & Great Benefits Package
• Company Pension
• Life Insurance
• Employee Benefits Platform
• Employee Assistance Programme & 24/7 GP Access

Prima is a leading, award-winning, multi-site cheese processing company operating within B2B markets in the UK and internationally. We have an outstanding reputation for quality, consistency, and service, underpinned by a strong, people-first culture built on our PRIMA

values of Passion, Respect, Integrity, Motivation and Ambition.

With a proud 29-year heritage and continued expansion, this is an exciting opportunity to step into a senior leadership role and play a key part in driving operational excellence across our production function.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Deputy Production Manager to join our Production leadership team at our Seaham site. Acting as second-in-command, you will support the Production Manager in leading day-to-day operations, improving performance, and developing high-performing teams across the department.

This is a hands-on leadership role with real influence — ideal for an experienced production professional ready to take the next step or already operating at senior level and looking to make a meaningful impact on safety, quality, performance, and people development.

Key Responsibilities 

• Leadership & People Management.
• Support the Production Manager in delivering the production strategy and operational objectives, deputising in their absence to ensure continuity and effective decision-making.
• Provide strong leadership, coaching and direction to Production Shift Coordinators, Shift Supervisors and production teams.
• Develop a high-performing, accountable team culture with clear expectations and positive reinforcement.
• Actively promote inclusion, respect, wellbeing and positive behaviours across all shifts.
• Manage people-related activities including resource planning, holiday approval, absence management and performance conversations.
• Escalate disciplinary and grievance matters appropriately, supporting investigations in line with company procedures.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and training of new team members.
• Conduct return-to-work discussions following absence and ensure outcomes are recorded appropriately.
• Provide cover for Supervisors as required.

Operational & Performance Management 

• Oversee medium- and long-term production planning, including capacity analysis and resource allocation.
• Work closely with Engineering, QA, Planning and Logistics to align production schedules, maintenance activity and changeovers.
• Monitor and analyse production performance data (e.g. OEE, downtime, waste, yield), identifying trends and driving corrective and improvement actions.
• Lead and embed continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives, including 5S.
• Ensure all production activities comply with food safety, quality, hygiene and Health & Safety requirements.
• Promote a proactive safety and quality culture across all shifts.
• Support internal and external audits (e.g. BRC, HALAL, customer audits) and ensure SOPs, training and documentation remain current and compliant.
• Identify training and development needs within the production team, working with People & Culture to deliver leadership and technical development.
• Provide regular production, performance and improvement updates to senior management.
• Contribute to budget planning, staffing forecasts and resource discussions.
• Ensure clear, effective communication between production and supporting departments.

About You

You will be an organised, confident and people-focused leader with experience working in a food or FMCG manufacturing environment. You are comfortable balancing operational demands with team leadership and continuous improvement.

Essential experience and skills

• Proven experience in production supervision or management within a food or FMCG manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of production planning, lean manufacturing and continuous improvement.
• Solid working knowledge of manufacturing operations, including OEE, quality systems, Health & Safety and compliance standards.
• Experience delivering against production targets, run rates and KPIs, with the confidence to take corrective action when required.
• Confident communicator and people leader, able to coach, influence and support others.
• High attention to detail with a calm, solutions-focused approach.
• Comfortable working in a dynamic, multicultural environment and promoting inclusion.
• IT literate, with experience using Excel and production systems to analyse performance data.
• Proactive, collaborative and confident in decision-making.

Qualifications 

• HNC/HND or Degree in Production Management, Food Science, Engineering, or equivalent substantial experience.
• Health & Safety and Food Safety / HACCP (Level 3 or above).
• Evidence of ongoing professional or leadership development.

Desirable

• ILM or equivalent leadership qualification.
• Lean Six Sigma or continuous improvement certification.
• NEBOSH or IOSH Managing Safely.
• Previous experience acting as a deputy or second-in-command.

Why Join Prima?

At Prima, our people are at the heart of our success. We invest in our teams and create an environment where high standards are recognised, development is encouraged, and ideas are welcomed.

You’ll be joining a supportive, ambitious business where leadership, teamwork and continuous improvement are genuinely valued.

Prima is an inclusive and diverse workplace. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact the People & Culture team:
peopleandculture@primacheese.com

Closing date: Wednesday 11th February 2026