Production Director – Food Manufacturing

Artemis Human Capital; Tyrone (Blair County); On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in food manufacturing is on the lookout for a strategic and hands-on Production Director. This pivotal role involves leading the production function, ensuring operational excellence, and driving a culture of continuous improvement. You will oversee daily production activities, manage teams, and collaborate with various departments to enhance efficiency and maintain high standards. This is a fantastic opportunity to shape the future of production in a respected family business committed to innovation and quality. If you're ready for your next challenge in a dynamic environment, this role is for you.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in food manufacturing, ideally in chilled or ambient products.
• Strong working knowledge of food safety, compliance, and quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of production operations, ensuring efficiency and quality.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams for smooth production planning.

Skills

Leadership in food manufacturing

Food safety knowledge

Problem-solving skills

Decision-making skills

Budget management

Team development

Process improvement

Automation implementation

Tools

LEAN

HACCP

Job description

Production Director – Food Manufacturing – Co Tyrone £ Competitive + Benefits

McColgan’s is a long-established, family-owned food manufacturer based in Strabane, with a proud reputation for producing high-quality savoury pastry products for major UK retailers and foodservice companies. With decades of heritage, a commitment to innovation, and significant investment in automation and production capability, McColgan’s continues to grow as a trusted partner to the retail sector and a wide range of catering and hospitality customers.

They are now seeking a strategic and hands-on Production Director to lead all aspects of the company’s production operations. This is a critical leadership role within a business focused on operational excellence, continuous improvement, and ambitious growth.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Managing Director, this is a senior leadership position with responsibility for the full production function—including packing, despatch, and hygiene—through a team of experienced managers. You will play a key role in shaping and delivering production strategy, ensuring operational excellence, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement across the site.

You will oversee all daily production activity, driving efficiency, quality, and food safety across the operation. A key focus of the role will be to lead and develop your teams, ensuring strong performance, high standards, and a culture of accountability. Working cross-functionally, you will collaborate with supply chain, quality, procurement, and maintenance teams to ensure smooth production planning and raw material availability.

Cost control, resource planning, and the delivery of KPIs will form a central part of the role, alongside identifying opportunities for process improvement, automation, and waste reduction. Communicating effectively with stakeholders, you’ll ensure all operations meet compliance standards such as HACCP and GMP, while also preparing the business for customer audits and supporting its growth through innovation and investment.

The Person

Proven leadership experience in food manufacturing, ideally in chilled or ambient products.

Strong working knowledge of food safety, compliance, and quality standards.

Excellent leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

Experience delivering improvements in production efficiency, automation, and cost control.

Ability to manage budgets and allocate resources effectively.

Hands-on and collaborative, with a clear focus on team development and operational excellence.

Familiarity with LEAN, HACCP, and modern production technologies.

Demonstrated ability to implement automating technologies to increase efficiency.

The Opportunity

This is a key leadership role in a well-respected and ambitious family business with a clear strategy for growth. You’ll have the opportunity to shape the future of the production function, drive improvements across operations, and be part of a senior team that values innovation, quality, and continuous development.

If you’re an experienced production leader looking for your next challenge in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment, get in touch with Sarah McGimpsey for a confidential conversation.