Production Team Leader

Kerry; Craigavon; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading dairy producer in Northern Ireland is seeking a Production Team Leader for their Portadown facility. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in manufacturing, particularly in the food sector, and be passionate about team development and safety. Responsibilities include ensuring high-quality production and driving team performance. This is a full-time permanent position with a competitive salary and growth opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive salary and bonus scheme

Career growth opportunities

Culture built on safety and teamwork

Qualifications

• Experience of working within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in food manufacturing is highly desirable.
• Committed to innovation and operational success.

Responsibilities

• Champion health & safety in the workplace.
• Ensure production of high-quality products.
• Drive performance to meet KPI targets.
• Develop and inspire the production team.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Team collaboration

Results-driven

Job description

Requisition ID: 62520

Position Type: FT Permanent

Workplace Arrangement: #LI-Onsite

About Kerry Dairy Ireland

Kerry Dairy Ireland is a vertically integrated farm-to-fork business with a very substantial consumer foods presence and a leading nutritional and dairy ingredients division, delivering high-quality dairy solutions with a focus on sustainability and innovation. From partnering with local family farms to producing world-class dairy products, we ensure every step of our value chain reflects our commitment to excellence.

With over 50 years’ experience in milk processing, dairy and nutritional technology advancement, and product innovation, we are a key stakeholder in the global food industry and creators of a strong portfolio of market leading dairy brands including Cheestrings, Charleville and Coleraine Cheese, Dairygold, Golden Cow and our new SMUG range. Our from food, for food culture and deep-rooted connection to our 2,800 milk suppliers differentiates our business and offers captivating opportunities for our customers and consumers.

Our dairy comes from some of the world’s richest grazing land and is produced by a network of Irish family farms that have one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. Through a combination of expertise, innovation, and sustainability, Kerry Dairy Ireland is proud to shape the future of dairy while meeting the diverse needs of our farmers, customers, and communities.

Headquartered in Tralee, Co. Kerry, we operate multiple manufacturing facilities in the southwest of Ireland, including Listowel, Charleville, Newmarket, and Farranfore. Additionally, we manage 29 Farm & Home stores throughout the region, ensuring comprehensive coverage and service. In Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, our presence extends to key locations in Portadown, Coleraine, and Ossett.

Globally, Kerry Dairy Ireland employs over 1,600 dedicated professionals across Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK, USA, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and China. In 2024, we achieved a turnover of approximately €1.3 billion, reflecting our commitment to excellence and growth.

About the role

We are currently recruiting for a Production Team Leader to join the team at our Portadown Manufacturing facility. We’re looking for a positive leader to champion safety, inspire teams, and promote operational excellence.

This is a Permanent Full – Time role with the following shift pattern and working hours:

Monday and Tuesday 06:00-14:30, Saturday and Sunday 06:00-18:00 (You'll required to start 30mins befotre your shift which is paid as overtime)

Key responsibilities

• Put Health & Safety at the heart of everything we do
• Ensure production of safe, high-quality products that customers trust
• Drive performance and exceed KPI targets (ATP, OEE, PPM, Waste reduction)
• Inspire and develop your team to achieve excellence and continuous improvement

What We’re Looking For

• Experience of working within a manufacturing environment, experience of food manufacturing is highly desirable.
• A motivated, results-driven leader with a passion for people and who loves developing others
• Natural team player who thrives on collaboration
• Strong communication skills
• Someone committed to innovation, improvement, and operational success

Why join us?

• Competitive salary and bonus scheme
• Career growth and leadership development opportunities
• A culture built on safety, teamwork, and recognition

Kerry is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Consistent with our policy of providing equality of opportunity for all, we are required to seek particular information from applicants. As part of your application you will be asked to answer a short number of questions. This information will be held separate to your application and treated in the strictest of confidence.

Beware of scams online or from individuals claiming to represent us. A Kerry employee will not solicit candidates through a non-Kerry email address or phone number. In addition, Kerry does not currently utilise video chat rooms (e.g., Google Hangouts) to conduct interviews. Refuse any request that asks you to provide payment to participate in the hiring process (e.g., purchasing a “starter kit,” investing in training, or something similar). Kerry will not ask you to pay any money at any point in the hiring process with the exception of reimbursable travel expenses. In addition, any payments made by Kerry will be from official firm accounts bearing the Kerry name.

Recruiter: #LI-JP2

Posting Type: LI