Group Manufacturing Director - UK & Ireland

QLM Search Ltd; Leeds; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Not disclosed is seeking an exceptional Group Manufacturing Director for UK & Ireland to lead a broad manufacturing footprint across multiple sites and product categories. You will partner with commercial, supply chain and innovation functions to shape strategy and performance.

You will drive transformation, lead acquisitions integration, oversee capital investments and governance at board level, and nurture a high‑performance culture across a distributed organisation in the UK and Ireland.

Qualifications

• Board-level manufacturing leadership experience across multiple sites.
• Experience integrating acquisitions and driving synergies.
• Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement expertise with measurable results.
• Ability to operate with strategic clarity at board level while managing operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead a large, diverse manufacturing footprint across the UK & Ireland.
• Provide strategic influence and board-level presence to drive change.
• Oversee M&A integration, ensuring alignment within the group structure.
• Deliver major transformation programmes, including digitalisation and new ways of working.
• Inspire senior leaders across sites and embed a high-performance culture.
• Shape and lead capital investment projects to enhance resilience and growth.
• Act as a trusted partner to customers, regulators and the market.

Skills

Board leadership

Lean manufacturing

Continuous improvement

Acquisition integration

Change management

Strategic influence

People leadership

Job description

Our client is a leading international food group operating across the Fresh and Added Value meat categories.

Operating at significant scale, the business has a portfolio of recognised brands and trusted partnerships across retail, foodservice and export markets.

With a network of modern facilities across the UK and Ireland and a workforce of several thousand colleagues, the business has built a reputation for quality, innovation and responsibility. Today, it is investing heavily in automation, digital transformation and modernisation while continuing to deliver safe, affordable, high-quality food to millions of consumers.

We are seeking an exceptional leader to join the leadership team as Group Manufacturing Director (UK & Ireland).

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a large and diverse manufacturing footprint, aligning operations seamlessly with commercial, supply chain and innovation functions.
• Provide the strategic influence and board-level presence required to drive change across a complex stakeholder landscape.
• Play a key role in M&A integration, ensuring newly acquired businesses are successfully integrated, aligned and optimised within the group structure.
• Deliver major transformation programmes, from digitalisation and automation to new ways of working, to future-proof capabilities and sharpen competitiveness.
• Inspire senior leaders across multiple sites, embedding a high-performance culture that balances accountability with empowerment.
• Shape and lead capital investment projects that strengthen operational resilience and unlock growth opportunities.
• Act as a visible and trusted partner to customers, regulators and the wider market, reinforcing the organisation’s reputation as a leader in its field.

Required Background

We are looking for a proven board-level manufacturing leader who thrives in complexity.

• Experience in integrating acquisitions, rationalising manufacturing footprints and delivering synergies.
• Expertise in leading transformation and cultural change across large, distributed organisations.
• Strong knowledge of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement, with the ability to translate these principles into lasting results.
• The credibility to operate with influence at board level, balancing operational detail with strategic clarity.
• A reputation as an effective people leader, able to inspire, stretch and develop senior teams.
• The resilience and agility to navigate challenges while keeping the long-term vision in sight.