Food Production Manager
At a glance
- Band
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time
- Posted
- 14/09/2026
- Closes
- 28/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
Candidates needing sponsorship are encouraged to apply.
HiveMind found a sponsorship-friendly statement in the source advert welcoming applicants who require a visa. Always confirm on the source before applying.
“Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.”Quoted verbatim from the source advert
Role summary
The Food Production Manager will lead and manage activities within the Central Production Unit (CPU), which is responsible for main meal production for 2,500 inpatients and 19,000 staff across the Trust. This involves planning, recipe formulation, purchasing, preparation, cooking, chilling, and despatch of meals to various locations and complex clientele. The role ensures efficient use of resources, including manpower and commodities, to consistently provide a quality food and nutrition service across all campuses.
Essential criteria
- Advanced technical qualification in cookery skills or demonstratable relevant experience
- Level 4 Food Safety qualification and understanding of current food law or displays ability to gain qualification within 6 months.
- Recognised qualification in junior management or demonstratable relevant experience
- Diet cookery/Nutrition in Health qualification or demonstratable relevant experience and knowledge of special diets
Desirable criteria
- HACCP qualification level 4
- Qualification in delivering education and/or training sessions or demonstratable relevant experience
- Significant Catering management experience and working knowledge of large scale catering, preferably in a hospital setting.
- Senior supervision of large numbers of staff
- Managing HR policies including absence management and disciplinary policies
- Understanding of cook chill/cook freeze and conventional production
- Budget management and stock control
- Working within retail and hospitality settings.
- Working knowledge of quality management systems, e.g ISO9001:2015
- Effective junior management skills. Ability to communicate at all levels and motivate others.
- Confident in undertaking desk based administrative tasks, and IT literacy in Microsoft packages and catering management software e.g. Synbiotix, temperature management systems, quality systems.
- Knowledge and understanding of health and safety/food safety controls in the workplace
- Advanced technical qualification in cookery skills or demonstratable relevant experience
- Level 4 Food Safety qualification and understanding of current food law or displays ability to gain qualification within 6 months.
- Recognised qualification in junior management or demonstratable relevant experience
- Diet cookery/Nutrition in Health qualification or demonstratable relevant experience and knowledge of special diets
- HACCP qualification level 4
- Qualification in delivering education and/or training sessions or demonstratable relevant experience
- Significant Catering management experience and working knowledge of large scale catering, preferably in a hospital setting.
- Senior supervision of large numbers of staff
- Managing HR policies including absence management and disciplinary policies
- Understanding of cook chill/cook freeze and conventional production
- Budget management and stock control
- Working within retail and hospitality settings.
- Working knowledge of quality management systems, e.g ISO9001:2015
- Effective junior management skills. Ability to communicate at all levels and motivate others.
- Confident in undertaking desk based administrative tasks, and IT literacy in Microsoft packages and catering management software e.g. Synbiotix, temperature management systems, quality systems.
- Knowledge and understanding of health and safety/food safety controls in the workplace
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 6 at £37,338 – £44,962 a year, across England.
This advert: £39,959 – £48,117 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 14d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Food Production Manager
The closing date is 28 September 2026
Job summary
The Central Production Unit (CPU) is the hub of all main meal production across the Trust for 2,500 inpatients and 19,000 staff.
The Food Production Manager is required to lead and manage a number of activities including at the planning stages, recipe formulation, purchase, preparation and cooking, chilling and despatch of meals to a number of locations and to a complex clientele.
To ensure efficient use of available resources including effective management of manpower and commodities to provide a quality food and nutrition service consistently across campuses.
Main duties of the job
1. Responsible for ensuring the planned production and delivery of all meals for the Trust. This includes the provision to all patients and staff across campuses, into the Community and Day Nurseries.
2. Responsible for the planning and organisation of workload on a routine basis to ensure an efficient use of manpower resources within the CPU. This will include short notice adjustments to planned activities to ensure service continuity.
3. Responsible for the recruitment, local induction and training for employees within the CPU.
4. Provide leadership and direction of all staff working within all operational areas of the CPU to ensure a quality service
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