Chief Operations & Transformation Leader

Morgan McKinley

Ireland

On-site

EUR 150,000 - 200,000

Full time

2 days ago

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Job summary

Morgan McKinley is partnering with a well-established Irish business to appoint a Head of Operations & Business Transformation. This senior role oversees multi-site operations, drives performance and leads a major transformation program leveraging automation, data analytics and AI.

You will own the operational strategy, manage a team of 175, oversee budgets, health and safety, compliance and continuous improvement, and work cross-functionally with Procurement, IT and Finance to enable

Qualifications

Significant senior-level experience in operations, warehouse management or business transformation within a large, high-volume, multi-site organisation.
Proven experience leading substantial operational teams, ideally with responsibility for 100+ employees.
Demonstrable experience managing significant operational budgets, including wages, labour costs and financial forecasting.
Strong background in workforce planning, headcount forecasting and resource optimisation linked to business volumes and sales performance.
Proven track record of health and safety leadership, with a strong understanding of Irish legislation and regulatory requirements.
Experience overseeing operational compliance and quality management. HACCP and food safety knowledge, including a relevant qualification, would be advantageous.
Demonstrable experience leading operational transformation, process improvement and business efficiency initiatives.
Strong understanding of automation, technology, ERP/WMS systems and the opportunities presented by AI and data analytics.
Excellent financial and analytical capabilities, with the ability to interpret operational data and present meaningful management information.
Experience working cross-functionally with Procurement, Transport, Logistics and wider business functions.
Strong commercial awareness, with the ability to balance operational efficiency, customer service, cost control and business growth.
Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder-management skills, including experience influencing senior management.
A third-level qualification in Operations, Supply Chain, Business or a related discipline would be advantageous. IOSH, NEBOSH or equivalent safety qualifications would also be beneficial.

Responsibilities

Operational Leadership: Take full accountability for operational performance across multiple sites, ensuring efficient, safe and commercially effective operations.
Financial & Budget Management: Own the operational and wages budgets, including forecasting, financial reporting, variance analysis and cost optimisation. Identify opportunities to improve efficiency without compromising service or operational standards.
Workforce & Headcount Planning: Develop workforce plans aligned with sales forecasts, business volumes and growth projections. Optimise labour deployment, productivity, shift patterns and resource requirements across all locations.
Health & Safety: Hold senior responsibility for health and safety compliance across the organisation, ensuring appropriate policies, risk assessments, training, audits and safety procedures are maintained.
Compliance & Quality: Oversee relevant operational compliance and quality standards, ensuring robust processes, regulatory requirements and audit standards are consistently achieved.
Operational Performance: Establish and monitor KPIs across productivity, service levels, labour efficiency, order fulfilment and operational costs. Identify performance gaps and implement effective corrective actions.
Business Transformation & Technology: Develop and deliver a strategic transformation roadmap, identifying opportunities to improve processes through automation, technology, AI and data-led decision-making.
Continuous Improvement: Challenge existing ways of working, lead operational improvement initiatives and deliver measurable improvements in efficiency, productivity and cost performance.
Stakeholder Management: Work closely with senior management and cross-functional teams, including Procurement, Transport, Finance, HR, Sales and IT, to ensure operational strategy supports wider business objectives.
Leadership & Team Development: Lead and develop a large operational workforce through an established management structure, building strong leadership capability, accountability and a high-performance culture.
Strategic Planning: Translate the organisation's growth ambitions into operational capacity plans, investment priorities and scalable processes that support future expansion.