Operations Manager, Operations Manager

Pilgrim's Europe; Craigavon; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Employee discount platform

Ongoing learning and development

Career progression within one ofEurope

Competitive salary and benefits

Job summary

Pilgrim's Europe in Craigavon, Northern Ireland, is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead a busy food manufacturing site. You will drive performance across safety, quality, service, cost, and people development while championing continuous improvement and operational excellence.

As part of the site leadership team, you will manage production teams, oversee budgets and resource planning, and collaborate with technical, engineering, supply chain, HR, and commercial colleagues to

Qualifications

• Proven Operations Manager experience in food manufacturing or FMCG.
• Strong leadership with large teams in a fast-paced production environment.
• Excellent understanding of food safety, quality standards, and compliance.
• Experience managing KPIs, costs, labour planning, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong problem-solving, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Results-focused with a passion for people development and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop manufacturing teams to achieve production, quality, safety, and service targets.
• Drive operational efficiency through continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and best practice methodologies.
• Ensure the highest standards of Health & Safety, Food Safety, GMP, and compliance are maintained at all times.
• Deliver site KPIs including productivity, yield, labour utilisation, waste reduction, and customer service performance.
• Manage budgets, operational costs, and resource planning to maximise profitability.
• Coach, develop, and build capability within operational management teams.
• Lead performance management, succession planning, and employee engagement activities.
• Collaborate with Technical, Engineering, Supply Chain, HR, and Commercial teams to deliver business objectives.
• Support the implementation of strategic initiatives, capital projects, and operational improvement programmes.
• Ensure the site remains audit-ready and fully compliant with customer, legal, and company standards.

Skills

Leadership experience

Stakeholder management

Problem-solving

Communication

People development

Results-focused

Education

Engineering degree

Manufacturing degree

Food degree

Lean Six Sigma certification

IOSH certification

NEBOSH certification

HACCP certification

Job description

Location: Craigavon, Northern Ireland

Department: Operations

Company: Pilgrim's Europe

Lead Operational Excellence in a Fast-Paced Food Manufacturing Environment!

Pilgrim's Europe is looking for an experienced Operations Manager to join our Craigavon site.

This is a key leadership role responsible for driving operational performance across a busy food manufacturing operation. You'll lead production teams to deliver exceptional standards in safety, quality, service, cost, and people development, while championing a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Working as part of the site leadership team, you'll play a vital role in ensuring the site achieves its operational and strategic objectives through strong leadership, effective decision-making, and a relentless focus on customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop manufacturing teams to achieve production, quality, safety, and service targets.
• Drive operational efficiency through continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and best practice methodologies.
• Ensure the highest standards of Health & Safety, Food Safety, GMP, and compliance are maintained at all times.
• Deliver site KPIs including productivity, yield, labour utilisation, waste reduction, and customer service performance.
• Manage budgets, operational costs, and resource planning to maximise profitability.
• Coach, develop, and build capability within operational management teams.
• Lead performance management, succession planning, and employee engagement activities.
• Collaborate with Technical, Engineering, Supply Chain, HR, and Commercial teams to deliver business objectives.
• Support the implementation of strategic initiatives, capital projects, and operational improvement programmes.
• Ensure the site remains audit-ready and fully compliant with customer, legal, and company standards.

About You

• Proven Operations Manager, Manufacturing Manager, Production Manager, or Factory Manager experience within food manufacturing or FMCG.
• Strong leadership experience managing large teams within a fast-paced production environment.
• Excellent understanding of food safety, quality standards, and operational compliance.
• Experience managing KPIs, costs, labour planning, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Results-focused with a passion for people development and operational excellence.

Desirable

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Manufacturing, Food, or a related discipline.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement experience.
• IOSH, NEBOSH, HACCP, or Food Safety qualifications.
• Experience within chilled, fresh food, or protein manufacturing.

Why Join Pilgrim's Europe?

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Bonus opportunity.
• Pension scheme.
• Life assurance.
• Employee discount platform.
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities.
• Career progression 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.