Managing Director (Food)

VanRath; Banbridge; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food production company in Northern Ireland is seeking an experienced General Manager to lead the organization through a pivotal phase of growth and relocation. The role demands a strong leader with food manufacturing expertise and a proven track record in scaling operations while maintaining quality. This position offers a competitive salary and the chance to influence the company’s future significantly.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Opportunity to influence growth

Collaborative leadership culture

Direct involvement in facility launch

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in the food manufacturing sector.
• Proven success in scaling operations through periods of substantial expansion.
• Strong commercial mindset with solid operational and financial management capabilities.
• Excellent people leadership skills with the ability to inspire and develop high-performing teams.
• Comprehensive knowledge of food industry regulations and quality systems.
• Strategic thinker with a pragmatic, delivery-focused approach.

Responsibilities

• Provide clear leadership across all departments to achieve operational, quality, and financial goals.
• Optimise production processes, improve operational workflows, and implement scalable systems.
• Ensure strict adherence to food safety, hygiene, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and manage budgets, oversee cost control, and identify growth and margin improvement opportunities.
• Promote a high-performance culture underpinned by collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee the strategic planning and execution of the relocation to a new production site.

Skills

Senior leadership experience in food manufacturing

Scaling operations through expansion

Commercial mindset

Operational and financial management

People leadership skills

Knowledge of food industry regulations

Strategic thinking

Job description

General Manager - Food Manufacturing
Location: Banbridge & Lurgan

A leading, fast-expanding food producer in Northern Ireland is seeking a seasoned General Manager to guide the organisation through a pivotal stage of development, including a major relocation to a new facility within the next year.

This high-impact role is designed for an accomplished senior leader who has successfully steered a small-to-medium manufacturing business through substantial growth, scaling operations while safeguarding exceptional quality and strong commercial results.

The Role

You will hold complete accountability for both the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of the company, encompassing production, sales, marketing, HR, compliance, health & safety, and financial performance. Reporting directly to the owners, you will play a central role in delivering ambitious expansion and profitability objectives.

Core Responsibilities

• Provide clear leadership across all departments to achieve operational, quality, and financial goals.
• Optimise production processes, improve operational workflows, and implement scalable systems.
• Ensure strict adherence to food safety, hygiene, and regulatory requirements (including HACCP and BRCGS).
• Develop and manage budgets, oversee cost control, and identify growth and margin improvement opportunities.
• Promote a high-performance culture underpinned by collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee the strategic planning and execution of the relocation to a new production site.

Candidate Profile

• Significant senior leadership experience in the food manufacturing sector.
• Proven success in scaling operations through periods of substantial expansion.
• Strong commercial mindset with solid operational and financial management capabilities.
• Excellent people leadership skills with the ability to inspire and develop high-performing teams.
• Comprehensive knowledge of food industry regulations and quality systems.
• Strategic thinker with a pragmatic, delivery-focused approach.

Package & Benefits

• Competitive salary, potentially reaching six figures for an outstanding candidate.
• Opportunity to play a defining role in the growth of a high-potential brand.
• Supportive ownership and collaborative leadership culture.
• Direct involvement in a major new facility launch.

If you have the experience, vision, and drive to lead a high-growth food manufacturing business to its next chapter, we'd like to hear from you. Reach out to Jack Groves for a confidential chat.