Our client, a highly regarded malting company are recruiting a Plant Manager to oversee the traditional malting cycle and be responsible for modernising operational processes—transitioning toward automated production controls and digital stock management systems to improve yield, consistency, and traceability.
The successful candidate will hold ultimate accountability for building a high performing team, quality, site safety, maintenance, and rigorous audit compliance. This will suit someone from a technical production background in either Malting, Brewing or Distilling.
Examples of key areas of responsibility:
Change Management & Systems Implementation:
• Stock Management Transformation: Lead the selection and implementation of a modern Stock Management System to replace manual tracking, ensuring real-time visibility of barley intake, work-in-progress (WIP), and finished malt.
• Production Automation: Identify opportunities to introduce automated steeping, germination, and kilning controls; manage the rollout of these technologies to reduce manual intervention and human error.
• Automated Planning: Move the site toward Automated Production Planning, aligning barley steeping schedules with customer demand and silo capacity to optimise throughput.
Maintenance, Utilities & ESG:
• Preventative Maintenance (PPM): Set up and manage maintenance routines to protect high-value assets and ensure the reliability of new automated systems.
• Supplier & Contractor Management: Act as the primary point of contact for automation vendors, maltings engineers, and grain suppliers; manage their performance and site conduct.
• Resource and Cost Optimisation: Drive efficiency and cost reduction programs through automation, optimising utility usage (water/gas/electricity) and implementing waste reduction protocols.
Audit, Quality & Governance:
• Site & Industry Audits: Responsible for all audit requirements at the site by their customers, suppliers, and the industry (e.g. AUKM, FEMAS). Ensure the site is “audit-ready” at all times and provide technical support to customer queries.
Operational Leadership & Performance:
• Barley Intake & Storage: Manage the end-to-end process, ensuring moisture/protein segregation and maintaining grain viability through rigorous storage controls.
Experience & Skills:
• Industry Tenure: 5 years of managerial experience within a UK Malting, Brewing or Distilling environment.
• Systems Proficiency: Proven track record of implementing ERP/Stock systems or PLC-based automation.
• Leadership Style: A change-maker mindset—capable of bringing a small team along on the journey toward modernised processes.
Qualifications:
• Essential: Experience in Quality Management, Laboratory controls, and H&S leadership.
• Highly Desirable: A Malting Diploma (MAGB) or Brewing and Distilling degree, Project Management experience is a plus.
Applications from candidates already eligible to work in the UK only please.
For more information, please contact Julie Carling at Carling Recruitment
Tel +44 (0)1483893100.
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