Farms Business Unit Director - Ireland

Keelings; Saint Margaret’s; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discount at Farm Shop

Free On-site parking

Wellness initiatives

Job summary

Keelings is seeking a Farms Business Unit Director to lead and deliver the financial and operational plan for the Irish Farms. The role requires steering day-to-day operations to best-in-class standards while developing short- and medium-term business plans aligned with Keelings’ strategy.

The candidate will own full P&L, drive capital investment, and lead an R&D agenda to translate research into commercially viable outcomes, ensuring resilience and growth across the farming units.

Qualifications

• Agility and hands-on leadership style to motivate the team.
• Excellent strategic & commercial skills (financial acumen, commercial awareness).
• Excellent communication & stakeholder management skills.
• Proven experience managing horticultural farming units.
• Change management experience.
• Continuous improvement mindset.
• Excellent prioritisation and focus skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive Day-to-day operations ensuring allocation of resources and efficient farm running.
• Own full P&L performance for Irish Farms, with financial targets and profitability.
• Lead capital investment strategy for CapEx programmes and growth.
• Drive innovation and R&D agenda and translate research into viable outcomes.
• Provide agile operational leadership across key performance indicators.
• Oversee due diligence, stability, continuity planning, and expansion initiatives.
• Champion continuous quality improvement and set standards for product quality.
• Build organisational capability through staff development and performance management.
• Identify and deliver growth and efficiency opportunities across operations and commercial activity.

Skills

Agility & hands-on leadership

Strategic & commercial skills

Excellent communication

Proven experience in horticultural/far

Education

MBA or bachelor's degree relevant to the role

Job description

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.

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 the Day-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 communication & stakeholder management skills.
• Proven experience managing horticultural farming units.
• Change management experience.
• Continuous improvement mindset.
• 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.

Benefits

• 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.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

If you require reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know at [e-mail]

Recruitment Process

• 1. CV Submission & email acknowledgment of receipt
• 2. Phone Screening
• 3. 1st Interview
• 4. 2nd Interview
• 5. Outcome & Feedback

Keelings Careers - https://www.keelings.com/careers-keelings/

Keelings Strategy & Values - https://www.keelings.com/our-people/