Head Of Site Operations

Role Summary

Kilkenny Cheese is a joint venture between Tirlan and Dutch family business Royal A-ware, a 130-year-old company with strong positions in EU and global markets. The facility has started up in 2024 as a greenfield site at Belview, Co Kilkenny.

Rooted in our rich heritage of family farming and embedded in our communities, Tirlan has evolved to bring the passion of our farmers and their high-quality ingredients to the international marketplace. Using modern-day technology and applying the best processes to our milk pool of three billion litres, we now export innovative products and tailored ingredients solutions to be enjoyed in more than 100 countries.

Royal A-ware is a traditional Dutch family business with a passion for food and with a strong entrepreneurial attitude. Demand-led, we offer our clients tailored products and services. In recent years investments have been made in the development and management of own supply chains resulting in independence, efficiency, and flexibility. We are specialized in producing, ripening, cutting, and packaging cheese, and also produce and package cream and fresh dairy products.

Based in Belview in South Kilkenny the role reports to the Managing Director of Kilkenny Cheese Limited and will be a member of the Executive team of Kilkenny Cheese Limited with the Head of Finance and the HR Business Partner. The Head of Site Operations will be responsible for the supervision of plant operations and management of Senior Leadership Team including contact with external stakeholders such as government bodies.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the Kilkenny Cheese Site Leadership Team in the delivery of Site Performance across Health and Safety, Quality, Customer, Throughput, and People related KPIs.
• Working in conjunction with the Head of Finance, responsible for the financial reporting and Financial KPI
• Ensuring compliance with the IEL/EPA license for Kilkenny Cheese, In conjunction with EHS department
• Continuously drive improvements in the Site’s Safety and Quality Standards & Management Systems while acting as champion and role model for both.
• Collaborate with the Royal Aware and Tirlan Commercial team in the planning and implementation of Customer requirements in line with overall Site KPIs
• Drive NPD to meet business objectives
• As Site Lead take a leadership role in delivering on Sustainability goals and ensuring compliance across all Site related activities.
• Take a leadership role in the adoption and implementation of LEAN methodology and practice through Business Excellence system
• Maximise the financial performance of the Site through development and implementation of cost control and site optimisation programmes.
• Take a leadership role in management of stakeholders to optimise service delivery to the site in line with customer and overall KPI requirements
• Continuously develop and implement performance measures and management systems across the site which utilise data for driving improvements in core KPIs to ensure the business performs at world class manufacturing standards
• Take a leadership role in the sites commitment to making diversity and inclusion part of how we work together.
• Create and drive a culture on site which maximises employee engagement levels through our ways of working.
• Implement a governance and communications model that ensures the site operates effectively and that all employees have access to the information they need to be effective in their job
• Develop and execute Site Strategy that aligns Site development with overall Business requirements.
• Actively lead and promote a culture of Safety, Quality, Compliance, Excellence and Continuous Improvement

Key Requirements:

• A third level qualification in a Science, Food, Engineering, Manufacturing or related discipline
• Minimum of 8 years Management experience leading multidisciplinary teams in a Food, Pharmaceutical or Beverage manufacturing business or facility
• Results driven; customer focused with high performance capability in a fast moving challenging business environment
• Excellent leadership and communication skills to motivate a multi-disciplinary team and the ability to develop self, employees and function, creating a strong culture of employee engagement
• Strategic vision & execution, with associated business acumen
• Proven commercial acumen to meet strategic operational imperatives
• Proven track record of continuous improvement within a lean manufacturing environment
• Proven relationship building & management experience, including effective stakeholder management expertise.
• High-level multi-tasking ability and experience of delivering large scale projects to demanding targets
• Excellent analytical skills and problem solving skills
• Experience of the food industry especially dairy is desirable
• Future focused and experience of identifying opportunities in growth and completing projects to conclusion.
• Practical and grounded in their approach to problem solving

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion We believe in the value of difference. We know that different perspectives, life experience and backgrounds can drive innovation and deliver growth.

We welcome people from all walks of life without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, or disability status. 

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