Tayto Snacks is the home to Ireland's most iconic crisp and snack brands, including Tayto, Hunky Dorys, King, O'Donnell's and many others such as Hula Hoops, KP Nuts, Skips, Rancheros, and Meanies.
Located in Ashbourne, County Meath – just 40 minutes from Dublin city centre where 350 colleagues work at our state-of-the-art production facility and Head Office, we process 30,000 tonnes of Irish potatoes annually (representing 10% of the Ireland's total potato crop) to make the nations favourite crisps. We are proud to be part of the Intersnack Group, a privately owned company with operations in 30 countries across Europe, Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
At Tayto Snacks we are passionate about people and proud of the exciting and rewarding careers we offer.
Title: Line Lead
Function: Operations
Reporting line: The Operations Department Manager
Location: Ashbourne, Co. Meath
Role type: Full time, Permanent
The line Lead will be responsible for managing and ensuring the smooth running of the Line/Section for all shifts across 24 hours and the working week. The line lead will ensure all products are produced to the specification pre-determined in the company's quality control and process control documents and procedures. To ensure that all direct staff comply with the company's Health and Safety procedures. The Line Lead has full accountability for, Daily Management Systems (DMS). Driving and supporting culture to allow all operatives to become Equipment Owners ultimately enabling them to Defect Handle and apply Clean Inspect Lubricate (CIL) techniques and tools.
Roles and Responsibilities
Health & Safety
* Train, explain, and promote by your own actions, the Tayto Snacks EHS Policy, Company Safety Rules and Statutory requirements applying to all operations within the specified line of responsibility.
* Deliver on agreed H&S KPIs for your shift and lines.
* Ensure that all incidents are recorded in a timely and efficient manner.
* Ensuring a risk analysis approach is used across all your team's functions to avoid carelessness and promote responsible thinking.
Technical
* Ensure that all products meet or exceed the agreed internal and customer specification and quality standards.
* Assist in the coordination of external customer visits and internal audits.
* Ensure that company targets are achieved and appropriate actions to resolve issues are taken.
Production Performance And KPIs
* Deliver improved Production efficiencies, namely Safety, OEE or PR, waste elimination; first time Quality and material usage.
* Drive the IWS process within your Shift and other shifts within your responsibilities.
* Implement plans to ensure full optimisation of labour, sufficient cover for non-attendances and holiday cover. Feed into succession planning and future-proofing the business.
Continuous Improvement
* Assist in evaluating, utilising, deployment and embedment of a range of continuous improvement and lean six sigma techniques to deliver best-in-class operational excellence, which can be measured through the performance of the factory and in line with the company's values of Thinking Responsibly, Acting Entrepreneurially, Growing Together.
* Ensuring "best in class" activities are being carried out such as:
* Clean, Inspect and Lubricate (CIL).
* Defect Handling.
* Daily Directional Settings (DDS).
* 6s
* Why, why, where, where analysis.
Environment
* Optimise energy usage, looking at opportunities for energy reduction and carbon footprint reduction.
* To work in a manner that actively seeks to reduce any negative environmental impact in relation to the processes and procedures operating within their area and across the wider business e.g. reduction of waste, recycling etc.
People Management
* Ability to lead and manage a team.
* Clear understanding of people management requirements, ensuring the team is properly resourced at all times.
* Managing front-line performance and disciplinary matters.
* Effective coaching and mentoring of your team.
* Development of equipment Owners for your Line.
* Shows accountability for results and performance, including safety standards
* Ability to communicate with your team on business changes/improvements
* Interpersonal collaboration skills
* Demonstrate leadership and motivation for change
* Incorporate and live the values of the organisation – Thinking Responsibly, Acting Entrepreneurially, Growing Together.
Key Skills / Attributes / Core Competencies
* Excellent communication skills; ability to liaise with varying management at all levels, both internal and external.
* Excellent interpersonal skills.
* Self-motivated.
* Problem-solving skills.
* Well organised
* Willing to undertake personal development training.
* Uses initiative and is open to change
* Able to effectively coach and train others
* Ability and drive to continue building personal capability
Requirements
* Computer literate, Microsoft Office tools.
* The candidate must be flexible enough to cover all shift patterns and weekends if necessary, to capture all working shifts within the plant in order to deliver the Compelling Business Need (CBN) and Site Master Plan (SMP).
* 3 years minimum experience in a management position within a FMCG plant.
Desirable
* Previous experience within a FMCG manufacturing environment.
* Food processing knowledge.
* HACCP experience and or qualification.
* IOSH qualification.
* Previous experience of achievement in continuous improvement.
* Change agent; ability to demonstrate a previous experience of delivering sustainable change initiatives and results.
* 2nd language.
If you are interested in applying for this role please Apply before Thursday 22 January 2026.
This job description is intended as a summary of the primary responsibilities and qualifications for this position, it is not intended as inclusive of all duties an individual in this position might be asked to perform or that may be required to do either now or in the future.
Tayto Snacks is an Equal Opportunities Employer