Flahavan’s are looking for a Production Team Leader to be a part of the next chapter of one of Ireland’s most-loved family-owned brands.
Production Team Leader
Purpose/Function of the role:
The Production Team Leader is responsible for supervising and coordinating production staff within the Mill Dept. to ensure that production targets, quality standards, food safety requirements, and health and safety procedures are consistently achieved.
The role ensures the efficient operation of all production lines while maintaining a safe and productive working environment for all employees.
Key Accountabilities:
Production Operations
- Supervise daily production activities within the Mill department.
- Ensure production targets and schedules are achieved.
- Coordinate workflow and staffing to maintain efficient production operations.
- Monitor equipment performance and report issues to maintenance where necessary.
- Ensure minimal downtime and maximise operational efficiency.
- Ensure production processes are followed in accordance with standard operating procedures.
- Daily management of Production Orders.
- Timely call off and management of materials between Mill & Warehouse.
Team Supervision
- Lead and supervise a team of approx. 10 –20 production employees per shift.
- Allocate tasks and responsibilities across the team.
- Monitor employee performance and provide guidance where required.
- Support the training and development of team members.
- Conduct shift briefings and communicate production priorities.
- On shift point of contact for T&A calls.
People Management
- Directly manage Mill Operators on shift, including:
Task allocation and prioritisation
Performance feedback and standards adherence
Attendance, timekeeping, and conduct - Support onboarding and on-the-job training of new operators.
Quality & Food Safety
- Ensure all production activities comply with food safety and quality standards.
- Monitor product quality during the production process and ensure specifications are met.
- Ensure all procedures relating to hygiene, allergen control, and contamination prevention are followed.
- Ensure proper documentation and record keeping of production and quality checks.
- Report any quality issues immediately to the Quality Department.
Health & Safety
- Promote a strong health and safety culture within the production team.
- Ensure all employees follow safe working practices.
- Conduct routine safety checks and report hazards.
- Investigate and report incidents or near misses in accordance with company procedures.
Continuous Improvement
- Identify opportunities to improve productivity and efficiency.
- Support lean manufacturing and operational improvement initiatives.
- Encourage team involvement in process improvement.
Shift Management
- Oversee the smooth handover between shifts.
- Maintain accurate production records and shift reports.
- Monitor attendance, timekeeping, and staffing levels.
- Complete shift reports and communicate key issues to management.
- Record downtime, waste, and production performance.
People & Ways of Working
- Work as part of a rotating 3-shift supervisory team.
- Maintains strong collaboration with other supervisors to ensure consistency.
- Escalates technical issues to the Maintenance Manager.
- Escalates people, performance, and disciplinary matters to the Production Manager.
Qualifications
Education required:
- Leaving Certificate or equivalent (essential)
- Supervisory or leadership training (desirable)
- Food safety training (desirable)
Experience required:
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in a similar position in a medium to large manufacturing organisation.
- Knowledge and experience of BRC, FSSC 22000, or ISO 9001
- Product compliance experience.
- Continuous Improvement / operational Excellence experience beneficial.
- Experience managing medium to large sized production teams in a shift-based environment.
Knowledge & Skills required:
- Strong leadership and people management skills
- Good organisational and problem-solving abilities
- Ability to work effectively and independently in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Good understanding of health & safety and quality standards
- Ability to make decisions under pressure
Competencies
Top 5 Critical Functional/Technical Competencies required
- Leadership & People Management – Ability to lead, motivate, and manage a team of 10–20 employees per shift, allocate tasks effectively, monitor performance, and maintain a positive and disciplined working environment.
- Communication Skills – Strong verbal and written communication skills to clearly convey production priorities, safety instructions, and operational updates to team members, as well as provide effective shift handovers and liaise with management, maintenance, and quality teams.
- Health, Safety, Quality & Food Safety Compliance – Strong understanding of workplace health and safety requirements and food safety standards, ensuring all employees follow safe working practices, hygiene procedures, and quality controls in accordance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
- Operational & Process Knowledge – Solid understanding of milling and food production processes, equipment operation, and production workflows to ensure production targets, efficiency, and product consistency are achieved.
- Problem Solving & Decision Making – Ability to quickly identify production issues, equipment problems, or staffing challenges and implement effective solutions to minimise downtime and maintain operational efficiency.
