Production Director Food Manufacturing Co Tyrone £ Competitive + Benefits Artemis Executive Search is delighted to have been retained for this senior leadership role with McColgans. McColgans is a long-established, family-owned food manufacturer based in Strabane, with a proud reputation for producing high-quality savoury pastry products for major UK retailers and foodservice companies. With decades of heritage, a commitment to innovation, and significant investment in automation and production capability, McColgans continues to grow as a trusted partner to the retail sector and a wide range of catering and hospitality customers. They are now seeking a strategic and hands-on Production Director to lead all aspects of the companys production operations. This is a critical leadership role within a business focused on operational excellence, continuous improvement, and ambitious growth. The Role Reporting directly to the Managing Director, this is a senior leadership position with responsibility for the full production functionincluding packing, despatch, and hygienethrough a team of experienced managers. You will play a key role in shaping and delivering production strategy, ensuring operational excellence, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement across the site. You will oversee all daily production activity, driving efficiency, quality, and food safety across the operation. A key focus of the role will be to lead and develop your teams, ensuring strong performance, high standards, and a culture of accountability. Working cross-functionally, you will collaborate with supply chain, quality, procurement, and maintenance teams to ensure smooth production planning and raw material availability. Cost control, resource planning, and the delivery of KPIs will form a central part of the role, alongside identifying opportunities for process improvement, automation, and waste reduction. Communicating effectively with stakeholders youll ensure all operations meet compliance standards such as HACCP and GMP, while also preparing the business for customer audits and supporting its growth through innovation and investment. The Person Proven leadership experience in food manufacturing, ideally in chilled or ambient products. Strong working knowledge of food safety, compliance, and quality standards. Excellent leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Experience delivering improvements in production efficiency, automation, and cost control. Ability to manage budgets and allocate resources effectively. Hands-on and collaborative, with a clear focus on team development and operational excellence. Familiarity with LEAN, HACCP, and modern production technologies. Demonstrated ability to implement automating technologies to increase efficiency. The Opportunity This is a key leadership role in a well-respected and ambitious family business with a clear strategy for growth. Youll have the opportunity to shape the future of the production function, drive improvements across operations, and be part of a senior team that values innovation, quality, and continuous development. If youre an experienced production leader looking for your next challenge in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment, get in touch with Sarah McGimpsey for a confidential conversation or click on the link and attach your CV. Skills: Production Management Food Operations Management Leadership Benefits: pension car