D R Newitt Recruitment
Head of Operations
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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.
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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.
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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.
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