Operations Manager

ForFarmers N.V.; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Operations Manager to lead their site in achieving operational excellence. This role involves developing strategic business plans, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards, and driving team engagement. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in manufacturing and logistics, with a proactive approach to improvement. Join a company committed to sustainable practices and innovation in animal feed production, where your leadership will make a significant impact on the business and its community.

Benefits

Employee Assistance Programme

Pension Options

Personal Growth Opportunities

Cycle-to-Work Scheme

Discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in a quality-focused environment.
• Understanding of manufacturing and logistics.

Responsibilities

• Develop a Business Plan for all departments.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Manage raw material use and oversee inventory.

Skills

Manufacturing Knowledge

Logistics Management

Health and Safety Awareness

Team Leadership

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Job description

Reporting to: Regional Operations Manager

Your role

The Operations Manager is responsible for cost, output, quality, service, health and safety, environmental and legal compliance, mill performance, logistics, and customer service. The successful candidate will work with the Operations Director to develop a business plan for manufacturing and logistics to meet objectives. You will lead the site leadership team to drive results and ensure staff engagement with the site’s strategic vision. Additionally, you will ensure operations comply with legislation, company procedures, and standards including Health and Safety, Environmental, and Energy policies.

Your Responsibilities

1. Business Unit Plan
2. Develop a Business Plan to clarify objectives and tasks for all departments.
3. Address cross-functional issues such as logistics, order lead times, late orders, load sizes, CSD, and credit control within the plan.
4. Utilize all resources—operations, engineering, transport, sales, administration, finance—to support the Business Plan and foster cross-functional relationships.
5. Include maintenance and capital expenditure plans, aligning with budgets.
6. Establish maintenance schedules to meet company standards.
7. Manage raw material use according to formulations and oversee finished product inventory to prevent stock loss and devaluation.
8. Control working capital by managing stock levels within targets.
9. Commercial
10. Achieve EBITDA targets set by the Business Unit.
11. Hold regular review meetings to optimize liaison between sales, manufacturing, CSD, and logistics for cost-effective solutions.
12. Provide feedback on raw material quality, performance, and delivery to optimize raw material planning.
13. Manage resource deployment, expenses, and operational costs within budget.
14. Collaborate with the Operations Director on strategy or tactical changes.
15. Oversee capital expenditures, ensuring they are managed within budget and meet performance expectations.
16. People Management
17. Implement training and development programs tailored to individual needs.
18. Motivate and develop staff to meet personal and business objectives.
19. Create succession plans for key personnel and special projects.
20. Maintain appropriate staffing levels and quality.
21. Monitor and address absenteeism issues.
22. Health, Safety & Environment
23. Promote a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with procedures and legal requirements.
24. Plan, train, supervise, and investigate to prevent incidents.
25. Ensure environmental permits and ISO standards (ISO14001, ISO50001) are met.
26. Encourage safety practices among employees, visitors, and contractors, and report near misses and accidents.
27. Conduct regular audits to ensure compliance with UFAS standards and feed legislation.
28. Public Relations
29. Maintain and promote ForFarmers’ brand image within manufacturing and industry contacts.
30. Engage with key accounts, industry influencers, statutory bodies, and media.

Your Profile

• Experience in a similar quality-focused environment or role.
• Understanding of and experience in manufacturing, transport, and logistics.
• Proactive in driving improvement and development.
• Team-oriented, IT-literate, and strategic thinker.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and influencing skills.
• Strong health and safety awareness.
• Self-motivated, confident, and capable of challenging norms.
• Organized with a commercial and analytical mindset.
• Reside within 30 miles of the mill (preferred but not essential).
• Benefits include Employee Assistance Programme, pension options, personal growth opportunities, cycle-to-work scheme, and discounts.

About ForFarmers

ForFarmers produces animal feed for cattle, pigs, and poultry, emphasizing knowledge, research, and innovation. We are passionate about supporting sustainable farming, responsible in our actions, open-minded to industry changes, united in our efforts, and committed to delivering results. We value diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds.

To apply, visit our website: Vacancies | Working at ForFarmers. Please inform us of any reasonable adjustments needed for the application process. We recommend submitting your application early.