Operations Director

Top End jobs; Norwich; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK food business in Norwich is seeking an experienced Operations Director to lead its operational strategy and ensure exceptional operational performance across multiple sites. You will be part of the Board, driving growth and operational excellence while ensuring best practices are implemented. Ideal candidates will have substantial experience in food manufacturing or complex processing industries, with strong financial oversight skills and a passion for developing people and processes. The role offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits.

Benefits

Performance Bonus

Comprehensive Benefits

Highly Competitive Salary

Qualifications

• Proven board-level presence in relevant industries.
• Demonstrable passion for operational excellence.
• Working knowledge of ISO standards 9001/14001/45001/50001.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational portfolio and drive strategic growth.
• Represent Operations on the Board.
• Create and deliver Operations Long Term Growth plan.

Skills

Operational excellence

Visionary leadership

Change management

Continuous improvement methodologies

Financial oversight

Education

Experience in food manufacturing or complex processing

Tools

OEE methodologies

Kaizen

Root Cause Analysis

Job description

Operations Director

30 Days Old

Executive Search: Operations Director – Board Level – Leading UK Food
Location: Norfolk
Executive Package: Highly Competitive Salary, Performance Bonus, and Comprehensive Benefits

This is an exceptional opportunity to join the Executive Team and Board of Directors of a highly respected, market‑leading UK food business. We are seeking a visionary and results‑oriented Operations Director to lead the entire operational portfolio and drive strategic long‑term growth.

Reporting directly to the Managing Director, the Operations Director will represent Operations on the Board and be accountable for the safety, performance, and strategic direction of all operational aspects of the business. The core mandate includes:

• Organising and overseeing the Safety & Performance of Operations.
• Creating and delivering the Operations Long Term Growth plan.
• Ensuring the business meets current and future Commercial ambitions.
• Serving as the Ambassador for Best Available Technology, ensuring both business and people capabilities are future‑proofed.

Scope of Accountability

• Three manufacturing and factory operational sites.
• Health, Safety, Environment (HSE), and Transport.
• Engineering, Maintenance, Capital Projects, Site Facilities, Utilities, and Security.

Core Strategic Focus Areas

Strategic Leadership & People Development

• Be an ambassador for Company Values, ensuring they are lived daily and embedded throughout Operations.
• Align and lead the Operational team to be engaged and high performing, delivering key KPIs that flow to bottom line results.
• Ensure operational activities are suitably resourced, and that staff have the required competencies and are coached, mentored, and developed.
• Develop, review, and deliver positive KPI results across Productivity, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Safety, Environmental, and People development.

Manufacturing Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Promote manufacturing best practice and performance standards, staying updated with industry trends.
• Define site capabilities using a live capacity model based on OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) and TEEP (Total Effective Equipment Performance).
• Identify improvement areas, research new technology, and maintain a necessary Capex and Opex pipeline of improvements.
• Drive continuous improvement through expertise in methodologies including OEE, TEEP, Root Cause Analysis, Process Mapping, De‑Bottlenecking, SPC, 5S, Kaizen, and Hoshin Kanri.

Financial & Capital Oversight

• Identify and implement cost efficiencies in conjunction with the Finance Director.
• Set and deliver the Business Unit budget in accordance with the business strategy.
• Develop requirements for Capital funding for asset replacement, production efficiency improvement, new product development, and safety/environmental compliance.

The Ideal Candidate

You are a highly experienced Operations Director (or equivalent) with proven board‑level presence, ideally gained within the food manufacturing, high‑care, or complex processing industries. You must have a demonstrable passion for operational excellence and a working knowledge of appropriate ISO standards (9001/14001/45001/50001). You thrive on leading change and fostering positive engagement across all functions and stakeholders.

Apply Today

For a confidential discussion about this critical Board position and to receive the full candidate pack, please submit your CV and covering letter, detailing your experience in relation to the key accountabilities, to Scott Woodrow @ Pure Executive Apply.

Location: Lakenham
Salary: £100,000 - £120,000 /annum
Superb benefits package
Job Type: FullTime
Category: Manufacturing/Surveying