Head of Operations

Sodexo; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 77,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellbeing platform access

Employee Assistance Programme

24hr virtual GP

Sodexo Discounts

Pension Plan

Learning & development tools

Bike to Work Scheme

Enhanced benefits & leave

Job summary

Sodexo is seeking a Head of Operations in Dublin to lead Integrated Facilities Management at St James’s Gate Brewery. The role oversees a 150+ team, drives safety, quality and cost efficiency in a GMP-sensitive manufacturing setting, and partners with senior stakeholders to deliver outstanding workplace experiences.

The position requires a strong background in facilities management, manufacturing operations and strategic leadership, with a focus on continuous improvement and client satisfaction.

Qualifications

• A senior leadership candidate with experience in Integrated Facilities Management.
• Experience delivering services in a manufacturing environment with GMP awareness.
• Proven P&L and financial management responsibility.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to interpret complex data.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across the Integrated Facilities Management portfolio (Hard/Soft FM, Security, Catering, Cleaning, Waste, Grounds and Workplace services).
• Ensure services meet contractual, SLA, KPI and client expectations.
• Own the contract financials including budgeting, forecasting and cost control.
• Lead a large, multidisciplinary team and subcontractors to drive safety and service excellence.
• Build relationships with senior client stakeholders and act as trusted advisor.
• Drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Ensure compliance with statutory, regulatory, health & safety, environmental, and GMP standards.
• Oversee governance, risk management and audits on site.
• Lead asset management and lifecycle planning for infrastructure.
• Oversee transformation and special projects with business continuity in mind.
• Embed a zero-harm safety culture across operations.
• Maintain business continuity, crisis plans and emergency response.
• Identify operational, financial and reputational risks.
• Drive sustainability initiatives (energy, waste) and cost-saving opportunities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve objectives.

Skills

Leadership

People management

GMP experience

P&L ownership

Financial analysis

Stakeholder management

Project management

MS Office/SharePoint

Education

HNC / BIFM

IOSH / NEBOSH

CIEH Level 3

Job description

Head of Operations

Location: Dublin 8, Republic of Ireland
Salary: €85,000 per annum plus 10% Bonus
Contract Type: Full Time, Permanent

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Head of Operations to lead the delivery of Integrated Facilities Management services at the iconic St James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin.

This is a senior leadership position with responsibility for the end-to-end operational delivery of a complex, high-volume manufacturing environment. You will provide strategic direction while remaining closely connected to day-to-day operations, ensuring that services are delivered safely, efficiently, compliantly and to the highest possible standards.

You will lead a diverse team of more than 150 employees, alongside external subcontractors, and will be responsible for ensuring that the site continues to deliver outstanding workplace and customer experiences while supporting the client’s operational and strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across the full Integrated Facilities Management portfolio, including Hard FM, Soft FM, Security, Catering, Cleaning, Waste Management, Grounds Maintenance and Workplace Services.
• Ensure all services are delivered in line with contractual requirements, SLAs, KPIs and client expectations.
• Take overall accountability for the financial performance of the contract, including budgeting, forecasting, cost control and P&L management.
• Lead and inspire a large, multidisciplinary team, developing a high-performance culture focused on safety, service excellence and accountability.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with senior client stakeholders, acting as a trusted operational advisor.
• Champion continuous improvement, innovation and operational excellence, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, quality and customer experience.
• Ensure full compliance with statutory, regulatory, health & safety, environmental and food-safety requirements within a GMP-sensitive manufacturing environment.
• Maintain robust governance, performance monitoring, risk management and audit processes.
• Oversee asset management and lifecycle planning to maximise reliability, efficiency and value from critical infrastructure and equipment.
• Lead transformation, mobilisation and special projects, ensuring effective implementation and business continuity.
• Embed a strong zero-harm safety culture across all operations.
• Ensure business continuity, crisis management and emergency response plans are maintained, tested and effective.
• Identify and manage operational, financial and reputational risks.
• Drive sustainability initiatives, including energy efficiency and waste reduction.
• Identify and deliver cost-saving, efficiency and revenue-growth opportunities while maintaining service quality and compliance.
• Provide strategic oversight of the security function, ensuring compliance with corporate and CTPAT standards.
• Work collaboratively with Operations, HR, Finance, Procurement, Property and Corporate Functions to deliver business objectives.

About You

You will be an accomplished senior operations or facilities management leader with a proven track record of managing complex, multidisciplinary teams and delivering high-quality services within a demanding environment.

You will ideally bring:

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in a senior management or leadership position within Integrated Facilities Management.
• Proven experience managing large, diverse, high-performing teams.
• Demonstrable experience working within a manufacturing environment, ideally with strong GMP compliance experience.
• Proven responsibility for P&L and financial management.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to interpret complex financial and operational information.
• Excellent client relationship and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong problem-solving abilities, with the confidence to remain calm and decisive under pressure.
• Experience managing multiple priorities in a complex and fast-moving environment.
• Experience with project works and subcontractor management.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and customer service skills.
• A proactive, decisive and commercially minded approach, with a strong sense of ownership.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office, Outlook and SharePoint.

Desirable Qualifications

• HNC / BIFM qualification.
• IOSH or NEBOSH Health & Safety qualification.
• CIEH Level 3 qualification.

Why Sodexo?:

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance tobe part of something greater.

Belong in a company and team that values you foryou.

Act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions.

Thrive in your own way.

We also offer a range of perks, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering wellbeing support
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or life's larger problems, including legal and financial advice, support with work or personal issues impacting your wellbeing
• Access to a 24hr virtual GP Service
• Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 across popular high street retailers (also open to friends and family)
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Pension Plan
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools
• Bike to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit
• Sodexo UK and Irelands enhanced benefits and leave policies

A little more about Sodexo:

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services.

We are committed tobeingan inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, SoTogether, Generations and Origins.

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.

Click here to read more about what we do to promote an inclusive culture.

Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we are in receipt of a high number of applications