Senior Production Manager

Kerry Group; Carrigaline; On-site; EUR 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Perkbox platform discounts

Employee assistance programme

Ongoing learning & development

Job summary

Kerry Group in Carrigaline is recruiting a Senior Production Manager to lead production operations and drive a culture of safety, quality, accountability and continuous improvement. This permanent, full-time role reports to the Site Lead and oversees upstream/downstream fermentation, blending, spray drying, and related toll manufacturing activities.

The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on production experience in regulated environments, with proven people leadership and a track record of

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior manufacturing/production leadership role.
• Hands-on management in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience in food, chemical, pharma, or biopharma sectors.
• Track record in continuous improvement and change management.
• Strong HSE and quality management knowledge.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead all production operations, ensuring safe, efficient delivery of targets.
• Drive a high-performance culture focused on continuous improvement and accountability.
• Lead, coach and develop production teams, building capability and succession.
• Deliver operational excellence through Lean, standardisation and cost improvements.
• Monitor production performance and implement actions to improve productivity.
• Lead audits, investigations and corrective actions, complying with safety and quality regulations.
• Support strategic operational and site transformation projects.
• Foster collaboration across functions and Kerry sites to share best practices.

Skills

Senior leadership

People management

Regulated manufacturing

Fermentation experience

Operational excellence

Safety & quality

Job description

About Kerry

Kerry is the world’s leading taste and nutrition partner for the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. Working behind the scenes, every day we partner with customers to solve the world’s most complex food challenges with our range of differentiated ingredients, technologies, and people. We are passionate about what we do and are constantly innovating to create a healthier, more enjoyable, and sustainable food future without compromise. We are driven to be our customers’ most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition and will reach over two billion consumers with sustainable nutrition solutions by 2030.

Our Safety purpose: “we work together in a caring culture where everybody goes home safe every day”. We are committed to providing a safe working environment and ensuring that all safety protocols are strictly followed. Join us in creating a workplace where safety is everyone's responsibility.

About the role

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Production Manager to join the Senior Leadership Team at our production facility in Carrigaline.

This is a key leadership role for the site, with responsibility for leading production operations across areas including upstream and downstream fermentation, powder blending, spray drying, liquid formulation, and the management of toll producers. The successful candidate will report into the Site Lead and play a critical role in supporting the site’s operational performance, people leadership agenda, and ongoing transformation.We are looking for an accomplished manufacturing leader with strong hands-on production experience, excellent people leadership capability, and the ability to drive performance through a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.

This is a permanent, full-time opportunity based in Carrigaline for an ambitious manufacturing professional with the capability to succeed in the role today and the potential to grow further within our organisation.

Key responsibilities

• Lead all production operations, ensuring the safe, efficient and compliant delivery of Safety, Quality, Service, Cost and Sustainability targets.
• Drive a high-performance culture focused on continuous improvement, accountability, employee engagement and operational excellence.
• Lead, coach and develop production teams, building capability, supporting talent development and strengthening succession pipelines.
• Deliver operational excellence through Lean methodologies, process optimisation, standardisation and cost improvement initiatives.
• Monitor production performance, analyse key metrics and implement actions to improve productivity, efficiency and reliability.
• Lead audits, investigations and corrective actions, ensuring compliance with Health, Safety, Quality and regulatory requirements.
• Support the successful delivery of strategic operational and site transformation projects.
• Foster strong collaboration across functions and with other Kerry sites, sharing best practices and driving continuous improvement across the network.

Qualifications and skills

• Proven experience in a senior manufacturing, production or operations leadership role
• Strong people leader with a track record of developing teams and driving performance
• Hands-on production management experience within a regulated manufacturing environment
• Experience in food, chemical, pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, bioscience or similar industries.
• Fermentation experience is desirable; candidates from related biopharma or bioscience sectors will also be considered.
• Demonstrated success in operational excellence, continuous improvement and change management.
• Strong understanding of Health & Safety and quality management principles.
• Analytical, pragmatic and results-oriented, with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

What we offer

Joining our Carrigaline site means becoming part of a growing and strategically important operation within Kerry’s Global Enzyme business.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a close-knit leadership team while benefiting from the scale, resources and career opportunities of a global organisation. You'll play a key role in shaping the future of the site, leading transformation initiatives, developing teams and contributing to projects that have a meaningful impact on the business. This role can offer significant scope for personal and professional growth within Kerry.

We also offer:

• 25 days annual leave
• Perkbox platform offering discounts and offers from major retailers
• Employee assistance programme
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities within a global organisation.