Our job families
At Bakkavor we have developed ‘Job Families’ which define career paths within different functions across the Group. We use a matrix structure for each Job Family which describes the career steps within a function, enables us to be consistent in the way we size the roles that people do and facilitates the development of individuals through the career steps of each Job Family. We have many examples of employees starting and developing their career in one Job Family and then progressing further within another.
These Job Families cover about 80% of the roles within the Group. However, in addition to these we also have a variety of specialist and central roles in areas such as Finance, Technical, Health and Safety, Purchasing and HR.
We have outlined the different job families, the types of career paths that can be taken and real life employee accounts of what it is like to work for us.
Click on the links below to ‘jump’ to the job family you are interested in:
Administration & Support
Commercial
Development
Finance
General Management
Human Resources
Supply Chain
Information Systems
Manufacturing
Engineering
Planning
Hygiene
Purchasing
Technical
Administration & Support
The roles within this family are key to the organisation, departments and managers. Secretaries and administrative staff have a central and key role to play within any team. Confident, professional communication at all levels is required. To be truly successful it is necessary to plan, be organised and proactively support your manager and/or team in the most effective way.
> Career path example
Commercial
Bakkavör operates in one of the fastest growing sector of the food industry, supplying all the major high street retailers with retailer brand fresh prepared foods and produce. Within the Company there is a wide variety of commercial roles ranging from all aspects of account management to data capture and analysis.
> Career path example
> Allison’s account
Development
Development at Bakkavör is all about innovation - from "blue sky" product concept ideas through to refreshing and adapting existing lines, ingredients and processes and re-designing packaging. Being a 'foodie' goes without saying, but alongside that you will require sound presentation and negotiating skills, the ability to work effectively against tight deadlines, whilst maintaining high culinary standards and enthusing your customers and team.
> Development career path example
> Berni’s account
> Chef career path example
> Graham’s account
Finance
As a fast-moving business, control skills coupled with an ability to predict and “read” the numbers are important to our success and as such Finance plays a key role in ensuring that each business unit contributes to the overall success of the Group.
> Career path example
> Ian’s account
General Management
The General Management structure is seen as a major factor that has contributed to the success of Bakkavör. Whether you are responsible for running your own business unit or a number of business units, your role will be to drive that business forward, always on the look out for the next new business opportunity. These positions run real profit centres and as such would be designated Managing Directors in many organisations.
General Managers, Business Directors and Managing Directors need to be able to demonstrate sound knowledge in their specialist area, but more than that they must have a spark that makes them stand out from everyone else - be able to see opportunities before the rest, have a vision of where to take the business next, and be able to lead their team to achieve spectacular success sometimes against the odds.
> Career path example
> Philip’s account
Human Resources
Our people are the real assets of our business and we have a responsibility to provide them with a safe and rewarding environment in which to work. The HR Teams sit within each of the businesses and ensure that we have an informed, motivated and skilled workforce who reflect the values and cornerstones of the Company.
> Career path example
> Deborah’s account
Supply Chain
Our warehouse teams provide a service to the manufacturing units receiving and dispatching products and goods to ensure the businesses meet customer demands and expectations in line with agreed customer service levels. They are responsible for ensuring there are the right quantity of products kept at the right temperature with the right labels, efficiently utilising technology, labour and storage capacity and managing inventory levels.
Bakkavor logistics involves managing the movement and transportation of goods or materials whether inbound or outbound, using internal and 3rd party transport. Given numerous permutations available, the challenge is to provide this movement in the most cost effective and timely manner.
> Career path example
> Rob's account
The Supply Chain is a linked set of resources and processes that begins with the sourcing of raw materials and extends through to the delivery of the finished product to the final customer. It includes vendors, manufacturing facilities, logistics providers, internal distribution centres, distributors, and all other entities that contribute to the final customer acceptance. The extended supply chain also includes our suppliers’ suppliers, through to the consumer. Therefore understanding and managing these processes is paramount to customer service.
Information Systems
In our fast moving business, immediate access to data is key to making critical decisions. The IS team at Bakkavor focus on providing systems so that our businesses have accurate and timely information critical to their production, financial, scheduling and planning processes. From shop floor data capture to Enterprise Resource Planning, Payroll to Office software, the IS team support around 4500 users across 6 countries 24 hours a day and deliver best of breed solutions to maintain our competitive edge. Bakkavor IS recruit and retain a professional driven group of industry specialists.
> Career path example
> Hayley’s account
Marketing
Bakkavör operates in dynamic and changing markets and we are always looking at new ideas and entering new market sectors. Our marketing teams play a key role in this process as they see food through ‘the eyes of the consumer’, are the experts on consumer trends and how these trends influence our markets, providing a key contribution to the success of the Group.
> Career path example
> Alan’s account
Operations
Manufacturing is challenging and exciting, it provides a constant challenge in a fast paced environment and relies on working with and motivating other people.
> Career path example
> Pramod’s account
From new product development where we could be launching hundreds of new products each year to the new business start-ups, engineers are there at the forefront, ensuring that Bakkavör can deliver to its customers.
> Career path example
> Mark’s account
The planning functions are responsible for the scheduling of production and provision of materials for our businesses. It is a vital role to ensure the process runs as smoothly as possible and provides an important link between the factories and our customers. Our planning experts use the latest software to maximise efficiency and are constantly review best ways of working.
> Career path example
Our Hygiene teams provide more than just a cleaning service. The role is technical in the sense of managing customer and audit requirements, but also encompasses managing and motivating teams of people to provide the best possible service. The role of the hygiene function also includes maximising start ups in the factories and turning around kit in a quick, technically sound and safe manner.
> Career path example
Purchasing
Careers in purchasing offer individuals a varied role working within a flexible structure, which enables you to influence how purchasing is carried out. There are roles at business unit level up to Group level, as well as involvement in category purchasing across the Group.
> Career path example
> Jason’s account
Technical
Supplying products which are safe, legal and of the required quality is one of the cornerstones of our success. Our Technical structure is instrumental in setting the standards to achieve this, making sure our people understand them and then helping the business to comply with them in the most effective way, day in day out . Technical offers a wide variety of roles in Quality Assurance, Process Development and Technical Systems with the potential for progression to Senior Management positions within the business.
> Career path example
> Ben’s account
> Heather’s account
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