Business Area: Nestle Beverages
Location: Dalston, Cumbria

Salary: £60,000.00 - £65,000.00 depending on experience.

Some of our other fantastic benefits

• 17 % car allowance (up to a maximum of £13,000.00).
• Potential, discretionary annual bonus.
• Generous pension scheme – up to 12% contribution from Nestle.
• 12 flexible days on top of 25-day holiday entitlement.
• 2 paid volunteering days.
• A focus on personal development and growth.

Although this is a full-time opportunity, please speak to us about what flexibility means to you as we are always open to discuss individual’s flexible working needs, don’t let this stop you from applying.

We now have a fantastic opportunity for a talented, driven individual to join our Nestlé business at our Dalston factory as the Manufacturing Excellence Manager. The role will report to the Factory Manager and will form part of the operations leadership team on site. This is an exciting opportunity to lead through change and progress your career.

Nestlé Dalston Factory in Cumbria is the European Centre for cappuccino and creamers producing a range of beverage products. These are produced through a highly automated PLC controlled process plant and automated filling and packing lines. It is continually developing and expanding leading brands such as Nescafé, Aero Hot Chocolate and Coffee-mate. The factory is moving forward with continuous improvement principles and actively developing Lean/TPM processes so it’s an exciting time to be involved.

Manufacturing in Nestlé is all about ensuring the consumer receives a perfect quality product, at the right time and place whilst driving losses from our business to maximise efficiency & productivity.

We take pride in championing inclusion and diversity. We proudly signed the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter, are committed to Disability Confidence, and have been recognised as a Times Top 50 Employer for gender equality for three consecutive years. Additionally, we are a headline partner of Diversity and Inclusion in grocery.

Your impact

Ultimately, you will be responsible for ensuring that our factory in Dalston operates at its full potential, delivering exceptional results and driving continuous improvement. You will have the opportunity to work alongside a team of dedicated professionals, who are passionate about what they do and are constantly striving for excellence.

Your other key responsibilities will include:

• Accelerate improvement plans.
• Focussed Improvement DMAIC methodology
• Ownership of the full Learning & Development plan and provision on site at all levels of Factory.
• Direct line management of onsite Manufacturing Capability Specialist, including all aspects of compliance, mandatory training, apprenticeships etc.
• Ownership of Manufacturing Capability Specialist tools and technology including supporting the factory digitisation capability build as we look to further digitalise the site.
• Provide support and leadership to the Factory Leadership Team on Manufacturing Excellence Initiatives and continuous improvement plans.
• Coordinate with the Market Technical and Production functions and build factory competence to deliver plan.

Your ingredients for success

To be successful in this role you will already have a fantastic breadth of Manufacturing leadership experience. Ideally with previous experience within training and capability building would be desirable for the successful candidate to deliver continuous improvement initiatives in this role.

Other key experiences:

• Knowledge of Manufacturing Excellence Operating Framework and Practices.
• Understanding of commercial, technical and financial priorities, challenges and processes.
• Experience of TPM and Lean manufacturing is essential.
• You will be a credible, approachable and strong character – able to gain the buy in of key stakeholders on site and across the wider business and flex your style depending on the audience.
• Experience managing change programmes. 
• Strong belief in the importance of H&S within manufacturing/engineering. 
• Ability to communicate across all levels and work on own initiative.

What you need to know

Advert posting date: 09/03/2026
Advert closing date: 23/03/2026

We will be considering candidates as they apply and we will occasionally close job advertisements early in the event we receive sufficient applicants, so please don’t delay in submitting your application.

At Nestlé, our values are rooted in respect and we believe that embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive environment allows everyone to reach their full potential and drives innovative thinking. We strongly encourage applications from individuals of all gender identities, ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities, parents, carers and members of the LGBT+ community. Please let us know if we can provide accommodations to ensure your full participation in the application process.

To find out more about Nestle’s commitment to DEI: Nestlé's Commitment to a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace

Right to work in the UK

In accordance with Home Office guidance successful candidates will be required to evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment.  We have assessed this role and do not consider that we would be able to sponsor a successful candidate under the Skilled Worker route as the role does not meet the relevant Home Office criteria; the successful candidate therefore must be able to demonstrate their own right to work during the recruitment process without Nestlé sponsorship.

To find out more about your recruitment journey with Nestle: Recruitment Journey | Nestlé UK & Ireland