Operations Manager

Reliance Talent Solutions; Longford; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Reliance Talent Solutions is recruiting an Operations Manager for a specialist bakery business in the Midlands, Ireland. This hands-on leadership role directs site operations through production and packing management, with oversight of stores, dispatch, quality and operational administration.

Strong leadership and robust controls are essential for success. You will coordinate daily activity, translate demand into production plans, and establish performance measures.

Qualifications

• Operational management experience in food/beverage manufacturing.
• Ability to lead production and packing managers and develop teams.
• Knowledge of production planning, labour scheduling and materials flow.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily site activity across production, packing, stores, dispatch and quality.
• Translate demand into production plans ensuring staffing, ingredients and packaging are available.
• Establish and review daily/weekly/monthly performance measures and drive corrective actions.
• Plan staffing across production, packing and cleaning; support recruitment and develop managers.
• Oversee purchasing and stock control for ingredients and packaging, improving visibility and discipline.
• Maintain safe working practices; ensure compliance with food safety and quality requirements (BRC/HACCP).
• Support new product projects, translating briefs into practical manufacturing processes.
• Evaluate equipment, technology and methods; embed lean changes through training.

Skills

Leadership

Production planning

Lean principles

Quality management

Food safety

HACCP

Job description

Operations Manager

Midlands, Ireland Full-time, on site

Take responsibility for how a food manufacturing site performs, from the production plan through to finished orders leaving the plant. This is a hands‑on leadership opportunity for someone who enjoys developing managers, strengthening processes and turning operational priorities into measurable results.

Reliance Talent Solutions is recruiting an Operations Manager for a specialist bakery business. You will direct site operations through the production and packing management teams, with oversight spanning stores, dispatch, quality and operational administration. Strong leadership and dependable controls will be central to your success.

Where you will make an impact

• Coordinate daily site activity, aligning production, packing, stores, dispatch and quality around delivery priorities.
• Translate demand into workable production plans, ensuring staffing, ingredients and packaging are available when needed.
• Establish useful daily, weekly and monthly performance measures, review the results and lead action where performance falls short.
• Plan staffing across production, packing and cleaning, support recruitment and develop managers, supervisors and their teams.
• Oversee purchasing and stock control for ingredients and packaging, improving visibility and discipline across the operation.
• Maintain safe working practices and ensure operational activity meets relevant legal, food safety and quality requirements.
• Play an active role in BRC implementation and monitoring, and contribute to the HACCP team.
• Support new product projects, helping translate development briefs and recipes into practical manufacturing processes.
• Evaluate improvements to equipment, technology and working methods, using lean principles and appropriate training to embed change.

What you will bring

• At least one year of operational management experience, supported by a strong leadership background in food or beverage manufacturing.
• The ability to lead through production and packing managers, set expectations and develop accountability across departments.
• Practical understanding of production planning, labour scheduling, purchasing, inventory and the flow of materials through a manufacturing site.
• A disciplined approach to processes and controls, using performance measures to identify issues and sustain improvements.
• The knowledge to contribute effectively to BRC standards, HACCP and day‑to‑day food safety and quality management.
• The ability to support recipe and product development discussions and guide the operational introduction of new products.
• Confidence assessing process and equipment improvements and helping teams adopt new ways of working.
• Clear spoken and written English, and authorisation to work in Ireland.