Head of Operations

About the Company

Our client is scaling a new generation of high performance; home compostable packaging made from agricultural by-products.

This is a unique opportunity for a commercially minded operations leader who is looking to progress into a future Chief Operating Officer (COO) position as the company continues to grow.

The Role

• We need an ambitious manufacturing leader who can build systems, strengthen management capability, commission automation and create the disciplined operating rhythm required for sustained growth.
• The Factory / Operations Manager will take full responsibility for the day-to-day management of the manufacturing facility (12,000 sq/ft). Ensuring safe, efficient and cost-effective operations while developing a high-performing team.

Key Responsibilities

• Build practical capacity plans across labour, equipment, moulds, racks, growing and drying, then identify and remove the bottlenecks that restrict safety, quality, output, cost or delivery.
• Maintain a visible safety culture, full audit readiness, robust quality controls, complete traceability and disciplined investigation of incidents, defects and deviations.
• Implement Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, 5S, standard work, visual management and structured root cause analysis across the production operation.
• Lead and develop operational managers, engineers, technicians, shift leaders and production teams, setting clear standards for behavior, accountability and performance.

Essential Experience

• A Master’s degree, such as an MSc or MEng, in Engineering, Science or a closely related discipline.
• Substantial and sustained senior leadership experience in technically complex, high volume manufacturing, with a strong record of operational improvement over a number of years.
• Experience leading sizeable, multi shift manufacturing teams in a high care, high risk or highly controlled food manufacturing environment, complex automated food production or a comparable regulated operation.
• Practical experience of PLC controlled manufacturing systems, industrial automation and the commissioning or optimisation of production equipment.