Operations Director
21 days ago
Portsmouth
Operations Director - Food Manufacturing Location: Dual site - Home counties & West Country £(phone number removed) + car allowance + bonus + benefits A growing, premium food manufacturing business is seeking an Operations Director to lead and optimise its end-to-end manufacturing function during an exciting period of expansion. Operating within the ambient food category and supplying major retail and foodservice customers through branded and third-party manufacturing goods, the business is focused on scaling production capability, improving operational efficiency and strengthening customer service performance. This is a pivotal leadership role with full accountability for manufacturing, engineering and operational delivery. The role: Reporting into the business CEO, you will take ownership of the operational function, ensuring that sales growth is supported by robust manufacturing execution, strong supply chain discipline and best-in-class service levels. The remit includes: • Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), • Contract manufacturing and co-packer management, • Branded goods, • Supply chain and demand planning, • Procurement and supplier performance, • Warehousing and distribution, • SHEQ and food safety governance, • Process improvement and operational excellence, • Field-based technical and customer support where required This function is responsible for turning commercial opportunity into operational reality — delivering safe, compliant, high-quality food products on time and in full, while maintaining margin discipline. • Lead all operational matters across food manufacturing and supply chain, • Ensure OTIF performance and service levels meet retailer expectations, • Oversee manufacturing to ensure food safety, quality and efficiency standards are met, • Drive continuous improvement across production planning, inventory management and logistics, • Lead Sales & Operations Planning processes to align forecast, capacity and supply, • Own operational budgets, cost control and working capital performance (including stock and aged WIP), • Deliver weekly operational and financial forward-looking reporting, • Ensure full compliance with food safety, hygiene and regulatory standards, • Collaborate closely with Technical, NPD and Commercial teams to support product launches, • Lead capital investment planning and operational infrastructure development, • Manage procurement strategy to protect margin and ensure supply continuity, • Recruit, develop and mentor high-performing operational teams, • Implement lean manufacturing and supply chain best practices, • Resolve complex operational or customer service challenges with pace and accountability, • Create a strong succession plan for all key roles The person: • We are seeking a senior operations leader with deep experience in food manufacturing., • Degree educated (engineering, food manufacturing, supply chain or related discipline), or equivalent, • Demonstrable experience within food manufacturing or FMCG production environments, • Strong understanding of ambient food production and co-manufacturing models, • Experience managing retailer-facing supply chains, • Demonstrable success delivering operational efficiency and cost improvement, • Strong commercial and financial acumen You will demonstrate: • Strategic oversight with strong operational detail orientation, • Deep understanding of S&OP and demand planning within food environments, • Experience leading multi-disciplinary operational teams, • High standards around food safety, compliance and quality, • Ability to operate at pace in a growing business, • Strong analytical capability and structured problem solving, • A hands-on leadership style with clear accountability, • Experience within branded and private label food supply would be highly advantageous. Why Consider This Role? • Full operational ownership within a scaling food manufacturer, • Opportunity to strengthen manufacturing and supply chain capability, • Direct influence on growth trajectory and customer performance, • High visibility within a lean, ambitious leadership team, • Platform for future progression within a growing food group, • This opportunity will suit a commercially astute, operationally disciplined leader who understands the complexities of food manufacturing and thrives on delivering performance in a growth environment. To apply please email your CV