A market leading, private label food manufacturer is seeking a Head of Operations to own and deliver the end to end manufacturing strategy across multiple UK sites.

Reporting to the Managing Director and sitting on the Site Leadership Team, you will shape and execute a multi site operations plan that delivers outstanding service, efficiency and food safety standards.

The role carries full responsibility for Production, Engineering, Health & Safety and a specialist dairy/ingredients facility, leading a multi functional management team to meet stretching commercial and people objectives.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high performing Operations leadership team covering Production, Engineering, HSE, Warehouse, Distribution, Planning and a dedicated dairy/processing unit.

• Translate the group and site strategy into a clear, live operations plan understood and owned by Production, Engineering and Supply Chain teams.

• Drive daily performance across all manufacturing operations, creating an environment where teams challenge the status quo, embrace change and continuously improve ways of working.

• Own capacity planning, production scheduling and inventory to maximise efficiency while maintaining service levels of c.99% on time, in full delivery.

• Partner with Technical to protect and enhance product quality, monitoring yield, waste and efficiency trends to identify improvements.

• Ensure the ERP system is fully embedded and accurately used for data, planning and performance management across Operations.

• Develop and control manufacturing budgets, identifying and delivering cost reduction opportunities without compromising quality or service.

• Remove production constraints, optimise labour and equipment utilisation and minimise downtime through effective engineering and planned maintenance (PPM).

• Oversee warehousing and distribution, including export logistics, to ensure safe, efficient storage and dispatch of finished goods.

• Work closely with Sales and NPD to plan, trial and launch new products, ensuring smooth, cost effective factory scale up.

• Ensure robust compliance with food safety legislation, site quality management systems, retailer codes of practice and relevant third party standards (e.g. GFSI/BRC).

• Lead site security, crisis management readiness and adherence to company policies, standards of conduct and H&S procedures.

• Champion a culture of continuous improvement and Lean across all functions, using structured tools to improve line efficiency, labour productivity and overall cost base.

• Act as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to overall business strategy, profitability and long term capability planning.

• Provide clear objectives, performance reviews, coaching and where necessary disciplinary support for all direct reports.

Safety, quality and compliance

• Ensure all operations comply with UK/EU food safety and health & safety legislation, updating site practices in line with regulatory changes.

• Oversee completion and maintenance of departmental risk assessments, safe systems of work and GMP standards across the factory network.

• Maintain customer and audit compliance at all times, meeting specification, service and audit targets in line with the company’s Quality Management System.

• Ensure appropriate training (food safety, GMP, fire, first aid, H&S) is in place and maintained for all relevant colleagues.

• Lead or support the Crisis Management Team as required, ensuring the site is prepared for product, safety or supply chain incidents.

• Protect company assets through effective security, control of damage and loss prevention across all sites.

Candidate profile

• Degree educated (Operations, Business, Food Manufacturing or similar) and experienced in senior leadership within a fast paced food or drink manufacturing environment.

• Proven track record of improving productivity, cost, quality and service in complex, short shelf life or chilled/frozen operations.

• Strong financial and commercial acumen with experience owning and delivering multi million pound operations budgets.

• Highly proficient with ERP systems and MS Office, using data to drive decisions and identify performance trends.

• Demonstrable experience of Lean/CI tools such as Six Sigma, 5S, Lean Manufacturing or Transactional Lean, and of embedding a continuous improvement culture.

• Broad understanding of safety systems and the enforcement of H&S and food safety rules in a manufacturing setting.

• An exceptional people leader: credible, engaging and able to inspire and hold to account multi disciplinary teams.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, comfortable operating at Board and customer level.

• Highly organised, decisive and results driven, with a commitment to the highest standards of product quality and customer service.

Suitable candidates with senior operations leadership experience in food or beverage manufacturing are encouraged to apply in confidence.  For more information please get in touch for a confidential chat or apply with your CV today.