Widnes Site Operations Manager

The Role

As a result of internal restructure, we have a requirement for a Site Operations Manager for our Widnes Plant, near Liverpool. The site employs approximately 40 employees.

The Site Operations Manager will manage and oversee all Production, Quality, Warehousing, Health Safety & Environmental and Engineering functions on site, liaising closely with the relevant departments in Belfast and working with guidance and support from the Project & CI Manager who will be based primarily at the Widnes site.

The successful candidate will be self-motivated, results-driven person with a professional manner.

The Candidate:

Preferably a Graduate in Engineering (manufacturing, electrical or mechanical) or business-related discipline or experience at an equivalent level, you will have a proven track record of delivering in a senior manufacturing operation (though not necessarily in the animal feeds sector).

You will have the experience, gravitas and intellectual capacity to bring clear strategic thinking to key operational, financial, IT related and innovation/change decisions. You will possess strong leadership skills and have excellent interpersonal skills enabling you to influence senior executives, customers and staff at the shop-floor level.

You will also be required to demonstrate a successful track record of effective people management and leading and delivering significant change in a competitive and complex business environment.

Key duties:

Reporting to the Head of Operations you will be responsible for the following:

• Production scheduling and planning
• Ensuring on time delivery to customers
• Overseeing engineering management of planned maintenance and breakdown repair
• Development and Capital Expenditure project management
• Supporting IT project management
• Budget planning and financial management and reporting
• KPI setting for Site, Team and Individuals
• Creating a Lean and Continuous Improvement culture
• Ensuring H&S, quality, environmental standards and regulatory compliance are maintained as required
• People Management including recruitment, induction and training, performance management
• Creating a positive, supportive work environment

Essential Criteria:

• Third level education in an engineering, manufacturing, food technology or business related degree, or extensive experience at a management level
• Knowledge of production and operations management with proven track record of delivery within a manufacturing role
• A proven track record of successfully leading and delivering improvements
• Experience in Project Management or project delivery
• Strong IT skills
• Strong commercial acumen
• Experience of budget planning and cost management
• Demonstrable experience of good people management and leadership
• Analytical thinking skills; Comfortable working with data, tolerant of situations of complexity where not all data is available; conversant with statistical processes
• Excellent communication skills with an ability to influence stakeholders
• Ability to work in a demanding and challenging environment
• Flexible and adaptable approach in terms of role and work hours
• Ability to travel regularly to group sites in UK and Europe and beyond

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience in Navision or other ERP systems
• PRINCE 2 qualified, or other project management qualification
• Animal Welfare, HACCP, NEBOSH or IOSH qualifications
• Lean, 6 sigma or Kaizen trained
• Experience working in a fast paced, multi-site environment

Salary and Benefits:

• Competitive salary dependent upon skills and experience
• Company matched pension scheme
• The role is based in Widnes with occasional travel to group sites as required.

The Devenish Group is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.