Director of Manufacturing

Multi-Site Food Manufacturing Leadership

We’re supporting a major UK food manufacturing and ingredients business on the appointment of a Head of Manufacturing to lead operational performance, leadership capability and continuous improvement across a portfolio of manufacturing sites.

This is a high-impact senior leadership role with responsibility for multiple manufacturing facilities, leading Factory Managers and Site Leadership Teams across a complex food manufacturing operation.

The business operates highly automated, process‑led manufacturing sites supplying major UK retail, food service and industrial customers.

This is an opportunity to influence manufacturing performance at scale whilst remaining close enough to operations to drive meaningful change and improvement.

Reporting into the Group Operations Director, the Head of Manufacturing will be responsible for improving operational performance, developing site leadership capability and creating greater consistency across manufacturing operations.

The focus is on building a culture of accountability, operational excellence and continuous improvement whilst supporting future growth and manufacturing capability.

You will play a key role in driving:

• Manufacturing performance improvement across multiple sites
• Leadership development and succession planning
• Continuous Improvement and Lean manufacturing initiatives
• Production capacity and throughput optimisation
• Quality, service and customer performance
• Cost reduction and productivity enhancement
• Standardisation of best practice across manufacturing operations

• Lead, coach and develop Factory Managers and Site Leadership Teams across multiple manufacturing facilities
• Drive improvements in safety, quality, service and cost performance
• Increase manufacturing efficiency, productivity and operational discipline
• Improve OEE, waste reduction, labour utilisation and OTIF performance
• Embed Continuous Improvement and Lean manufacturing methodologies across sites
• Develop operational capability and leadership succession plans
• Partner with Engineering, Supply Chain, Technical and Commercial functions to improve overall business performance
• Support capital investment projects and future manufacturing capability planning
• Create consistency in operational standards, reporting and accountability across the group

We are seeking experienced manufacturing leaders who have operated within complex food, ingredients, beverage or FMCG manufacturing environments.

You will likely bring:

• Proven multi‑site manufacturing leadership experience
• Experience leading Factory Managers, Site Leaders or Plant Managers
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies
• A track record of improving OEE, productivity, capacity and quality performance
• Experience with in highly automated, process‑led manufacturing environments
• Strong people leadership and coaching capability
• The ability to influence operational performance through others
• Commercial awareness and a data‑driven approach to decision making

Most importantly, you will be a visible and credible leader capable of developing teams, creating accountability and driving sustainable operational improvement across multiple sites.

• Performance Bonus

This appointment is being managed on a retained and highly confidential basis.

For a confidential discussion, please contact:
Carl