Site Manager

Ravago; Knowsley; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

SugaRich UK Ltd, Knowsley site, is a leading processor of surplus foods, producing sustainable animal feed ingredients and operating 24/7 with FEMAS and ISO 14001 accreditations.

The Site Manager will assume full responsibility for safe, compliant, and efficient site operations, leading a cross-functional team and ensuring delivery against regulatory, environmental, and customer requirements while driving safety, quality and service standards.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in an operational management role within food, feed, waste processing, or similar regulated industries.
• Strong knowledge of Health & Safety legislation and environmental management.
• Experience managing accredited systems (FEMAS, ISO 14001, HACCP, or similar).
• Track record leading teams in a 24/7 operation.
• Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to engage teams at all levels.
• Experience managing budgets and driving operational performance improvements.

Responsibilities

• Provide strong leadership to the site team, ensuring alignment with company values, policies, and objectives.
• Manage a cross-functional team covering production, engineering, health & safety, feed safety, and quality.
• Foster a positive culture of safety, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure effective communication across shifts in a 24/7 operation.
• Drive proactive risk management and accidental prevention initiatives.
• Deliver customer orders on time, in full, and to specification.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to increase productivity and reduce waste.
• Ensure effective planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and engineering support for site operations.
• Drive asset care, equipment reliability, and capital project delivery.
• Lead recruitment, succession planning, and performance management at site level.
• Manage the site budget, report on KPIs, and work with central functions to deliver objectives.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Team management

Planning

Education

Degree or equivalent in Engineering, Food Science, Environmental Management, or Business Management

Job description

About SugaRich UK

SugaRich UK Ltd is the UK’s leading processor of former foods, producing high-quality, sustainable animal feed ingredients. Operating across eight processing sites, our mission is to transform surplus food into valuable feed for livestock. Our Knowsley site, one of the company’s largest, runs a 24/7 operation and holds FEMAS and ISO 14001 accreditations.

www.SugaRich.co.uk

The role

The Site Manager will have full responsibility for the safe, compliant, and efficient running of the Knowsley site. This role requires strong leadership, operational excellence, and a focus on safety, quality, and service delivery. The Site Manager will lead a cross-functional team and ensure adherence to regulatory, environmental, and customer requirements.

Key responsibilities

Leadership and site management

• Provide strong leadership to the site team, ensuring alignment with company values, policies, and objectives.
• Manage a cross-functional team covering production, engineering, health & safety, feed safety, and quality.
• Foster a positive culture of safety, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure effective communication across shifts in a 24/7 operation.

Health, safety and environment

• Act as the site lead for Health & Safety, ensuring full compliance with legislative requirements and company policies.
• Drive proactive risk management and accidental prevention initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with ISO 14001 and maintain high environmental performance standards.

Feed safety and quality

• Maintain site compliance with FEMAS standards and other relevant feed safety requirements.
• Ensure all quality management systems are adhered to and continuously improved
• Respond promptly to any non-conformance or customer complaints, driving corrective actions.

Operations and production

• Oversee all aspects of production to ensure efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and product consistency.
• Deliver customer orders on time, in full, and to specification.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to increase productivity and reduce waste.

Engineering and maintenance

• Ensure effective planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and engineering support for site operations.
• Drive asset care, equipment reliability, and capital project delivery in conjunction with the central engineering team.

People management

• Manage, coach, and develop the site team of 28 direct employees.
• Ensure training and competency frameworks are in place.
• Lead recruitment, succession planning, and performance management at site level.

Financial and commercial accountability

• Manage the site budget, ensuring cost control and efficiency.
• Report on key performance indicators (KPIs), including safety, quality, service, and cost.
• Work closely with central functions (Supply Chain, HR, Engineering, SHEQ) to deliver company objectives.

Essential Experience

• Proven experience in an operational management role within food, feed, waste processing, or similar regulated industries.
• Strong knowledge of Health & Safety legislation and environmental management.
• Experience managing accredited systems (FEMAS, ISO 14001, HACCP, or similar).
• Demonstrable track record of leading teams in a 24/7 operational environment.
• Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to engage teams at all levels.
• Experience managing budgets and driving operational performance improvements.

Desirable

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Food Science, Environmental Management, or Business Management.
• NEBOSH General Certificate (or higher) in Health & Safety.
• Knowledge of feed/food safety regulations and quality systems.
• Experience of capital project delivery and engineering management.

Personal attributes

• Results-driven, resilient, and pragmatic.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and decision-making capability.
• Strong organisational and planning ability.
• Collaborative leadership style with a focus on coaching and team development.
• Commitment to sustainability and continuous improvement.