Humdinger
Operations Variance Analyst
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Humdinger, Bromborough CH62 3RD
Humdinger are seeking an Operations Variance Analyst to support manufacturing performance, material control, and operational improvement across our food manufacturing site.
This is a factory-facing analytical role focused on understanding manufacturing variances, material usage, yield performance, waste reduction, and operational process improvement within a nut processing and packing environment.
The role acts as the operational lead for manufacturing data integrity and ERP process compliance, ensuring accurate work order management, material traceability, and stock accuracy while supporting continuous improvement across Production operations.
This role is not a warehouse stock control or logistics analyst position. The successful candidate will work closely with Production, Operations, Planning, Warehouse, and Finance teams to analyse factory performance, investigate variances, and drive operational improvements.
Position type: Permanent, full time
Hours: 37.5 per week
Salary: £32,000 - £33,000
Shift Pattern: Monday - Friday, 08:30 - 16:30
Closing date: 31/07/2026
Manufacturing Variance & Operational Analysis
- Analyse and report on manufacturing variances including
- Material usage
- Yield performance
- Waste
- Work order variances
- Stock discrepancies
- Review and validate work orders to ensure accurate material reporting before closure
- Investigate root causes of operational and material variances across the site
- Produce daily, weekly, and monthly operational performance reports
- Monitor operational KPIs and identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities
- Support Operational teams in achieving material usage and efficiency improvement targets
- Analyse conformance-to-plan performance and identify areas impacting customer service levels
Continuous Improvement & Factory Performance
- Work closely with Production and Warehouse Management teams to improve operational performance
- Identify areas of non-conformance and implement corrective actions/countermeasures
- Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on
- Waste reduction
- Material yield
- Stock accuracy
- Process compliance
- Operational efficiency
- Provide analysis and challenge to operational teams to drive best practice and performance improvements
- Support site material improvement initiatives and cost reduction activities
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ERP & Operational Systems Support
- Act as the site Operational Super User for QAD ERP processes
- Provide coaching and guidance to operational teams on correct ERP usage and transaction accuracy
- Support operational process compliance relating to material movements, traceability, and work order management
- Support internal and external audits relating to ERP controls and material traceability
- Ensure ERP transactions accurately reflect factory activity and material consumption
Stock Accuracy & Material Control
- Facilitate and support site stock-taking activities
- Manage annual audited stock-take ERP updates
- Monitor cycle counting completion and stock accuracy performance within processing and packing
- Analyse slow-moving, obsolete, short-dated, and end-of-life materials to minimise write-offs
- Monitor PFU materials to ensure timely processing and inventory control
- Support corrective actions to eliminate recurring material variances
Requirements
- Experience within food manufacturing, FMCG, or factory operations
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capability
- Experience analysing manufacturing or operational performance data
- Understanding of Material usage; Yield; Waste; Manufacturing variances; Work orders; ERP transactions
- Experience using ERP/MRP systems (QAD desirable)
- Strong Excel and reporting skills
- Comfortable working cross-functionally with operational teams on the factory floor
- Ability to challenge processes and drive operational improvements
Benefits
- 25 days holiday entitlement
- 4% employer and 5% employee pension plan
- Life assurance plan x4 basic salary
- Various salary sacrifice schemes including pension payments, cycle to work, and electric car (subject to meeting minimum criteria)
- Healthcare cash plan via paycare (Dental, Optical, Chiropody, Professional Therapy, Counselling) with a value over £400 each year
About the Company
Humdinger Bromborough (Wirral) is a major UK nut processing and packing site, employing around 200 people within a 67,000 sq. ft purpose-built facility. The site has a long heritage in nut and peanut processing and became part of Humdinger in 2023. Today, Bromborough processes and packs over 23,000 tonnes per year, supplying high-quality nut snacks, peanut products, and ingredients across retail, food service, and ingredient channels. With a strong focus on allergen control, dry roasting expertise, and operational excellence, the site plays a critical role in delivering safe, compliant, and high-quality snacking products to customers.
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Application Process
Please apply online via our careers portal. Create your account, upload your CV, and answer all the requested questions.
You will then be contacted by our Talent Acquisition team via phone call to explore your experience and suitability for the role in more detail.
Interview Process
First Stage Interview - Teams Call
If selected, you will be invited to an online 1st stage Teams interview. This will be a structured interview focused on your experience in manufacturing operations analysis, material and process variance investigation, operational reporting, ERP system usage, and your ability to identify and drive improvements in areas such as waste, yield, stock accuracy, and factory performance within a manufacturing environment.
Second Stage Interview - On Site
Successful candidates from Stage 1 will be invited to a second-stage on-site assessment and interview.
This stage is designed to assess your analytical thinking, operational problem-solving, and ability to investigate manufacturing and material variances within a factory environment.
As part of the assessment process, candidates will complete
- a scenario-based operational analysis exercise, and
- a practical Excel assessment relevant to operational reporting and data analysis.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Humdinger is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Please let us know if you require any special arrangements or adjustments to be made for your interview by speaking with the Talent Acquisition team at the application stage.
For detailed information on how we process your personal data, please review our candidate privacy policy on our careers portal.
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