Job Description

UK - Ashford

General Services

Permanent contract



Ardo supplies its continuously growing markets around the world with high quality frozen vegetables, herbs, and fruit with 3300 employees and 16 production, packing & distribution sites in 7 different countries. The family business sells in more than 100 countries and has a turnover of more than 1.4 billion euros. The proximity of our factories to our crops is one of our key strengths and ensures that only minutes are lost between harvest and locking in the product's natural goodness in our freezers.



Ardo's mission is to preserve the gift of nature for future generations by providing fresh frozen, plant-based food while minimizing our impact on the planet. Ardo achieves this goal thanks to an integrated network of growing areas, production units, freezing units, packaging equipment, appropriate logistics and thorough quality control. The group's know-how and flexible structure ensure that it can respond quickly to new trends and that innovative product can be brought onto the market quickly.



Your Scope



The Operations Manager will form part of the UK management team with responsibility for the operations at our repacking site at Ashford.



Ashford operates 5 lines where we re-pack frozen fruits and vegetables from bulk octobin storage into retail packs. The Operations Manager has full responsibility for the packing, engineering and quality departments.



The Operations Manager is charged with creating a fully inclusive culture where service levels. operational performance, safety, continuous improvement, quality and cost performance are paramount and delivered through a well engaged high performing team.



You will work with teams to make sure that processes are implemented and operated efficiently, including fulfilling order and meeting deadlines.

Main Responsibilities:

Overseeing the workforce in the Production, Technical and Engineering department Ensuring that the team understands that the organisation's profits are reflected in all its activities - including relationships and risk management Developing plans for team and organisation activities to achieve targets Striving to reduce cost and increase productivity across all product lines with the responsibility to adhere to budget and plans to maximise profitability Ensuring all employees follow industry standard health and safety guidelines Setting ambitious production goals and communicate them to key stakeholders, effective liaison, support and assistance between all departments of organisation Providing motivation, support and guidance to all employees Communicating any problems or obstacles to Manufacturing Director Establishing workflow policies that enhance speed and efficiency without compromising product safety or integrity Creating schedules for employees to ensure optimum staffing levels Maintaining all production related documentations for future reference purposes, develop and utilise systems to manage activities, functions, analysis and documentation Working with production team to manage production workflow, schedule and quality Ensuring that final product/s meets quality standards and customer specifications. Having a good understanding customer requirement and accordingly prepare production plan Working with management to oversee the preparation of production proposals Managing and evaluating resources to ensure productivity and minimal downtime Contribute towards efficient and effective management reporting: report KPI's on weekly and monthly basis reflecting operational performance of the site and related to variable packing / production cost evolution versus standard In general collaboration with Ardo Group support in different areas of expertise is required. Follow up and implement Ardo group policies like SHINE, PURE, MIMOSA+, etc.

Your profile

Living close to the Ashford site is essential

Thorough understanding of food production processes, management obligations (including statutory obligations), requirements and dynamics

Excellent project management skills

Leadership with ability to drive a team

Proven track record of successfully training employees in productivity, continuous improvement and safety

Working knowledge of Health and Safety and Environmental regulations

Ability to coach and mentor employees on a one-on-one basis as well as a group

Good communication skills, with the ability to give messages up and down the organisation effectively.

Previous experience of working with SAP is desirable

We offer



Competitive