About the role
Position: Production Team Leader – Full‑time, Permanent. Work from 14:30 to 01:00, Monday to Thursday at the Portadown site. We are looking for a passionate manufacturing leader to support increasing volumes and launch a new production line producing branded retail natural cheese and snacking products. You will lead approximately 20 operators, champion safety & quality, create a positive working environment, and collaborate to maintain high standards.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead and support a team of up to 20 operators on a fast‑paced production line, ensuring clear communication, structure, and day‑to‑day guidance across the shift.
* Lead Health & Safety across the shift, setting clear expectations, ensuring procedures are followed, and promoting safe behaviours.
* Ensure the production of safe, high‑quality products, maintaining standards, compliance, and consistency that customers can trust.
* Drive operational performance, monitoring results and delivering against key KPIs including ATP, OEE, PPM, and waste reduction.
* Inspire, coach, and develop team members, encouraging engagement, ownership, and continuous improvement in a positive and respectful work environment.
Qualifications and Skills
* Experience in a manufacturing environment; food manufacturing experience is an advantage.
* Motivated people leader with a genuine interest in coaching and developing others.
* Collaborative team player with strong communication skills.
* Continuous improvement mindset, focused on delivering operational results.
* Lean manufacturing knowledge is a plus.
Why join us?
* Competitive salary and bonus scheme.
* Career growth and leadership development opportunities within Kerry Dairy Ireland.
* A culture built on safety, teamwork, and recognition, where people are supported to succeed.
* Join Kerry Dairy Ireland, a growing and ambitious dairy business, with ongoing investment in site expansion and production capability, offering a dynamic and forward‑looking working environment.
About Kerry Dairy Ireland
Kerry Dairy Ireland is a vertically integrated farm‑to‑fork business with a very substantial consumer foods presence and a leading nutritional and dairy ingredients division, delivering high‑quality dairy solutions with a focus on sustainability and innovation. From partnering with local family farms to producing world‑class dairy products, we ensure every step of our value chain reflects our commitment to excellence.
With over 50 years’ experience in milk processing, dairy and nutritional technology advancement, and product innovation, we are a key stakeholder in the global food industry and creators of a strong portfolio of market‑leading dairy brands including Cheestrings, Charleville and Coleraine Cheese, Dairygold, Golden Cow and our new SMUG range.
Our dairy comes from some of the world’s richest grazing land and is produced by a network of Irish family farms that have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. Through a combination of expertise, innovation, and sustainability, Kerry Dairy Ireland is proud to shape the future of dairy while meeting the diverse needs of our farmers, customers, and communities.
Headquartered in Tralee, Co. Kerry, we operate multiple manufacturing facilities in the southwest of Ireland, including Listowel, Charleville, Newmarket, and Farranfore. Additionally, we manage 29 Farm & Home stores throughout the region, ensuring comprehensive coverage and service. In Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, our presence extends to key locations in Portadown, Coleraine, and Ossett.
Globally, Kerry Dairy Ireland employs over 1,600 dedicated professionals across Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK, USA, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and China. In 2024, we achieved a turnover of approximately €1.3 billion, reflecting our commitment to excellence and growth.
Important Notice
Beware of scams online or from individuals claiming to represent us. A Kerry employee will not solicit candidates through a non‑Kerry email address or phone number. In addition, Kerry does not currently utilise video chat rooms (e.g., Google Hangouts) to conduct interviews. Refuse any request that asks you to provide payment to participate in the hiring process (e.g., purchasing a “starter kit,” investing in training, or something similar). Kerry will not ask you to pay any money at any point in the hiring process with the exception of reimbursable travel expenses. In addition, any payments made by Kerry will be from official firm accounts bearing the Kerry name.
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