Director, Manufacturing Excellence (EMENA, GB, North America)

McCain Foods Limited; Scarborough; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A global food company is seeking a Director of Manufacturing Excellence to drive operational excellence across manufacturing sites. This role focuses on continuous improvement, leading a team, and shaping transformation strategies. Candidates should have over 10 years of manufacturing experience with a strong background in continuous improvement programs. The position requires exceptional leadership and communication skills and offers a hybrid work model with a competitive salary and benefits.

Benefits

Generous Car Allowance

Short-Term Incentive Plan

Excellent pension

Flexible holidays

Private Healthcare

Health cash plan

Cycle to work scheme

'Chips In' Volunteering Day Off

Qualifications

• 10+ years’ experience in manufacturing, ideally with continuous improvement companies.
• Proven track record implementing CI programs across multiple sites.
• Global experience across diverse geographies preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the regional Manufacturing Excellence program.
• Enhance program design for central guidance and regional flexibility.
• Coach and mentor leaders to implement MDI effectively.

Skills

Exceptional communication skills

Comfortable in ambiguous environments

Influence large global teams

Systems thinker

Optimistic and resilient

Self-motivated

Education

Degree relevant to manufacturing

Job description

Position Title: Director, Manufacturing Excellence

Position Type: Regular - Full-Time

Requisition ID: 39729

In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences - together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.

About the role.

In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and interested in helping each other create good work experiences. We think about the customer and make doing business with McCain easy.

Our Global Snacking venture is all about creating delicious, shareable snacks and appetisers that surprise, delight, and drive growth. Snacking isn't new for us - but reimagining it is the opportunity. At McCain Snacking, we combine the legacy and expertise of McCain Foods with the fast-paced, high-energy world of snacking.

We're looking for a Director of Manufacturing Excellence to join our senior leadership team. Reporting to the VP Operations & Manufacturing, Global Snacking, this role will shape and drive operational excellence across our manufacturing sites in North America, Great Britain, EMENA, and APACSA, leading a team including 2 direct reports.

You’ll bring a relentless focus on world-class manufacturing and continuous improvement, creating competitive advantage through maximising assets and unlocking the full potential of our people. You’ll have the vision to see what’s possible, the influence to inspire change across a large organisation, and the courage to deliver breakthrough results in an ambitious and evolving environment.

If you thrive on driving transformation, inspiring teams, and making bold ideas happen, this is your chance to leave a mark on the next chapter of McCain’s story.

Core Responsibilities & Accountabilities:

• Lead the regional Manufacturing Excellence (McCain Driving Impact / MDI) program for Global Snacking
• Enhance program design to balance central guidance with regional flexibility
• Advance Manufacturing Excellent (MDI programme) to support future global work systems, including operator ownership, technical skills, autonomous teams
• Coach and mentor leaders to implement MDI effectively
• Develop leaders in a matrixed environment to drive productivity, operational improvements, and loss elimination
• Garner executive support with strong strategic thinking and communication
• Implement MDI x AI initiatives
• Translate programs for the shop floor - make it clear what’s in it for operators
• Deliver significant cost savings through program design and implementation

If you thrive on driving transformation, inspiring teams, and making bold ideas happen, this is your chance to leave a mark on the next chapter of McCain’s story.

Experience & Qualifications:

• 10+ years’ experience in manufacturing, ideally with companies known for "gold standard" continuous improvement
• Proven track record implementing CI programs (Lean, IWS, TPM, etc.) across multiple sites and cultures
• Global experience across diverse geographies is a plus
• Previous experience as both a practitioner and program leader (e.g., Plant Manager, CI Manager)

Skills & Attributes:

• Comfortable in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
• Exceptional communication skills, especially with non-native English speakers
• Able to influence and lead large global teams in a complex, matrixed organisation
• Systems thinker - able to translate vision and strategy into action
• Flexible, balancing strategic work with tactical execution
• Self-motivated, working independently with little coaching
• Broad understanding of CI approaches, not limited to one methodology
• Optimistic, solution-focused, and resilient under pressure
• Courage to have difficult conversations at all levels

Location.

This role will lead MDI for the Global Snacking business with sites across North America, GB, EMENA and APACSA. We would prefer someone to be based either in GB or EMENA.

Our purpose is grounded in building meaningful relationships. We’re big believers in the power of working together in person‑it helps us stay connected, collaborate more effectively, and grow as a team. At the same time, we recognize the importance of flexibility. Most office‑based roles follow a hybrid model, with the option to work remotely for about half of your working time. There may be exceptions depending on the role and location, so we encourage you to speak with your recruiter for more details.

The benefits of working for McCain.

Although we do encourage you to taste the goods you’ll be pleased to know we don’t pay you in "chips". For working hard, you’ll also get a great salary and some pretty good benefits including:

• Generous Car Allowance
• Opportunity to earn bonus through our Short‑Term Incentive Plan
• An excellent pension where we will pay double what you do, up to a maximum of 12% of your pay
• Flexible holidays – where you can buy & sell up to 5 days holiday per year
• Private Healthcare for you and your family
• Optional health cash plan
• Cycle to work scheme
• 'Chips In' Volunteering Day Off – to make a positive impact to the competitiveness, resilience, and long‑term development of McCain communities across the globe

And of course, being part of a Global business there are great opportunities to shine/thrive should you wish to relocate in the future. We have an ambitious 5‑year growth plan that presents development & progression opportunities for those who seek it out.

Our Leadership Principles.

At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.

The McCain experience.

We are McCain: this statement is about our power collectively and our importance individually – your impact is a significant part of the business. Our winning culture focuses on authenticity and trust so we can always bring out the best in our people. Here, you have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive while being yourself.

Come and join The Makers to see why we are better together.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family‑owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.

Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain's Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy, as applicable. You can understand how your personal information is being handled here.

Job Family: Manufacturing

• Division: Global Snacking
• Department: Global Snacking MDI
• Location(s): GB – United Kingdom: England: Scarborough
• Company: McCain Foods (G.B.) Ltd