Site Director

Site Director – Food manufacturing

South Wales

A rare opportunity to lead the transformation, growth and future direction of a strategically important food manufacturing operation.

There are very few Site Director opportunities that genuinely offer the chance to shape the future of a business both at operational and Board level; this is one of them.

We are seeking an exceptional manufacturing leader to take responsibility for a profitable, growing food manufacturing operation employing approximately 200 colleagues and supplying major foodservice and Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) customers.

The business has ambitious growth plans, significant capital investment committed, a clear long-term strategy and an opportunity to substantially enhance capability, performance and operational excellence over the coming years.

Reporting directly to the Managing Director and operating as a key member of the senior leadership team (Board), this role combines strategic leadership, operational excellence, organisational development and large-scale transformation.

This is not a maintenance role; this is an opportunity to create lasting impact.

The Business

The site is a well-established food manufacturing operation with a strong reputation, loyal workforce and long-standing customer relationships.

The business has performed strongly and continues to enjoy significant growth opportunities within the QSR and foodservice sectors.

Over the next five years the site is expected to play a pivotal role in delivering the organisation's growth ambitions and will benefit from a substantial multi-million-pound investment programme focused on facilities, equipment, infrastructure and operational capability.

The foundations are strong, the opportunity is even greater.

The Challenge

The successful candidate will inherit a site with significant strengths but also clear opportunities for improvement.

Whilst commercial performance remains strong, the business recognises the need to further strengthen:

• Leadership capability.

• Accountability and ownership.

• Pace of decision making.

• Operational discipline.

• Continuous improvement culture.

• Engineering effectiveness.

• Cross-functional collaboration.

• Adoption of digital operational excellence tools.

• Future succession capability.

The site requires a leader who can simultaneously deliver today's operational requirements whilst building the capability required for tomorrow's growth.

This is a role for someone who enjoys creating clarity, structure and momentum within complex manufacturing environments.

The Opportunity

Over the coming years you will:

Lead a Significant Growth Agenda

• Support substantial revenue growth.

• Expand operational capability.

• Increase organisational capacity.

• Ensure the site is equipped to support future customer demand.

Deliver Major Investment Programmes

• Play a key leadership role in a significant capital investment programme.

• Support refurbishment and modernisation projects.

• Work closely with engineering, projects and supply chain teams.

• Ensure operational continuity throughout periods of change.

Build a High-Performing Leadership Team

• Develop capability across the site leadership team.

• Strengthen accountability and ownership.

• Create succession plans for key roles.

• Raise expectations and standards throughout the operation.

Drive Operational Excellence

• Improve performance management disciplines.

• Increase effectiveness of operational review processes.

• Enhance utilisation of digital factory systems and tools.

• Embed continuous improvement methodologies.

• Improve productivity, engagement and operational performance.

Shape Culture

• Create greater pace and energy.

• Foster collaboration across functions.

• Build confidence and capability.

• Develop a culture where individuals take ownership and make decisions.

• Lead through influence, visibility and credibility.

What Success Will Look Like

Within your first 12–24 months you will have:

• Established yourself as a trusted and respected leader.

• Created a clear vision for the site.

• Improved leadership capability.

• Increased accountability at all levels.

• Enhanced operational discipline and standards.

• Driven meaningful progress against operational excellence objectives.

• Supported key investment projects.

• Positioned the site for sustainable future growth.

About You

You are an accomplished manufacturing leader with a proven track record of delivering results through people.

You understand that transformation is not achieved through process alone, it is achieved through leadership.

You are likely to bring:

• Degree educated or equivalent

• Significant food manufacturing experience.

• Site Director, Site General Manager, Operations Director or equivalent leadership experience.

• Experience leading complex manufacturing operations.

• Strong engineering and operational understanding.

• Experience delivering change and transformation.

• A track record of improving standards and performance.

• Experience developing leadership teams.

• Strong stakeholder management skills.

• Experience operating within matrix structures.

• Customer-facing credibility.

• Commercial awareness and business acumen.

• Most importantly, you possess the leadership presence, resilience and emotional intelligence required to lead a business through significant growth and change.

Particularly Relevant Experience Could Include

• Food manufacturing.

• Chilled, ambient or ingredients manufacturing.

• Operational Excellence programmes.

• Lean manufacturing environments.

• Continuous Improvement leadership.

• Redzone or equivalent connected workforce platforms.

• Major capital investment programmes.

• Culture change initiatives.

Leadership Style Required

This role requires a leader who can:

• Set high standards.

• Hold people accountable.

• Develop capability.

• Build trust.

• Influence stakeholders.

• Challenge constructively.

• Lead visible change.

• Bring people with them on the journey.

This is not a command-and-control environment.

Success will come through consistency, credibility, coaching and leadership.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

For the right individual, this role offers:

• Significant strategic influence.

• Direct exposure to senior leadership and board-level decision making.

• The opportunity to lead a major transformation agenda.

• Responsibility for a strategically important manufacturing operation.

• Substantial investment backing.

• Long-term career potential.

• The opportunity to create a lasting legacy.

Few Site Director roles offer this combination of growth, investment, challenge and opportunity.

Confidential enquiries are welcomed and will be handled with complete discretion