Opex Improvement Lead

Posted 10 March 2026
LocationSpalding
Job type Permanent - Full Time
Discipline Internal
Reference049605
Job FunctionOperations
Expiry date 31 March 2026

Job description

Why Greencore?

 Following the combination with Bakkavor in January 2026, we’re one of the UK’s leading creators of convenience food, driven by a simple purpose: to make every day taste better.

As a vibrant and fast-moving business, we’re proud to employ over 28,000 talented colleagues across 36 manufacturing sites and 21 distribution depots in the UK and the US. Together, we bring delicious food to life. Our products cover every meal occasion from breakfast through to dinner and dessert, with lunch and snacking in between. In FY25, our shared passion helped us achieve combined revenues of approximately £4bn.

Our extensive direct to store (DTS) network, with 17 depots across the UK, allows us to deliver fresh and frozen food both our own and from trusted partners to thousands of stores every day, ensuring consumers enjoy the very best, whenever and wherever they shop.

 

Here at Spalding, we have a team of around 540 colleagues. We produce coleslaw, potato salad, salad bar bulk products (2kg), pasta salads and couscous/grains for some of the biggest retailers in the UK including Morrisons, Co-op, Asda, Aldi, Sainsbury’s, Nando’s and Pizza Hut. Our Spalding site has a restaurant with hot food available to all our colleagues.

 

What you’ll be doing

 

  • Set up Performance control systems (including short interval control)
  • Lead diagnostic ideation process
  • Complete line studies to build improvement case studies
  • Lead improvement teams to deliver work stream improvements in line with the set targets/ROI
  • Lead best practice sharing and support replication on other sites
  • Set and coach the behavioural standard in site teams

 

What we’re looking for

 

  • Project management experience supported by robust root cause analysis skills and an ability to identify and deliver permanent solutions.
  • Good communication skills, ideally having been practised by leading people through change, engaging people in the need for change.
  • Skilled in lean improvement techniques
  • Capable of coaching frontline teams through to GMs in performance behaviours/SIC and best practice adoption
  • Able to interpret a site P&L and provide insight into improvement opportunities

 

At Greencore we put our people at the core. We celebrate their differences and help everyone to be themselves at work. Together we make every day taste better.

If this sounds like you, join us and grow with Greencore, and be a part of driving our future success.

 

What you’ll get in return

 

  • Competitive salary and job-related benefits
  • Holidays
  • Pension up to 8% matched
  • Life insurance up to 4x salary
  • Company share save scheme
  • Greencore Qualifications
  • Exclusive Greencore employee discount platform
  • Access to a full Wellbeing Centre platform
  • Enhanced parental leave and menopause policies

 

Throughout your time at Greencore, you will be supported with on the job training and development opportunities to further your career.