Job Description

Site Operations Manager

Reporting To: General Manager

Location: Ayrshire, Scotland (Single-Site Production Unit)

The Opportunity

Join a growing family-owned food production group at a pivotal time of significant investment and expansion. This role is based at one of our large, single-site facility specialising in both fresh and frozen food manufacturing.

We are seeking a highly professional and results-driven Operations Manager to lead our site operations. You will be instrumental in driving business turnaround, implementing process excellence (particularly Lean methodologies), and building a high-performing team to maximise productivity and efficiency as we continue to grow.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Excellence

Own the daily operations

of the single-site food production facility, ensuring the efficient and effective manufacture of both fresh and frozen product lines.

Drive business turnaround

by applying extensive practical experience to implement new processes and streamline existing operations for maximum productivity and efficiency.

Lean Implementation:

Apply Lean manufacturing principles to identify and eliminate waste, reduce variability, and continuously improve processes.

Cost Control and Reduction:

Take direct responsibility for the control and reduction of costs across key operational metrics, including processing yields, labour, waste, giveaway, transport, and storage.

Process Improvement & Problem Solving:

Proactively coordinate and lead various process improvement initiatives, utilising structured problem-solving techniques to achieve demonstrable cost savings and operational gains.

Customer Service:

Maintain a passionate and committed focus on delivering exceptional standards of customer service and quality.

Leadership, People Management & Communication

People Management:

Demonstrate a real passion for managing, motivating, and developing multi-disciplinary teams for maximum productivity and engagement. This includes performance reviews, career development, and fostering a positive, safety-first culture.

Strong Leadership:

Possess strong leadership skills and the ability to inspire, influence, and mentor teams across the facility, thriving in highly pressurised and challenging environments.

Excellent Communication:

Exhibit excellent communication skills--the ability to communicate concisely and articulately at all levels, from the factory floor to senior leadership, is essential.

Collaboration & Alignment:

Foster an effective two-way communication flow throughout the facility, aiding collaborative thinking and strong teamwork across all functions and levels.

Liaison:

Report directly to the General Manager and serve as the critical operational liaison with Production, Logistics, and Planning functions across the site.

Performance Management & Reporting

KPI Management:

Own the process of identifying, setting, and managing daily/weekly departmental KPI targets to ensure consistent measurement and management of business unit performance.

Performance Analysis:

Oversee and restructure daily operational KPI reporting, emphasising in-depth performance analysis. Use this analysis to clearly identify improvement areas and set robust action plans.

Team Leadership:

Chair and facilitate daily "Management Team Meetings" to effectively measure departmental and business KPIs, ensuring accountability and collaborative problem-solving.

Candidate Profile & Experience

Extensive practical experience in a senior Operations/Site Management role within the manufacturing sector, ideally within food/FMCG, with experience in fresh and/or frozen food being highly desirable. Proven track record of business turnaround and successful implementation of complex process improvements using Lean/Continuous Improvement methodologies. Demonstrable experience in cost control, waste reduction, and yield optimisation. Exceptional people management and leadership skills with a focus on team motivation and development. Outstanding communication and problem-solving abilities. Strong understanding of operational reporting, performance analysis, and KPI management. A natural leader with exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to inspire and develop cross-functional teams.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Work Location: In person