Group Manufacturing Director - UK and Ireland

Our client is a leading international food group operating across the Fresh and Added Value meat categories. Operating at significant scale, the business has a portfolio of recognised brands and trusted partnerships across retail, foodservice and export markets. With a network of modern facilities across the UK and Ireland and a workforce of several thousand colleagues, the business has built a reputation for quality, innovation and responsibility. Today, it is investing heavily in automation, digital transformation and modernisation while continuing to deliver safe, affordable, high-quality food to millions of consumers. We are seeking an exceptional leader to join the leadership team as Group Manufacturing Director (UK & Ireland). Key Responsibilities

• Lead a large and diverse manufacturing footprint, aligning operations seamlessly with commercial, supply chain and innovation functions.
• Provide the strategic influence and board-level presence required to drive change across a complex stakeholder landscape.
• Play a key role in M&A integration, ensuring newly acquired businesses are successfully integrated, aligned and optimised within the group structure.
• Deliver major transformation programmes, from digitalisation and automation to new ways of working, to future-proof capabilities and sharpen competitiveness.
• Inspire senior leaders across multiple sites, embedding a high-performance culture that balances accountability with empowerment.
• Shape and lead capital investment projects that strengthen operational resilience and unlock growth opportunities.
• Act as a visible and trusted partner to customers, regulators and the wider market, reinforcing the organisation's reputation as a leader in its field. Required Background We are looking for a proven board-level manufacturing leader who thrives in complexity.
• Experience in integrating acquisitions, rationalising manufacturing footprints and delivering synergies.
• Expertise in leading transformation and cultural change across large, distributed organisations.
• Strong knowledge of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement, with the ability to translate these principles into lasting results.
• The credibility to operate with influence at board level, balancing operational detail with strategic clarity.
• A reputation as an effective people leader, able to inspire, stretch and develop senior teams.
• The resilience and agility to navigate challenges while keeping the long-term vision in sight.