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Food Production - Manager

Natoora
Bermondsey, London

Posted: 5 Apr 2024

Deadline: 19 May 2024

Compensation: DOP

Paid Full-time

Job description

ABOUT NATOORA

Natoora started close to 20 years ago with a very simple, yet powerful goal to find incredible flavour in fresh produce. Today, our dedication to this mission has grown into an impactful network of over 500 independent growers spanning nine sourcing hubs across three continents. Our mission is clear: to fix the food system at scale by reinstating flavour, nutrition and transparency, all while safeguarding the health of our soils.

Experts in sourcing flavour-first, seasonal fruits and vegetables, we work with hundreds of kitchens and some of the most exciting and influential chefs in London, New York, Miami, Copenhagen, Paris, and Melbourne. However, our commitment to creating a better food system also extends beyond professional kitchens to a strong community of home consumers across the US and the UK. From chefs, to home cooks to schoolchildren, we want to empower everyone to make better food choices and become informed drivers of change.

Our sourcing efforts also go well beyond fresh produce, tackling multiple facets of the food system at once — from restoring the value of whole grains through bread with our own mill and bakery, Alma, to farming produce directly at Great Fen Farm, and crafting our own range of seasonal dips, soups, and sauces in our Bermondsey kitchen. Whether we’re partnering with independent producers on flavour-first dry goods or developing recipes rooted in our seasonal fresh produce, everything we do is founded on the same principles of seasonality, quality and integrity whilst steadfastly embracing scalability as a source of impact.

On the way, we have been named a Sunday Times Fast Track 100 Company, appeared on the Financial Times’ list of Europe’s fastest-growing companies, and proudly received a GQ Food & Drinks Sustainability Award.

ABOUT THE JOB

We are looking for an experienced, detail-oriented Food Production Manager to lead on the growth of our seasonal, transparently-sourced ready-to-eat range. Working alongside our Sourcing team and Kitchen Manager, you'll leverage your expertise in scaling production to ensure consistent quality and efficiency as we expand our unique Food to Go program. Based in our Bermondsey office, you will have unrivalled access to the quality ingredients that we supply into some of the best kitchens in London, you will coordinate the launch of dips, juices, and sauces and develop a strong range that resonates with our shop customers, partners (including Waitrose, GAIL’s, Ocado) and professional kitchens alike. Your hands-on experience in production processes will be essential in order to make your improvements scalable, food-safe and consistent. With a keen eye for detail and a real knack for problem-solving, you will be particularly adept at analysing data to optimise production costs while maintaining exceptional flavour.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist in the expansion of Natoora's seasonal and transparently-sourced Food to Go program. Strengthen the current product range, conducting market research and competitor analysis to understand trends and preferences, identifying new market opportunities, attending trade shows and researching consumer trends.
• Ensure consistent high-quality and efficient output in the kitchen, including implementing and maintaining best practices.
• Coordinate the launch of new dips, juices, and sauce, managing recipe development, cost analysis, and pilot testing. 
• Oversee inventory control measures to minimise waste and ensure the availability of necessary ingredients and packaging.
• Analyse data to optimise production costs while maintaining exceptional quality, identifying areas for waste reduction and cost savings without sacrificing flavour. 
• Implement scalable, food-safe, and consistent improvements to production processes in the kitchen. Ensure adherence to the highest quality standards, implementing and overseeing quality control procedures throughout the production process.
• Address production issues and ensure smooth operations, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions.
• Champion a commitment to food safety regulations and best practices, conducting regular audits and ensuring compliance with HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) principles.
• Lead, motivate, and train a team of production staff, fostering a culture of safety, efficiency, and quality.
• Prepare regular reports on production metrics, challenges, and achievements, providing insights to senior management for informed decision-making.

ABOUT YOU

• 3+ years of experience in high-volume/growth food production environments, demonstrating success in scaling production efficiently while maintaining quality.
• Experience with commercial kitchen equipment, including operation, maintenance, and cleaning procedures.
• A strong understanding of food safety management practices (HACCP preferred), production processes, and cost control measures.
• A genuine passion for creating impactful recipes rooted in fresh, seasonal produce with a less-is-more approach: leaning on simplicity and high-quality ingredients.
• A strong commitment to Natoora's values of transparency and seasonality, ensuring these principles are reflected in product development and sourcing - and knowing where and when to compromise for scale.
• The ability to effectively lead, motivate, and train a team of production staff, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment focused on safety, efficiency, and quality.
• Excellent relationship building and interpersonal skills, with the ability to adapt to different personalities, communicate effectively across departments, and handle challenging situations with diplomacy.
• Strong analytical skills with a keen eye for detail and a focus on continuous improvement. Ability to use data (e.g., production reports, costs) to optimise processes and identify areas for cost savings without compromising quality.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to identify root causes of production issues and implement effective corrective actions to maintain smooth operations.
• A strong understanding of commercial principles, budgeting, and financial awareness to manage production costs effectively.
• The ability to effectively implement changes to processes and procedures, gaining buy-in from the team and ensuring a smooth transition.
• High-level computer literacy with proficiency in using Google Suite applications (Sheets, Docs) for data analysis, reporting, and other relevant tasks.

BENEFITS

• Daily lunch made with the same seasonal produce we supply to chefs
• Natoora produce at a significant discount
• Your birthday off (once you've hit the 6-month mark)
• Kitchen stocked from our own growers and producers - including Estate Dairy milk and butter, jam from England Preserves as well as coffee from our Spa Terminus neighbours Monmouth

Our vision for a better food system is built on real human relationships and a diversity of experience, perspective and ideas. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.

When applying to a job, the personal data contained in your application will be collected by Natoora, which is located at Unit 6 Discovery Business Park St James's Road, London SE16 4RA and can be contacted by emailing hello@natoora.com. Your personal data will be processed for the purposes of managing recruitment related activities. Under the GDPR, you have the right to request access to your personal data, to request that your personal data be rectified or erased, and to request that processing of your personal data be restricted.

Application information

Please, email federico@natoora.com your CV and tell us why you want to join the team. 

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