Job Description
Operations Director
The Role
We’re looking for a dynamic Operations Director to take the lead in driving excellence across a food manufacturing facility. This is a pivotal role for someone who can combine strategic thinking with a hands-on approach, inspiring teams to deliver top-tier performance while building a culture that truly thrives.
Key Responsibilities:
* Lead all aspects of manufacturing operations, ensuring efficiency, quality, and consistency across the site.
* Champion a culture of teamwork, respect, and professionalism, bringing the company’s values to life every day.
* Drive a zero-injury mindset by embedding safety-first practices and ensuring full compliance with environmental, health, and safety standards.
* Empower operational teams with the tools, training, and resources they need to excel.
* Coach and embed Lean principles and continuous improvement practices, boosting process capability, discipline, and performance.
* Deliver key operational metrics across safety, quality, service, cost, and reliability, with an unrelenting focus on improvement.
* Build future capability to meet evolving market needs and support the profitable growth of our product portfolio.
* Foster a customer-centric, flexible, and commercially savvy organisation.
* Lead, mentor, and develop the management team, conducting regular performance reviews and supporting personal growth through tailored training.
* Provide clear strategic leadership that aligns business goals with people strategy, setting the standard for operational excellence.
* Develop and manage annual operating budgets, ensuring delivery against agreed timelines and financial targets.
The Person
Experience & Expertise:
* Degree educated (or equivalent professional experience).
* Proven track record of progressive leadership in food manufacturing,
* Strong background in leading and developing high-performing teams.
* Demonstrated commitment to safety leadership and operational excellence.
* Hands-on experience improving plant performance while maintaining day-to-day delivery.
* Broad understanding of plant operations including Production, Quality, Technical, Engineering, Supply Chain, NPD, and Process.
* Experienced in building strong management teams and fostering a high-performance culture.
* Commercially astute, with strong analytical and process improvement skills.
* Exceptional communicator, clear, persuasive, and confident at every level.
Leadership Style
* Inclusive and participative, someone who brings people with them.
* Operates with integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment.
* Naturally respectful, approachable, and grounded.
* A proactive “can-do” mindset, decisive, energetic, and results-oriented.
* Strong collaborator, especially with cross-functional teams like Technical and NPD.
* Strategic thinker with excellent analytical skills and a drive for continuous improvement.