Head of Operations

Location: East-Midlands

Reporting to: CEO

The Opportunity

Our client is looking to welcome an experienced Head of Operations to take overall responsibility for the operational performance of a fast-growing food manufacturing business.

Reporting directly to the CEO and operating as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team this role will have end-to-end accountability across production warehousing inventory dispatch and logistics.

This is a pivotal role for an operational leader who can bring the structure capability commercial focus and operational discipline required to support significant growth.

The successful candidate will ideally have a proven track record of scaling or transforming operations within a fast-paced entrepreneurial SME environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across production warehousing inventory dispatch and logistics.
• Develop and implement the operational strategy required to support rapid and sustainable business growth.
• Build robust capacity plans covering labour shifts equipment production capability storage and transport.
• Ensure operational performance consistently meets the required standards for safety quality service efficiency waste and cost.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across the end-to-end operation.
• Establish clear performance measures KPIs and accountability across operational teams.
• Develop and strengthen the management team creating a high-performing culture with clear ownership and responsibility.
• Work closely with the CEO and wider SLT on commercial financial and strategic decisions.
• Support major customer launches operational change programmes and capital investment projects.
• Ensure the operation is appropriately structured resourced and equipped to support future growth.
• Maintain a strong presence on the factory floor providing hands-on leadership while operating effectively at strategic and board-level discussions.
• Identify operational risks and opportunities proactively developing practical solutions before issues become critical.

Essential Experience & Capabilities

The successful candidate will have:

• Senior leadership experience within food manufacturing.
• Proven accountability extending beyond production into warehousing inventory stock control dispatch and logistics.
• Strong experience of capacity planning across labour shifts equipment storage and transport.
• A demonstrable track record of successfully scaling transforming or significantly improving an operation.
• Strong operational control across health & safety quality customer service labour efficiency waste and cost.
• Good commercial and financial understanding with the ability to understand how operational decisions impact profitability and business performance.
• Strong people leadership skills with a track record of developing managers and building capable accountable teams.
• The credibility and practical understanding to lead effectively from the factory floor combined with the strategic capability to operate as a member of the SLT.

The Ideal Candidate

You are likely to be someone who:

• Has worked within a growing entrepreneurial SME ideally in a high-paced food manufacturing environment.
• Has experience supporting significant customer launches business growth and/or major capital investment.
• Is data-led proactive and solutions-focused using information to drive better operational decisions.
• Brings structure and discipline without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Builds strong management capability rather than relying on constant firefighting.
• Is commercially minded and understands the balance between service growth quality people and profitability.
• Is comfortable working at both a strategic level and getting directly involved in operational challenges when required.
• Has the energy resilience and leadership style needed to take an operation through a significant period of growth and change.