Operational Readiness Lead (IWS)
Added 4 Sept · still live
Not disclosed
Salary
Not disclosed by employer
£55,000
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role likely qualifies for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 1121 (75% match) is an eligible occupation, with a going rate of £55,000, and KP Snacks is a licensed sponsor. That is our reading of the rules. Whether they issue a Certificate of Sponsorship is still their call.
This could also be SOC 2127 (Engineering project managers and project engineers, Role leads commissioning and qualification of a new manufacturing line) or SOC 2440 (Business and financial project management professionals, Role manages project delivery, milestones and stakeholder engagement). We read the code off the advert, so it is our best guess, not the employer's.
About the role
Job Description
Operational Readiness Lead (known internally as Start Up Lead)
Billingham (Home of McCoys, POM-BEAR, Wheat Crunchies, and more…)
On-site | Monday - Friday
Join our snack-loving team
We’re looking for an Operational Readiness Lead to join us at KP Snacks. If you’re ready to bring your ideas to the table, grow your skills and be part of a team that values what makes you, you – this could be your next big move.
Who are we?
We’re KP Snacks, part of the Intersnack family. Across more than 30 countries, over 15,000 of us work together to make the snacks people love – from Hula Hoops to McCoy’s. In the UK, we’re a team of around 2,400 colleagues, based across seven sites and our Slough HQ. We’re proud of our close-knit culture, where we speak up, celebrate differences and push boundaries together.
About The Role
Are you passionate about building high-performing manufacturing organisations from the ground up?
We are seeking an experienced Operational Readiness Lead to establish and deploy our Integrated Work System (IWS) during a major manufacturing start-up. This role is accountable for ensuring the site is operationally ready for launch by building the management systems, standards, processes and team capability required to deliver sustainable performance from Day 1.
Working closely with Site Leadership, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality and Engineering teams, you will lead the development of the operating system that underpins safety, quality, service, cost and people performance. Success in this role will be measured not by project delivery, but by the creation of a capable organisation, effective management systems and a culture of continuous improvement that can sustain world-class results.
What’s in it for you?
We believe in rewarding our colleagues and helping them thrive. Here’s a flavour of what we offer:
Operational Readiness Lead (known internally as Start Up Lead)
Billingham (Home of McCoys, POM-BEAR, Wheat Crunchies, and more…)
On-site | Monday - Friday
Join our snack-loving team
We’re looking for an Operational Readiness Lead to join us at KP Snacks. If you’re ready to bring your ideas to the table, grow your skills and be part of a team that values what makes you, you – this could be your next big move.
Who are we?
We’re KP Snacks, part of the Intersnack family. Across more than 30 countries, over 15,000 of us work together to make the snacks people love – from Hula Hoops to McCoy’s. In the UK, we’re a team of around 2,400 colleagues, based across seven sites and our Slough HQ. We’re proud of our close-knit culture, where we speak up, celebrate differences and push boundaries together.
About The Role
Are you passionate about building high-performing manufacturing organisations from the ground up?
We are seeking an experienced Operational Readiness Lead to establish and deploy our Integrated Work System (IWS) during a major manufacturing start-up. This role is accountable for ensuring the site is operationally ready for launch by building the management systems, standards, processes and team capability required to deliver sustainable performance from Day 1.
Working closely with Site Leadership, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality and Engineering teams, you will lead the development of the operating system that underpins safety, quality, service, cost and people performance. Success in this role will be measured not by project delivery, but by the creation of a capable organisation, effective management systems and a culture of continuous improvement that can sustain world-class results.
What’s in it for you?
We believe in rewarding our colleagues and helping them thrive. Here’s a flavour of what we offer:
- Competitive annual salary, annual salary review and annual bonus opportunity (target 7.5%), plus a £6,000 car allowance.
- Leading the start-up of a new manufacturing line by managing commissioning, qualification and verification activities, ensuring a safe and successful transition into full production
- Driving project delivery and stakeholder engagement through clear communication of progress, milestones, risks and outcomes across Operations, Engineering and external partners
- Managing risk and operational readiness by coordinating site-level mitigation plans, resolving issues proactively and ensuring all launch activities remain on track
- Embedding Continuous Improvement principles by ensuring all activities align with Intersnack Work Systems (IWS) and supporting the development of sustainable ways of working from day one
We’d love to hear from you if you can bring:
- Experience leading operations within a manufacturing environment.
- Experience implementing IWS, TPM, Lean, WCM or equivalent manufacturing operating systems.
- Experience developing frontline leadership capability and management routines.
- Experience creating standard work, governance systems and performance management processes.
- Experience supporting operational readiness, manufacturing start-ups or major operational transformations.
- Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive organisational change.
At KP Snacks, we're passionate about creating happy snacking moments through our great tasting snacks and iconic brands. Every day, millions of people enjoy our products, including Hula Hoops, McCoy's, KP Nuts, Tyrrells, Skips, POM-BEAR and Butterkist, making us one of the UK's leading snack manufacturers.
For decades, we've been delighting consumers by combining well-loved favourites with exciting innovations that reflect changing tastes and expectations. We're equally passionate about our people and committed to creating a workplace where everyone can grow, develop and make a real impact.
As part of the Intersnack Group, one of the world's leading snack manufacturers, we combine global expertise with a shared commitment to creating happy snacking moments every day.
We’re committed to inclusion
We’re building a workplace where everyone belongs. If you don’t tick every box, we’d still love to hear from you – your unique perspective could be just what we need. And if there’s anything we can do to make the process easier for you, just let us know.
This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with KP Snacks, so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
SOC 1121 · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · ~406k in sampleP25 £43kP75 £85k
£31kmedian £59kgoing rate £55k£122k
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Browse more sponsored jobs at KP SnacksAbout sponsorship for this role
Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. KP Snacks holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 1121 going rate of £55,000. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.