An opportunity to shape the future of manufacturing

Are you an accomplished Manufacturing Director or senior manufacturing transformation leader who thrives on delivering complex, high-value projects?

Do you have the experience, credibility and commercial acumen to bring together multiple operational stakeholders, influence critical investment decisions and turn ambitious manufacturing plans into operational reality?

We are partnering with an established, highly regarded organisation operating within the food sector to appoint a Manufacturing Director to play a pivotal role in a major strategic investment and transformation programme.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the manufacturing integration, operational design and successful mobilisation of a significant new production facility, helping to create a modern, efficient and future-ready manufacturing operation.

With substantial investment and senior leadership commitment behind the programme, this is a rare opportunity to make a lasting impact on manufacturing capability, operational performance and long-term business success.

The Opportunity

Reporting to a senior Executive Sponsor, you will provide the manufacturing leadership, expertise and strategic direction required to ensure the successful design, development, commissioning and operational stabilisation of a major new manufacturing facility.

Working across multiple business operations, you will be instrumental in aligning manufacturing requirements, challenging existing thinking and ensuring that key decisions deliver the right balance of operational efficiency, productivity, quality, safety and commercial performance.

This is a highly visible, influential position requiring someone who can operate confidently at board and senior leadership level, while remaining close enough to manufacturing operations to understand the practical realities of delivering a complex transformation programme.

Importantly, this is not a traditional day-to-day operational leadership role. Your focus will be on shaping, integrating and delivering a major manufacturing investment, working collaboratively with established operational leaders to achieve a successful outcome.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic manufacturing leadership throughout the design, development, commissioning and operational mobilisation of a major new production facility.

• Lead the integration of manufacturing requirements across multiple operational businesses, ensuring alignment around a clear and effective future operating model.

• Influence decisions relating to factory design, production flow, capacity, equipment selection, automation, technology and operational efficiency.

• Work closely with senior executives, operational leaders, engineering, project management and functional specialists to ensure manufacturing requirements are fully embedded in programme delivery.

• Challenge assumptions, resolve competing priorities and provide clear, commercially informed recommendations to senior stakeholders.

• Develop and oversee operational readiness plans covering workforce capability, recruitment, training, systems, processes, commissioning and production ramp-up.

• Ensure robust standards for food safety, health and safety, product quality, service and operational resilience are incorporated throughout.

• Protect business continuity and customer service during operational transition, identifying and mitigating potential risks.

• Establish clear manufacturing performance measures, ensuring expected improvements in productivity, capacity, efficiency, quality and cost are delivered.

• Embed a culture of continuous improvement, operational excellence and sustainable performance.

We are looking for a commercially astute, highly credible manufacturing leader with a successful track record of delivering significant operational transformation and capital investment programmes.

You will ideally bring:

• Substantial senior manufacturing leadership experience, ideally gained within food manufacturing, fresh or chilled production, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.

• Proven experience delivering major manufacturing investments, new facility developments, site commissioning, operational transformation or complex start-up programmes.

• Strong technical and operational understanding of manufacturing processes, factory design, production equipment, automation and continuous improvement.

• Experience working across complex, multi-site or multi-business environments, successfully aligning stakeholders with differing priorities.

• The ability to translate strategic investment objectives into practical, measurable manufacturing outcomes.

• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence senior executives and operational teams alike.

• A strong understanding of operational readiness, workforce planning, risk management and successful manufacturing transitions.

• The ability to combine strategic thinking with a pragmatic, hands-on approach to problem-solving and delivery.

Above all, you will be a collaborative, decisive and results-driven leader who can bring clarity to complexity, challenge constructively and build trusted relationships across a business.

You will understand how to drive change without unnecessary disruption, bringing people together behind a shared vision while maintaining momentum and accountability.

This is far more than a conventional Manufacturing Director appointment.

It offers the opportunity to play a defining role in a major manufacturing investment, influencing how a new operation is designed, established and positioned for future success.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Make a tangible impact – Shape a significant manufacturing investment from development through to successful operation.

• Influence at the highest levels – Work directly with senior executive stakeholders on strategically important decisions.

• Deliver meaningful transformation – Apply your experience to create a modern, efficient and sustainable manufacturing operation.

• Take ownership of a defined mission – Lead a high-profile programme with clear objectives, measurable outcomes and lasting business impact.

• Bring your expertise to the forefront – Use your manufacturing knowledge, leadership and commercial judgement to influence the success of a business-critical initiative.

The organisation is open to discussing the most appropriate engagement structure, including fixed-term and interim arrangements, to secure the right individual for this important appointment.

If you are an experienced Manufacturing Director, Operations Director or Manufacturing Transformation Leader with a passion for delivering complex manufacturing projects, we would welcome a confidential conversation.

For further information or to express your interest, please get in touch for a confidential discussion or apply with your CV today.