Factory Manager, Factory Manager

Pilgrim's Europe; Dungannon; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Employee discount platform

Leadership development

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Pilgrim's Europe is seeking an experienced Factory Manager for the Dungannon site to lead safety, quality, efficiency, and people performance. Reporting to the Site Director, you will drive continuous improvement, shape site strategy and lead large production teams to deliver exceptional results for customers and the business.

You will champion Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence and KPI-driven decision making, manage major projects and develop a high-performing culture focused on safety,

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in a food manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing large operational teams in a high-volume setting.
• Strong knowledge of Lean, CI and Operational Excellence.
• Experience driving performance via KPIs, data analysis, and problem solving.
• Excellent leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong focus on Health & Safety, Quality, and people development.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing teams to meet safety, quality, service, and cost targets.
• Drive safety culture and Go for Zero initiative.
• Develop and implement operational strategies aligned with objectives.
• Deliver continuous improvement initiatives using Lean and EO tools.
• Manage labour, productivity, waste, yield, and overall manufacturing performance.
• Lead capital projects and NPD implementations.
• Coach and develop teams; succession planning.
• Monitor KPIs through data-driven decision making.
• Ensure audit readiness and compliance with Food Safety, GMP, EH&S standards.
• Control cost of conversion and improve profitability.

Skills

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

Operational excellence

Data analysis

KPI management

People development

Stakeholder management

Health & safety focus

Education

Degree or manufacturing qualification

Tools

Lean tools

Job description

Location: Dungannon

Department: Manufacturing

Pilgrim's Europe is looking for an experienced Factory Manager to join our Dungannon site.

This is a senior operational leadership role responsible for delivering manufacturing performance across safety, quality, efficiency, people, and cost. Reporting to the Site Director, you'll lead large production teams, drive continuous improvement, and develop a culture focused on operational excellence and high performance.

You'll play a key role in shaping site strategy, leading change, and ensuring the manufacturing operation consistently delivers exceptional results for both customers and the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop manufacturing teams to achieve safety, quality, service, and cost targets.
• Drive a strong behavioural safety culture and support the site's "Go for Zero" approach.
• Develop and implement operational strategies aligned with site and business objectives.
• Deliver continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing and Operational Excellence tools.
• Manage labour utilisation, productivity, waste reduction, yield improvement, and overall manufacturing performance.
• Lead major operational projects including capital investment, improvement initiatives, and NPD implementation.
• Build high-performing teams through coaching, development, succession planning, and effective people management.
• Monitor and improve key manufacturing KPIs through data-led decision-making and problem-solving.
• Ensure the factory remains audit-ready and fully compliant with Food Safety, Quality, GMP, Environmental, and Health & Safety standards.
• Manage cost of conversion and identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and profitability.

About You

• Proven leadership experience within a food manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing large operational teams in a high-volume manufacturing setting.
• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, and Operational Excellence principles.
• Experience driving performance through KPIs, data analysis, and structured problem-solving.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong focus on Health & Safety, Quality, and people development.

Desirable

• Experience leading cross-functional projects and change programmes.
• Knowledge of OPEX tools and methodologies.
• Experience within a chilled, fresh, or protein manufacturing environment.
• Degree or relevant manufacturing qualification.

Why Join Pilgrim's Europe?

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Annual bonus opportunity
• Pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Employee discount platform
• Ongoing leadership development
• Career progression opportunities within one of Europe's leading food manufacturing businesses

At Pilgrim's Europe, our values of Ownership, Determination, Discipline, Humility, Availability, Simplicity, and Sincerity are at the heart of everything we do.

If you're a results-driven manufacturing leader who thrives in a fast-paced food production environment and is passionate about delivering operational excellence through people and continuous improvement, we'd love to hear from you.