Job Title: Operations Director

Location: Northampton

Salary: Competitive salary

Role: Permanent – Full-time

Are you a visionary leader with a passion for operational excellence and team development? We’re seeking an experienced Operations Director to join a growing, values led food manufacturing business. This is a pivotal role at the heart of the senior leadership team, offering the chance to drive performance, culture, and continuous improvement across a modern production site.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead & Inspire: Build and develop high-performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability, autonomy, and engagement
• Drive Operational Excellence: Oversee all aspects of site operations, ensuring products are processed efficiently, safely, and to the highest quality standards
• Champion Safety & Compliance: Promote a positive health & safety culture and ensure full compliance with food safety, technical, and supply chain regulations
• Strategic Planning: Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with business objectives, translating vision into clear, actionable plans
• Continuous Improvement: Embed a culture of continuous improvement, driving operational enhancements to improve margins, reduce costs, and boost performance
• Performance Management: Hold department leaders accountable, coach and develop managers, and ensure robust succession planning and talent development
• Customer Focus: Ensure outstanding customer service and product quality are at the heart of every process
• Project Leadership: Manage scalable CAPEX projects, including new builds, plant commissioning, and process enhancements

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience in a senior operations leadership role within food manufacturing or FMCG
• Track record of building and developing high-performing teams and cultures.
• Strong knowledge of health & safety, production, engineering, technical, and supply chain compliance
• Experience in developing and delivering operational strategies and improvement plans
• Ability to lead change, inspire teams, and drive results in a fast-paced environment
• Experience with plant commissioning or new build projects is highly desirable
• Commercially astute, with experience managing budgets and delivering on KPIs
• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills

Why Join?

• Be part of a forward-thinking, sustainable business with quality at its core
• Play a key role in shaping the future of a growing food manufacturing site
• Work with a passionate, values-driven leadership team
• Competitive salary and benefits package

Ready to lead, inspire, and make a real impact in food manufacturing? Apply now to take your career to the next level as the next Operations Director of this industry leading business.

About us:

This Operations Director role is handled by McCarthy Recruitment, an award-winning multi-sector recruiter. We are committed to unlocking your full potential and finding your perfect role.

Start your journey today. Apply now or find us online:

• Web: McCarthy Recruitment
• LinkedIn: McCarthy Recruitment
• Facebook: McCarthyRecruitment
• Instagram: McCarthyrecruitment

The Legal Bit:

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. By applying for this role, you are explicitly consenting for McCarthy Recruitment to hold and process your data in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations. And your details will be added to our holding database. We process certain personal information about you for our legitimate business interests to identify and contact suitable candidates about positions that may be relevant to them. Details are set out in our privacy policy at privacy. If you wish to exercise your right to access, erase or restrict the processing of your data please contact us at the office and we will respond to your query.