Site Director, Site Director

Pilgrim's Europe; Greater Lincolnshire; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive executive salary and benef

Generous holiday allowance

Pension scheme

Life Assurance

Employee discounts

Leadership development opportunities

Strategic influence at SLT level

Collaborative safety-focused culture

Job summary

Pilgrim's Europe is seeking a Site Director to lead the Spalding operation, driving strategic, operational, and commercial performance. You will own the site P&L, safety, quality, and customer service while building a high‑performing leadership team.

In this role you will champion lean production, deliver continuous improvement, manage budgets and investments, and represent the site with customers and regulatory bodies.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience within food manufacturing or FMCG.
• Full site operations and P&L responsibility.
• Experience leading large, multi-disciplinary teams.
• Proven track record of operational excellence and CI programmes.
• Experience managing Health & Safety, Quality, Technical, and Operational standards.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Experience driving cultural change and embedding high-performance behaviours.
• Excellent stakeholder management and customer relationships.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the Spalding site.
• Own site Health & Safety, ensuring a culture where safety is always the number one priority.
• Deliver operational excellence through Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Drive site profitability through effective cost control, labour optimisation, yield improvement, and operational efficiency.
• Lead and develop a high-performing site leadership team, creating robust succession and talent development plans.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, quality, environmental, legal, and customer requirements.
• Develop and execute site strategies aligned with wider Group objectives.
• Manage significant site budgets, capital investments, and resource planning.
• Build strong relationships with customers, suppliers, regulatory bodies, and key stakeholders.
• Champion innovation, growth opportunities, and operational improvements across the business.
• Represent Pilgrim's Europe within the local community and industry.

Skills

Senior leadership

P&L ownership

Stakeholder management

Operational excellence

Continuous improvement

Health & Safety

Quality management

Financial acumen

Change leadership

Education

NEBOSH

IOSH

HACCP

Job description

Location: Spalding, Lincolnshire

Division: Fresh Pork

Leadership Level: Director

Lead One of Our Key Manufacturing Operations!

At Pilgrim's Europe, we're looking for an exceptional Site Director to lead our Spalding operation and play a pivotal role in delivering our strategic, operational, and commercial objectives.

This is a high-profile leadership opportunity for an experienced manufacturing leader with a proven track record of driving operational excellence, building high-performing teams, delivering financial performance, and maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, and customer service.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will have full accountability for site performance, profitability, culture, and continuous improvement, ensuring the site remains industry-leading in efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the Spalding site.
• Own site Health & Safety, ensuring a culture where safety is always the number one priority.
• Deliver operational excellence through Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Drive site profitability through effective cost control, labour optimisation, yield improvement, and operational efficiency.
• Lead and develop a high-performing site leadership team, creating robust succession and talent development plans.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, quality, environmental, legal, and customer requirements.
• Develop and execute site strategies aligned with wider Group objectives.
• Manage significant site budgets, capital investments, and resource planning.
• Build strong relationships with customers, suppliers, regulatory bodies, and key stakeholders.
• Champion innovation, growth opportunities, and operational improvements across the business.
• Represent Pilgrim's Europe within the local community and industry.

About You

We're looking for a proven senior leader with experience operating in a large-scale manufacturing or food production environment.

Essential Experience

• Senior leadership experience within food manufacturing, FMCG, or a complex fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrable responsibility for full site operations and P&L performance.
• Strong experience leading large, multi-disciplinary teams.
• Proven track record of delivering operational excellence and continuous improvement programmes.
• Significant experience managing Health & Safety, Quality, Technical, and Operational standards.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen.
• Experience driving cultural change and embedding high-performance behaviours.
• Excellent stakeholder management and customer relationship skills.

Desirable

• Lean, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, or Continuous Improvement qualifications.
• NEBOSH, IOSH, HACCP, Food Safety, or relevant manufacturing qualifications.
• Experience within the meat, food manufacturing, or FMCG sectors.

Why Join Pilgrim's Europe?

As Site Director, you'll have the opportunity to shape the future of a major manufacturing operation while joining one of Europe's leading food businesses.

What We Offer

• Competitive executive salary and benefits package.
• Generous holiday allowance.
• Pension scheme.
• Life Assurance
• Employee discounts and lifestyle benefits.
• Opportunities for ongoing leadership development.
• The chance to influence business strategy at Senior Leadership Team level.
• A collaborative culture focused on safety, quality, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Our Values

Everything We Do Is Guided By Our Values

• Determination - Delivering results and never giving up.
• Simplicity - Keeping things practical and focused.
• Availability - Being open, responsive, and ready to support others.
• Humility - Listening, learning, and valuing teamwork.
• Sincerity - Acting with honesty, transparency, and respect.
• Discipline - Following through on commitments and delivering excellence.
• Ownership - Taking responsibility and driving continuous improvement.

If you're an inspiring operational leader looking to make a significant impact within a market-leading food manufacturing business, we'd love to hear from you.