There are moments in a business’s journey that define its future.
This is one of them.
We’re partnering exclusively with a well-established and much-loved food manufacturing business that is entering a period of real transformation, driven by investment, ambition, and a genuine belief in its people. With a strong heritage and an exciting roadmap ahead, they are now looking for a Head of Operations to take the reins of two key sites within a core division and help shape what comes next.
This isn’t about maintaining the status quo.
It’s about building, leading, and elevating.
The Opportunity
As Head of Operations, you’ll step into a pivotal leadership role with full accountability for two manufacturing sites. These sites are already producing high-quality products at scale, but with significant investment underway, there’s huge opportunity to enhance capability, embed best practice, and create a high-performing, future-ready operation.
You’ll be trusted to lead with autonomy while working closely with Group leadership, playing a key role in delivering operational excellence, cultural alignment, and long-term growth.
This is a role for someone who thrives in change, sees opportunity in complexity, and knows how to bring people on the journey.
What You’ll Be Responsible For
At its core, this role is about delivering safe, efficient, and high-performing operations while developing the people and systems that make it sustainable.
You will:
* Lead two manufacturing sites, ensuring world-class standards in Health, Safety & Environmental performance
* Champion food safety and quality, meeting all legal, due diligence, and customer requirements
* Deliver production plans in line with cost, quality, and service expectations (targeting 99%+ service levels)
* Own and deliver the operating budget, including labour, overheads, material variance, and capital investment
* Set clear KPIs and objectives, cascading these across all levels of the operation
* Drive a continuous improvement culture, embedding modern manufacturing techniques and efficiencies
* Develop and execute a site strategy, aligned to wider business goals across people, assets, and systems
* Build and lead a high-performing, cohesive leadership team
* Create a robust people development plan, ensuring capability and succession at every level
* Collaborate cross-functionally and across sites to share best practice and drive consistency
About You
You’re an experienced senior leader within food manufacturing who knows what great looks like and how to achieve it.
You bring:
* Proven leadership experience in a complex, fast-paced food manufacturing environment
* A track record of delivering operational excellence, change, and measurable KPI improvement
* Strong experience in continuous improvement methodologies and modern manufacturing practices
* The ability to influence at all levels—from shop floor to boardroom
* A passion for developing people and building high-performing teams
* Commercial awareness and the agility to adapt to evolving business needs
* Experience within meat, poultry, or high-care environments would be particularly valuable.
Why This Role?
Because opportunities like this don’t come around often.
* A business investing heavily in its future
* A culture that genuinely values people development and progression
* The chance to shape and influence at a senior level
* A role with real visibility, autonomy, and impact
If you’re ready to take ownership of a multi-site operation and play a defining role in a business on the move, we’d love to speak with you.
For more information, contact Shaf Islam on