Senior Operations Manager

Avara Foods; England; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent food company in the UK is seeking a skilled Senior Operations Manager to oversee multiple chicken broiler hatchery facilities. This role involves leading teams, developing standard operating procedures, and ensuring operational excellence. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in the poultry or FMCG sectors, proven leadership skills, and a strong focus on strategic improvements. The position offers a competitive salary and various benefits including holiday allowance and private medical care.

Benefits

Competitive salary

33 days holiday allowance

6% pension

Private medical self & partner/child

Life assurance/insurance

Various lifestyle benefits

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in poultry or FMCG operations.
• Experience in leading large-scale capital expenditure programmes.
• Understanding of regulatory compliance and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of Hatchery Managers.
• Develop and standardise operating procedures across all sites.
• Ensure compliance with biosecurity protocols and regulatory standards.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Problem-solving

Data-driven decision making

Tools

Production equipment

Automation systems

Job description

Overview

You may not have heard of us, but there’s a good chance you’ve enjoyed our products. Avara Foods is one of the UK’s leading food businesses, supplying chicken and turkey to the country’s major supermarkets and well-known restaurants. We own and manage our entire supply chain, from farms to factory and all the way to the customer door – meaning we have careers that cover a whole range of functions. We have major processing sites across England and Wales, and an agricultural network of over 350 farms, spanning from North Yorkshire to the South Coast and Wales.

About The Role

Are you an experienced Operations Manager with a proven track record in people management? Do you have experience working within a FMCG environment? Do you thrive working in a fast-paced operation?

As an inclusive, forward-thinking business, we take pride in our approach to Operations across Avara Foods and are looking for a highly competent and motivated Senior Operations Manager to join our Breeder and Hatchery Team. In this role you would be responsible for covering our 5 UK sites.

Whilst the role is regional and you will support multiple sites, you will be required to enter and be exposed to the different working environments. As Senior Operations Manager you’ll be working Monday to Friday 08:30 - 17:00.

What will you be doing as a Senior Operations Manager at Avara?

The Senior Operations Manager will be responsible for leading multiple chicken broiler hatchery facilities which will include the leadership and development of colleagues, driving operational excellence and to ensure high quality production.

What will your key responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of Hatchery Managers to foster a collaborative, accountable and high performing workforce. Including coaching to develop technical and leadership skills.
• Develop and standardise operating procedures (SOPs) across all sites to ensure consistency and operational excellence, leveraging best practices from production or FMCG sectors.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to align hatchery operations with organisational objectives and market demands.
• Oversee the adoption of state-of-the-art production technologies, including automated systems and data analytics tools, to optimise hatchery performance and scalability.
• Analyse complex production data (e.g., fertility trends, hatch rates, embryo mortality) to identify and implement process improvements, drawing on FMCG or production analytics expertise.
• Guide hatchery managers in troubleshooting equipment issues and implementing corrective actions to minimise downtime.
• Ensure compliance with biosecurity protocols, vaccination programmes, and regulatory standards.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration with breeder farms, grow-out operations, and supply chain teams to ensure seamless production workflows.
• Develop and manage budgets for multiple hatcheries, optimising resource allocation whilst controlling costs, applying FMCG or production cost-management expertise.
• Deliver reports on production metrics, financial performance, and capital project progress to senior leadership.
• Drive cost-saving initiatives and process improvements to enhance profitability without compromising quality.
• Manage inventory of eggs, vaccines, and supplies across all sites to support uninterrupted production, utilising supply chain principles from FMCG or production.

What You’ll Need To Be Successful

• Substantial experience working in poultry, production, or FMCG operations, with recent years in a senior leadership role overseeing multiple facilities or teams.
• Proven experience leading large-scale capital expenditure programmes, including facility upgrades or technology implementations in production or FMCG environments.
• Expertise in production equipment, automation systems, and data-driven decision-making tools.
• Strong understanding of regulatory compliance, safety, and quality control standards in production or FMCG sectors.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills to drive large-scale operational and capital improvements.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail in managing complex operations and capital projects.

The Benefits Of Working For Avara Foods

As a Senior Operations Manager you will enjoy a secure, supportive and progressive working environment, where your contribution and achievements will be recognised and rewarded.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 33 days holiday allowance
• 6% pension
• Private medical self & partner/child
• Life assurance/insurance
• Various lifestyle benefits, such as cashback perks, exclusive shopping discounts from well known retailers, and discounted cinema tickets!
• Wellbeing resources, including free online health advice & support, and wellbeing assessments.

What happens after you apply for this role?

After you’ve applied, you’ll be contacted in due course by a Resourcing Officer, to discuss your application and CV further. There’ll also be a chance for you to ask us any questions you may have about the role.

If you’re ready to work in a dynamic environment alongside talented people who take pride in delivering great results, apply today!

We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer.

INDHP #TheAvaraWay