Blending Manager

Blending Manager

Location: North Shields
Salary: Up to £42,000
Hours: 8:30am – 5:00pm (Monday to Friday, 1 hour lunch)

Jackson Hogg are supporting a well-established, North East–based manufacturing business in the food and drink sector with the appointment of a Blending Manager.

This is a key leadership role on site, responsible for the day-to-day running of the blending department while supporting the broader operational direction of the function.

The business operates a high-volume, quality-driven production environment and is looking for someone who can bring structure, ownership, and leadership to a critical part of the process.

The Role

You’ll take full responsibility for the blending area, leading the team, managing stock, and ensuring materials are delivered to production accurately and efficiently.
Alongside the day-to-day operational focus, you’ll work closely with the Manufacturing Manager and wider leadership team to improve performance, drive standards, and support ongoing development across the department.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, organise, and manage the blending department on a day-to-day basis
• Supervise, motivate, and develop a team within a production environment
• Ensure safe working practices and compliance with food safety and quality standards
• Manage accurate picking, blending, and supply of materials to production
• Take ownership of ERP stock control, including cycle counts and inventory accuracy
• Manage labour, absence, holidays, and departmental administration
• Conduct investigations and handle disciplinaries in line with procedures
• Support training and development across the team
• Work closely with warehouse and despatch teams to manage stock flow and space
• Contribute to stock takes and financial stock visibility
• Monitor and improve departmental KPIs, processes, and working practices
• Provide production leadership cover when required

What They’re Looking For

• Experience leading manufacturing teams, including performance management and disciplinaries, ideally within food/drink or FMCG 
• Strong understanding of production environments and operational efficiency
• Experience working with ERP or inventory management systems
• A hands-on leader who can drive standards and challenge ways of working
• High attention to detail with a structured, process-driven approach
• Confident communicator across shop-floor teams and senior stakeholders
• Someone who takes ownership, drives accountability, and builds high-performing teams

Why Apply?

• Stable and well-established manufacturing site in North Shields
• Day shift position offering strong work-life balance (rare at this level locally)
• Opportunity to take ownership of a key department and make a visible impact
• Clear route to develop within a broader operations structure
• Salary aligned to the North East market at up to £42k

Next Steps

If you’re currently leading a team within a production or blending environment or stepping up from a senior supervisory role and want more ownership within a growing operation, this role is worth a conversation.