Director of Operations

Morgan McKinley; Leinster; On-site; EUR 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan McKinley seeks a Head of Operations to provide strategic and operational leadership across multiple high-performance manufacturing sites in Ireland, supplying leading retailers and foodservice across the UK and Ireland.

The role requires senior, data-driven leadership, change management in fast-paced FMCG environments, with accountability for cost, quality, safety, and service, and the ability to influence at executive level while maintaining visible on-site presence.

Qualifications

• Proven senior-level operational leadership experience in FMCG manufacturing (min 5 years multi-site/regional).
• Extensive knowledge of protein-based manufacturing across chilled and ambient categories.
• Strong understanding of retailer standards, compliance, and best practices in manufacturing.
• Commercial acumen with a data-driven approach to performance improvement.
• Experience leading organisational change in complex, fast-paced environments.
• Ability to influence at executive level while maintaining visible on-site leadership.
• Values-driven leadership focused on engagement, accountability and sustainable results.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across multiple high-performing manufacturing sites in Ireland.
• Drive operational excellence and lead site leadership teams to achieve cost, quality, safety and service metrics.
• Develop and sustain best-in-class performance across all sites and cross-site collaboration.
• Influence at executive level and drive continuous improvement and change initiatives.

Skills

Senior leadership

Data-driven

Change management

Executive influence

Engagement & accountability

Job description

Company Overview

Our organisation is a leading international food manufacturing group with a significant presence across Europe and North America.

We are committed to operational excellence, sustainability, and continuous improvement throughout our business. Our culture is built on accountability, collaboration, and performance, providing employees with the opportunity to contribute meaningfully within a dynamic and growth-focused environment.

The Role

The Head of Operations will provide full strategic and operational leadership across multiple high-performing manufacturing sites within Ireland. These facilities supply leading retail and foodservice customers across the UK and Ireland.

This senior leadership position requires a commercially astute and results-oriented professional capable of managing scale, complexity, and cross-site performance. The successful candidate will drive operational excellence, lead and develop site leadership teams, and ensure best-in-class performance across cost, quality, safety, and customer service metrics.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Proven senior-level operational leadership experience within FMCG manufacturing (minimum five years at multi-site or regional level)
• Extensive knowledge of protein-based manufacturing across chilled and ambient categories
• Strong understanding of retailer standards, compliance, and manufacturing best practices
• Commercial acumen with a data-driven approach to performance improvement
• Experience leading organisational change in complex, fast-paced environments
• The ability to influence at executive level while maintaining visible and effective on-site leadership
• A values-driven leadership style focused on engagement, accountability, and sustainable results