Farms Business Unit Director - Ireland

Hollybank Trustees Ltd; Ireland; Remote; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discount

Free on-site parking with EV chargers

Wellness initiatives

Job summary

Keelings Farms seeks a Farms Business Unit Director to lead the financial and operational plan for the Irish farms, ensuring day-to-day operations run to best-in-class standards and aligning with the overall business strategy.

You will own full P&L for Irish Farms, drive capital investment, innovation and a robust R&D agenda, and translate research into commercially viable outcomes while building leadership capability across the team.

Qualifications

• MBA or bachelor’s degree relevant to the role or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of continuous learning throughout career.
• Strong leadership with financial acumen.

Responsibilities

• Drive Day-to-day operations ensuring resources are allocated efficiently.
• Own full P&L performance for Irish Farms.
• Lead capital investment strategy including CapEx programmes.
• Drive innovation and R&D agenda, securing grant funding.
• Provide agile operational leadership across KPIs.
• Ensure business resilience and growth.
• Champion continuous quality improvement.
• Build organisational capability and succession planning.
• Identify and deliver growth and efficiency opportunities.

Skills

Agility leadership

Strategic commercial skills

Prioritisation and focus

Commercial awareness

Education

MBA or bachelor’s degree relevant to the role or equivalent experience

Lifelong learning

Job description

Location: On site / Sandyhill, St Margaret's, Co. Dublin, Ireland
job type: Permanent / Full-time
Sector and subsector: Leadership & Management | Senior Management
Salary: Negotiable salary

About Keelings

Keelings is a 100% Irish-owned family business passionate about fresh produce. Operating across Ireland, the UK, and Europe, we grow, source, and supply top-quality fruit and vegetables. Our success is built on innovation, sustainability, and strong partnerships — powered by our dedicated people.

Purpose of the Role:

The Farms Business Unit Director is accountable to lead and deliver the financial, operational plan for the Farms in Republic of Ireland to align with the Business strategy. The nature of this role requires the ability to ensure that the day-to-day operations are run to best-in-class standards whilst developing and maintaining robust short- and medium-term business plans to fulfil the strategic requirements of the Keelings Irish farms.

Keelings Values

• People Matter - We support and treat each other in a clear, fair and respectful way. We all learn, develop and encourage everyone to contribute
• Teamwork - We inspire and help each other to deliver our ambitions together as One Keelings
• Integrity - We do the right thing and deliver on our commitments
• Passion for Achievement - We motivate ourselves and each other to achieve our ambitions with energy, knowledge and courage. We are always striving to be better.

Accountabilities:

• Drive theDay-to-day operations ensuring allocation of resources are managed and the farm is running efficiently and to best-in-class standards.
• Own full P&L performance for Irish Farms, ensuring delivery of financial targets, cost discipline, and sustainable profitability.
• Lead capital investment strategy , including the development, prioritisation, and execution of all CapEx programmes to support long-term growth and efficiency.
• Drive innovation and R&D agenda , securing grant funding where appropriate and translating research into commercially viable outcomes.
• Provide agile operational leadership , across all key performance indicators.
• Ensure business resilience and growth , overseeing due diligence, stability, continuity planning, and strategic expansion initiatives.
• Champion continuous quality improvement , setting clear standards and leading initiatives that deliver measurable year-on-year enhancements in product quality and consistency.
• Build organisational capability , driving staff development, robust performance management, and effective succession planning to ensure long-term leadership strength.
• Identify and deliver growth and efficiency opportunities , proactively researching, evaluating, and implementing improvements across operations and commercial activity.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Business profitability and improvement.
• Yield performance & improvement.
• Cost performance & improvement.
• Planning performance & improvement.

Key Skills & Knowledge

• Agility and hands-on leadership style to motivate the team.
• Excellent strategic & commercial skills (financial acumen, commercial awareness).
• Excellent prioritisation and focus skills.

Education & Training

• MBA or bachelor’s degree relevant to the role or equivalent experience
• Evidence of continuous learning throughout career

Additional relevant information:

In addition, the post holder is required to understand and adhere to Keelings Company Values, and reflect these

values in both behaviour and performance.

• Staff discount at Keelings Farm Shop and subsidized canteen
• Free On-site parking with access to electric chargers
• Wellness Initiatives such as wellness week

Keelings Values

• People Matter
• Teamwork
• Integrity
• Passion for Achievement

Inclusion & Diversity Statement

In Keelings we value all perspectives and knowledge that our colleagues bring to our business. We are committed to forming a diverse and inclusive team where all can share their unique experiences and perspectives. We welcome applications from all cultures and backgrounds and are dedicated to forming an environment of inclusiveness and diversity where all can thoroughly feel a sense of belonging.