Head of Site Operations Job Details | Glanbia

Glanbia plc; Kilkenny; On-site; EUR 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Head of Site Operations to lead the Kilkenny Cheese facility. This pivotal role involves overseeing plant operations, managing a dedicated leadership team, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in food manufacturing, excellent leadership skills, and a strategic vision for driving performance and continuous improvement. Join a forward-thinking company committed to sustainability and innovation, where your expertise will directly contribute to enhancing product quality and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• 8+ years management experience in food, pharmaceutical, or beverage manufacturing.
• Strong project management skills and ability to handle large-scale projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Site Leadership Team to achieve performance metrics in Health and Safety.
• Drive continuous improvements in safety, quality standards, and management systems.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Continuous Improvement

Education

Third-level qualification in Science

Engineering

Food Manufacturing

Job description

Head of Site Operations Job Details | Glanbia

Kilkenny Cheese is a joint venture between Tirlan and Dutch family business Royal A-ware, a 130-year-old company with strong positions in EU and global markets. The facility commenced operations in 2024 as a greenfield site at Belview, Co Kilkenny.

Rooted in our rich heritage of family farming and embedded in our communities, Tirlan has evolved to bring the passion of our farmers and their high-quality ingredients to the international marketplace. Using modern technology and best practices, we manage a milk pool of three billion litres, exporting innovative products and tailored ingredients to over 100 countries.

Royal A-ware is a traditional Dutch family business passionate about food, with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. We focus on demand-led, tailored products and services, investing in our supply chains to ensure independence, efficiency, and flexibility. We produce, ripen, cut, and package cheese, as well as produce and package cream and fresh dairy products.

Based in Belview, South Kilkenny, this role reports to the Managing Director of Kilkenny Cheese Limited and is part of the Executive team alongside the Head of Finance and HR Business Partner. The Head of Site Operations will oversee plant operations, manage the Senior Leadership Team, and liaise with external stakeholders such as government bodies.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Lead the Kilkenny Cheese Site Leadership Team to achieve performance metrics in Health and Safety, Quality, Customer satisfaction, Throughput, and People KPIs.
2. Collaborate with the Head of Finance to oversee financial reporting and KPIs.
3. Ensure compliance with IEL/EPA licenses in coordination with the EHS department.
4. Drive continuous improvements in safety, quality standards, and management systems, acting as a role model.
5. Work with the Royal A-ware and Tirlan commercial teams to align with customer requirements and site KPIs.
6. Lead New Product Development (NPD) initiatives to meet business objectives.
7. Champion sustainability efforts and ensure compliance across all site activities.
8. Implement LEAN methodologies and business excellence practices.
9. Optimize financial performance through cost control and site efficiency programs.
10. Manage stakeholder relationships to enhance service delivery aligned with customer and KPI expectations.
11. Develop performance measurement systems utilizing data to drive improvements and maintain world-class standards.
12. Promote diversity and inclusion as core aspects of workplace culture.
13. Foster employee engagement and a positive work environment.
14. Establish governance and communication structures for effective site operation and information access.
15. Develop and execute a site strategy aligned with overall business goals.
16. Lead initiatives in safety, quality, compliance, excellence, and continuous improvement.

Key Requirements:

• Third-level qualification in Science, Food, Engineering, Manufacturing, or related discipline.
• Minimum of 8 years management experience leading multidisciplinary teams in food, pharmaceutical, or beverage manufacturing.
• Results-oriented, customer-focused, with high performance in fast-paced environments.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills to motivate teams and foster engagement.
• Strategic vision and business acumen.
• Proven commercial and operational expertise, including continuous improvement in lean environments.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to handle large-scale projects.
• Analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience in the food industry, especially dairy, is desirable.
• Future-oriented with a track record of growth initiatives and project completion.
• Practical approach to problem solving.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

We value diversity and believe different perspectives drive innovation and growth. We welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability.

Join our Talent Pool

If this role isn’t right for you, consider joining our talent community and signing up for job alerts at www.tirlan.com/careers.

About the company

Glanbia plc is an Irish global nutrition group operating in 32 countries.