Job Title: Head of Operations
Industry:
FMCG / Chilled Manufacturing
Location:
Dublin (Relocation Considered - Must have Full Rights To Work)
Salary:
Highly Competitive + Bonus + Benefits + Relocation Package
Overview
A fast-growing chilled food manufacturing business is seeking an experienced
Head of Operations
to lead multi-site manufacturing operations and drive operational excellence across the organisation.
This is a senior leadership role reporting directly to the Managing Director, with full responsibility for production performance, operational strategy, and cost optimisation across multiple production facilities. The successful candidate will play a critical role in supporting the business through its next phase of growth, targeting significant turnover expansion over the next 3–5 years.
The Role
Operational Excellence
* Lead and develop a large production organisation, including senior managers, supervisors, and operational teams.
* Ensure consistent delivery of daily production volumes across chilled and frozen product lines.
* Drive performance, quality, productivity, and cost control across all manufacturing sites.
* Build leadership capability within the operations team and develop succession planning frameworks.
Operations Planning & Strategy
* Contribute to long-term operational strategy and business growth planning.
* Evaluate and implement capital investment, automation, and capacity expansion opportunities.
* Lead key operational projects to support innovation, efficiency, and scalability.
Cost Base Rationalisation & Continuous Improvement
* Analyse operational performance and identify opportunities for cost reduction and productivity improvement.
* Implement Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement programmes.
* Develop and manage operational budgets and track performance against financial targets.
* Deliver measurable cost savings and efficiency gains across production and procurement.
Key Responsibilities
* Oversee multi-site manufacturing operations to maximise yield, efficiency, and compliance.
* Develop and monitor KPIs and operational dashboards to improve performance visibility.
* Implement Lean and CI initiatives to improve throughput and reduce waste.
* Ensure compliance with all regulatory, food safety, and workplace safety standards.
* Collaborate with HR on workforce planning, leadership development, and succession planning.
* Act as the senior operational advisor to the executive leadership team.
* Maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and external partners.
Candidate Profile
Experience & Skills
* Minimum
15 years' experience in manufacturing
, with significant senior leadership exposure.
* Proven track record leading large production teams in
FMCG, chilled, or food manufacturing
environments.
* Experience operating in
BRC, retail-facing, or equivalent high-compliance environments
.
* Strong understanding of production machinery, process optimisation, and factory operations.
* Experience implementing
Lean, CI, or operational excellence frameworks
.
* ERP system experience preferred.
* Commercially astute with strong budgeting and cost management capability.
Leadership Attributes
* Strategic thinker with hands-on operational credibility.
* Strong people leader with experience developing high-performing teams.
* Data-driven with the ability to translate operational metrics into strategic decisions.
* Comfortable operating in a family-owned or entrepreneurial business environment.