Assistant Production Manager, Central Kitchen

The Assistant Production Manager supports the Production Manager in overseeing day-to-day operations within the Central Kitchen (CK), ensuring consistent product quality, efficient workflows, and strong operational discipline across all production lines.This role is both hands-on and systems-oriented - combining direct involvement in production with responsibility for strengthening the operational backbone of the kitchen, including SOPs, training structures, audit frameworks, and quality control systems.Working closely with the Production Manager, this role plays a key part in building a scalable, well-run production environment that supports business growth, new product development, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

1. Production Operations & Team Support

. Support the Production Manager in managing the pastry, décor, and bread production teams on a day-to-day basis

. Work alongside the team on the production floor when required to ensure smooth execution and adherence to standards

. Assist in coordinating production schedules to meet daily, weekly, and seasonal order requirements

. Ensure workflows are followed accurately and consistently across all production lines

. Provide on-the-ground support to troubleshoot operational issues and bottlenecks

2. Operational Systems & Framework Development

. Support the development, documentation, and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across all production functions

. Assist in establishing and maintaining structured training programmes for production staff

. Support the implementation of audit frameworks to ensure compliance with operational and hygiene standards

. Contribute to building and maintaining a robust Quality Control (QC) programme to ensure product consistency

. Continuously identify opportunities to improve systems, workflows, and operational efficiency

3. Quality Control, Hygiene & Compliance

. Support the Production Manager in maintaining high standards of product quality and consistency

. Ensure all production activities comply with SFA regulations and internal hygiene standards

.Assist in monitoring QC checks, identifying issues, and implementing corrective actions

. Maintain proper documentation for audits, temperature logs, and hygiene records

. Reinforce a culture of accountability and attention to detail within the team4. New Product Development Support

. Assist in the execution and rollout of new products from development to production

. Support trial runs, documentation of processes, and implementation of new workflows

. Assist in preparing for product launches, including training support and operational readiness

. Support photo shoots or behind-the-scenes content creation where required

5. Inventory, Procurement & Kitchen Operations

. Support inventory management processes, including stock tracking, usage monitoring, and minimising wastage

. Assist in procurement coordination to ensure timely availability of raw materials

. Work with the Production Manager to ensure efficient use of resources (ingredients, equipment, manpower)

. Support improvements in kitchen organisation, storage systems, and operational flow

6. Order Fulfilment & Packing Operations (Central Kitchen)

. Support the CK Operations Team in developing and implementing structured order fulfilment and packing processes

. Assist in establishing workflows where production and packing responsibilities may be shared (e.g. night bread team)

. Oversee the execution of packing standards to ensure accuracy, quality, and timelines of orders

. Ensure clear accountability and coordination between production and packing teams

. Contribute to building scalable fulfilment systems to support business growth7. Reporting & Continuous Improvement

. Support tracking of key operational metrics (e.g. production accuracy, wastage, efficiency)

. Assist in maintaining production records and operational reports

. Proactively identify gaps and recommend improvements in processes, systems, or workflows

. Support implementation of initiatives to improve productivity and operational discipline

Qualifications & Skills

. Diploma or Degree in Culinary Arts, Food Technology, Operations, or related field (orequivalent experience)

. 3-6 years of experience in bakery, pastry, or food production environments, preferably in a central kitchen

. Strong foundational knowledge of production processes (pastry, bread, or related categories)

. Demonstrated ability to balance hands-on execution with structured, systems thinking

. Detail-oriented with a strong sense of operational discipline and organisation

. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities

. Good communication skills and ability to work collaboratively across teams

. Familiarity with food safety and hygiene standards (e.g. WSQ Food Hygiene, HACCP)preferred

. Proficient in Google Sheets/Docs or equivalent tools for tracking and documentation

Performance KPI

. Consistency and quality of production output

. Adherence to SOPs and operational workflows

. Effectiveness of training, audit, and QC systems

. Accuracy and efficiency in order fulfilment and packing

. Reduction in wastage and operational inefficiencies

. Team support and contribution to overall production performance

Role Positioning

This role is designed as a key second-in-command to the Production Manager, with a strong focus on:

. Strengthening operational systems and discipline

. Supporting team execution and development

. Building scalable processes to support future growth