The Operations Manager is responsible for the safe, compliant, and efficient execution of all day-to-day manufacturing activities at the Hereford site. This includes liquid flavour production, powder blending, and botanical extraction operations.
The role ensures delivery of production plans to the required standards of safety, quality, cost, and service, while driving continuous improvement and operational excellence across the site.
Main Responsibilities:
Operational Leadership
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Lead all manufacturing operations across liquids, powders, and extraction processes
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Deliver the production plan in full, on time, and in line with customer and business requirements
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Ensure effective utilisation of labour, materials, and equipment
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Drive short-interval control and daily performance management
Health, Safety & Compliance
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Champion a strong safety culture aligned to ADM standards
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Ensure full compliance with HSE legislation, food safety standards, and internal policies
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Lead incident investigations and ensure robust corrective actions
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Maintain audit readiness (BRC, customer, internal audits)
Quality & Food Safety
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Ensure adherence to GMP, HACCP, and quality systems
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Work closely with Quality to maintain high product integrity across all processes
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Lead right-first-time initiatives and reduce deviations and waste
People Leadership
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Lead, coach, and develop production teams and frontline leaders
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Build a high-performance culture with clear accountability and engagement
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Support succession planning and capability development
Performance & Continuous Improvement
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Own site manufacturing KPIs (Safety, Quality, Service, Cost)
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Drive CI initiatives using Lean / Six Sigma principles
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Lead root cause problem solving and waste reduction activities
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Improve OEE, yield, and labour productivity
Cross-Functional Collaboration
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Work closely with Planning, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain
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Ensure alignment between production capability and customer demand · Support new product introductions and process changes
Skills & Abilities:
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Strong operational leadership in a multi-process environment
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Proven track record in driving performance improvement
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Deep understanding of HSE, GMP, and food safety standards
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Ability to manage large teams in a fast-paced environment
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Visible, hands-on leadership style
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Data-driven decision making
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Strong accountability and pace
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Ability to simplify complexity and drive execution
Education & Experience:
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Significant experience in food, flavour, or FMCG manufacturing
