Site Director – Food manufacturing
South Wales – relocation available
Salary: £120,000 -£140,000 + great corporate benefits
A rare opportunity to lead the transformation, growth and future direction of a strategically important food manufacturing operation
.There are very few Site Director opportunities that genuinely offer the chance to shape the future of a business both at operational and Board level. This is one of the
m.We are seeking an exceptional manufacturing leader to take responsibility for a profitable, growing food manufacturing operation employing approximately 200 colleagues and supplying major foodservice and Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) custome
rs.The business has ambitious growth plans, significant capital investment committed, a clear long-term strategy and an opportunity to substantially enhance capability, performance and operational excellence over the coming yea
rs.Reporting directly to the Managing Director and operating as a key member of the senior leadership team (Board), this role combines strategic leadership, operational excellence, organisational development and large-scale transformati
on.This is not a maintenance ro
le.This is an opportunity to create lasting impa
ct.The Busi
nessThe site is a well-established food manufacturing operation with a strong reputation, loyal workforce and long-standing customer relationsh
ips.The business has performed strongly and continues to enjoy significant growth opportunities within the QSR and foodservice sect
ors.Over the next five years the site is expected to play a pivotal role in delivering the organisation’s growth ambitions and will benefit from a substantial multi-million-pound investment programme focused on facilities, equipment, infrastructure and operational capabil
ity.The foundations are str
ong.The opportunity is even grea
ter.The Chal
lengeThe successful candidate will inherit a site with significant strengths but also clear opportunities for improve
ment.Whilst commercial performance remains strong, the business recognises the need to further streng
- then:Leadership capabi
- lity.Accountability and owner
- ship.Pace of decision ma
- king.Operational discip
- line.Continuous improvement cul
- ture.Engineering effective
- ness.Cross-functional collabora
- tion.Adoption of digital operational excellence t
- ools.Future succession capabi
lity.The site requires a leader who can simultaneously deliver today’s operational requirements whilst building the capability required for tomorrow’s gr
owth.This is a role for someone who enjoys creating clarity, structure and momentum within complex manufacturing environm
ents.The Oppor
tunityYou
will:Lead a Significant Growth
- AgendaSupport substantial revenue
- growth.Expand operational capa
- bility.Increase organisational ca
- pacity.Ensure the site is equipped to support future customer
demand.Deliver Major Investment Pr
- ogrammesPlay a key leadership role in a significant capital investment pr
- ogramme.Support refurbishment and modernisation p
- rojects.Work closely with engineering, projects and supply chai
- n teams.Ensure operational continuity throughout periods of
change.Build a High-Performing Leader
- ship TeamDevelop capability across the site leaders
- hip team.Strengthen accountability and o
- wnership.Create succession plans for k
- ey roles.Raise expectations and standards throughout the o
peration.Drive Operational
- ExcellenceImprove performance management di
- sciplines.Increase effectiveness of operational review
- processes.Enhance utilisation of digital factory systems
- and tools.Embed continuous improvement meth
- odologies.Improve productivity, engagement and operational pe
rformance.Sh
- ape CultureCreate greater pace
- and energy.Foster collaboration across
- functions.Build confidence and
- capability.Develop a culture where individuals take ownership and make
- decisions.Lead through influence, visibility and c
redibility.What Success Wi
ll Look LikeWithin your first 12–24 months yo
- u will have:Established yourself as a trusted and respe
- cted leader.Created a clear vision f
- or the site.Improved leadership
- capability.Increased accountability at
- all levels.Enhanced operational discipline an
- d standards.Driven meaningful progress against operational excellence
- objectives.Supported key investme
- nt projects.Positioned the site for sustainable fu
ture grow
th.About YouYou are an accomplished manufacturing leader with a proven track record of delivering results th
rough people.You understand that transformation is not achieved through p
rocess alone.It is achieved throug
h leadership.You are lik
- ely to bring:Degree educated
- or equivalentSignificant progressive food manufacturin
- g experience.Site Director, Site General Manager, Operations Director or equivalent leadershi
- p experience.Experience leading complex manufacturin
- g operations.Strong engineering and operational u
- nderstanding.Experience delivering change and tr
- ansformation.A track record of improving standards and
- performance.Experience developing lead
- ership teams.Strong stakeholder manag
- ement skills.Experience operating within matri
- x structures.Customer-facing
- credibility.Commercial awareness and bus
iness acumen.Most importantly, you possess the leadership presence, resilience and emotional intelligence required to lead a business through significant growt
h and change.Particularly Relevant Experience
- Could IncludeQSR
- manufacturing.Foodservice
- manufacturing.B2B food
- manufacturing.Chilled, ambient or ingredients
- manufacturing.Operational Excellen
- ce programmes.Lean manufacturing
- environments.Continuous Improveme
- nt leadership.Redzone or equivalent connected workfo
- rce platforms.Major capital investme
- nt programmes.Culture chang
e initiatives.Leadership
Style RequiredThis role requires a
- leader who can:Set
- high standards.Hold peop
- le accountable.Deve
- lop capabili
- ty.Build trust.Influenc
- e stakeholders.Challenge
- constructively.Lead
- visible change.Bring people with them
on the journey.This is not a command-and-contr
ol environment.Success will come through consistency, credibility, coaching
and leadership.Why Consider T
his Opportunity?For the right individual, t
- his role offers:Significant stra
- tegic influence.Direct exposure to senior leadership and board-level
- decision making.The opportunity to lead a major transf
- ormation agenda.Responsibility for a strategically important manufact
- uring operation.Substantial inv
- estment backing.Long-term c
- areer potential.The opportunity to create a
lasting legacy.Few Site Director roles offer this combination of growth, investment, challenge
and opportunity.Confidential enquiries are welcomed and will be handled with com
plete discretion….