Head of Production – Food Manufacturing
Description
We are hiring on behalf of our client, a well-established food manufacturer, who are seeking a Head of Production to lead day-to-day operations at their site in Co. Donegal.
Reporting to the Site General Manager, the Head of Production will own operational delivery across safety, quality, service, cost and output. A big part of the role is building a strong performance and people development culture across the production team. You’ll lead the supervisory team, drive Operational Excellence and OEE performance, and take ownership of Asset Care in partnership with Engineering.
This is an excellent opportunity for a proven production leader to step into a senior site role with real influence over how the factory runs and develops.
Top 3 Things to Know About this Job
Senior Site Leadership Role – Full ownership of day-to-day production, reporting directly to the Site General Manager
Operational Excellence Focus – Drive OEE, standard work, tiered performance management and continuous improvement
People Development at the Core – Build a capable, accountable production leadership team with real succession depth
The Role
Lead all day-to-day production operations to deliver safety, quality, service, cost and output targets
Provide strong leadership to Production Supervisors, the Engineering Supervisor and the Stock Controller, setting clear expectations and driving accountability
Own site production performance, including plan attainment, labour efficiency, waste, downtime, yield and schedule adherence
Drive a culture of safety and food quality compliance across all production activity
Embed Operational Excellence through standard work, tiered performance management, problem solving and continuous improvement routines
Own and improve OEE through disciplined performance management, root cause analysis and loss elimination
Lead Asset Care execution within production, including basic equipment condition, autonomous maintenance and reliability improvement
Coach and develop supervisors and frontline leaders, building skills matrices, development plans and succession depth
Make sure labour, skills and shift structures are aligned to operational demand
Support the handover and embedding of new products, new equipment and process changes into routine production
Lead daily, weekly and monthly performance reviews with clear action ownership
Work closely with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Planning, Technical, HR and Finance, as well as the wider Site Leadership Team
The Person
Proven senior production leadership experience in a food, FMCG or similarly regulated manufacturing environment
A strong track record of leading and developing supervisors and frontline teams
Hands-on experience driving OEE, labour efficiency and waste reduction
Solid grounding in Lean, Operational Excellence or continuous improvement methodologies
Experience of Asset Care, TPM or autonomous maintenance working alongside Engineering
Strong understanding of food safety, quality and compliance standards
A visible, accountable leader who builds culture and gets buy-in on the shop floor
Confident working cross-functionally and influencing at site leadership level
The Reward
Competitive salary and benefits package
Senior role with genuine influence on site performance and culture
The opportunity to build and shape your own production leadership team
Long-term career development within an established manufacturing business
Next steps
For further information, and to apply for this Head of Production job, please contact Conor O’Hagan
Visit our website for a full list of Engineering & Manufacturing opportunities.
Hunter Savage is a specialist recruitment consultancy with deep expertise across Engineering & Manufacturing. We partner with leading organisations across Northern Ireland, Ireland and the wider UK, helping professionals secure roles that offer genuine long-term progression. We take a consultative, relationship-led approach, ensuring you’re not just moving roles, but making the right career decision.
We reserve the right to heighten shortlisting criteria based on response.
Skills:Production management operations FMCG Food production lean
Benefits:+ Benefits
WHJS1_NI
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