Operations Director

Job Title:                    Operations Director

Reports to:                 Head of Operations, Europe (Ingredients)

Location:                    Ornua Ingredients - Ledbury

Hours:                        37.5 Hours Per Week (Monday to Friday)

Salary:                        Generous salary and benefits package on offer with this role

Benefits:                     Matched pension, company discounted products, EAP, free on-ste parking, paid events, wellness insentives and  much more. 

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Ornua (meaning “new gold”) is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products, proudly bringing the unique taste of Irish dairy to the world for over 55 years.

Are you an Manager of an Operations fuction looking for the challenge of taking a mission driven organisation to its next level of success? Are you looking for an opportunity where you can truly make an impact?

Ornua is actively seeking an Operations Director to join our Senior Management Team as we continue our growth trajectory.

Why Ornua?

• Ornua operates from 10 business units worldwide, including 16 production facilities, and has sales and marketing teams working in-market across all four corners of the globe.
• The Group is structured across two divisions: Ornua Foods and Ornua Ingredients.
• Our co-operative ethos lies at the heart of how we do business as a purpose and values-led organisation, creating value for Irish dairy farming families.
• Our Values lie at the core of everything we do. Our five values encourage us to Seek and Embrace New Ideas, Make It Happen, Be Our True Selves, Show You Care, and Achieve Great Things Together.
• We invest in our people and foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Career Progression including Global Mobility opportunities.
• Comprehensive Benefits with regional specific offerings.

Why This Role Is Valuable:

Responsible for leading overall performance of the Ledbury site, to include health and safety, manufacturing, quality, engineering and continuous improvement. Accountable for operational delivery and meeting the needs of our customers. The role will involve creating, delivering and championing continuous improvement and quality as well as implementing a culture of operational excellence.

What You Bring to The Role:

• Responsible for the creation and delivery of the site operational strategy and vision.
• Set strategic goals for operational performance and create a clear and well communicated plan to deliver these.
• Coach and lead to enable our people to be the best that they can be. Partner with HR to ensure that meaningful development plans are in place for everyone, contributing to a clear succession and talent pipeline.
• Promote a culture of diversity, inclusiveness, teamwork and cooperation across the organisation by allowing our Ornua values to thrive.
• Has ultimate responsibility for the development, implementation, continual review and improvement of the Health and Safety Management system.
• Champion high quality standards and a ‘Right First Time’ culture across the business.
• Drive continuous improvement strategy, delivery and culture.
• The effective planning and delivery of site performance targets to meet current and future customer requirements in terms of safety, quality, volumes and deadlines.
• Responsible for maintaining and reviewing the site BCP and property risk management.
• Effective organisation of operational activities and investments within agreed plans and budgets.
• Ensure all relevant customer and BRC audits are passed first time and grades are maintained or improved with relevant action plans in place.
• Input into the S&OP process across the business to drive efficiency and improve service levels.
• Collaboration with New Product Development (NPD) and ensure smooth execution of product launches.

Key Requirements & Competencies

Essential

• Proven ability to drive and sustain site performance, seeking root cause to business problems and design and deliver practical solutions to resolve.
• Bring a sense of determination and influence, demonstrating an active approach and a forward momentum to achieve business goals and objectives.
• Drive change through personal actions, inspiring and coaching others to do the same.
• Remain rational when dealing with others, work within organisational requirements, be systematic and factual when dealing with colleagues and manage conflict in a way that allows the achievement of a suitable outcome.
• A consistent role model of the Ornua values and behaviours
• Demonstrate both empathy and patience when appropriate.
• 5+ years of relevant operations management experience, together with significant commercial and technical exposure.

• Experience of successfully leading within an operational environment.
• Possess strong leadership, communication, planning, people leadership, coaching and organisation skills.
• Experience of budgetary processes, cost centre ownership and cost control.
• Demonstrate high levels of commercial acumen and a strong desire to understand and deliver to customer requirements.
• Demonstrate a high degree of personal integrity and professionalism.
• Evidence of working collaboratively within complex environments, prioritising team wins over personal gains.

Desirable

• Exposure to and knowledge of Operational Excellence techniques would be a distinct advantage.

Personal

• A natural leader of people
• The ability to positively contribute to strategic business decision-making as part of a senior management team.
• Ability to thrive on ambiguity/change and be able to use a flexible approach to deliver solutions in challenging situations.
• Excellent communicator with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels of the business, with an established and wide network of contacts
• Curious, inspirational and creative

Key competencies

• WORKING TOGETHER: Creates and reinforces a co-operative culture within the organisation and sets up external strategic alliances/partnerships.
• COMMUNICATIVE: Communicates in an inspirational way.
• RIGOUR: As a functional subject matter expert or strategic lead, applies effective professional skill, analysis, decision making, planning and reviewing.
• OWNERSHIP: Drives results, profitability, and sustainable growth.

Ornua has ambitious growth plans and we’re building a team to help enable and accelerate that growth. We are looking for people who share our values, are curious, forward-looking, take ownership and work together to build a future for themselves and Ornua.

To learn more, please visit Ornua at www.ornua.com

We welcome applications regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.