Head of Operations in Harrogate

Lead with Purpose. Making Proper Brews Together. At Taylors of Harrogate, everything is done proper. We’re looking for an inspiring and motivating Operations Leader to take on the role of Head of Operations—a newly created pivotal position leading and coaching a team of over 300 people, helping to shape the future of our operations in line with our long‑term ambitions.

About The Role

Reporting into the Operations Director, you’ll be responsible for the Operational (Engineering and Manufacturing) leadership of Taylors of Harrogate Starbeck Factory, ensuring delivery of “proper brews” through our Operating Model (IWS) with safety first and quality always. Ensuring advancements in our values‑based culture. Through visible, servant leadership, you’ll coach and support your direct and indirect reports, empower others, and drive change through collaboration, continuous improvement, and cross‑functional teamwork. This is a unique opportunity to lead one of Yorkshire and the UK’s most iconic brands through the next chapter of its operational evolution and exiting and ambitious growth agenda.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure legal and regulatory requirements for health and safety and food safety are fulfilled, monitored and improved within operations.
• Provide effective team leadership, clear thinking and direction for Taylors operations, in line with the strategic ambition of the business.
• Through visible, impactful servant leadership, motivate, inspire, coach and lead Operational teams.
• Work with the Operations Director to develop and translate the strategic direction and vision into tangible plans, budgets, targets and actions.
• Ensure plans are in place to reduce operational “losses”, through the TOMTOM (IWS) Operating Model through your role as Leadership Pillar Lead.
• Work effectively with cross‑functional peers, lead the Operational teams to reduce complexity and improve efficiency of operations, with Safety First and Quality Always.
• Challenge the status quo and embed a culture of operational efficiency, CI and process improvement across all areas of operations, through the Operating Model.
• Engage positively and effectively as a cross‑functional peer to enable delivery of operations objectives and those of the whole business.
• Ensure training, learning, development and succession plans are in place to build capacity and capability within your operational areas of responsibility.
• Act as a role model of the Bettys & Taylors Group values and expectations framework.
• Monitor and ensure delivery of KPIs for operations.
• Sponsor and lead projects on behalf of operations and the wider business.

What We’re Looking For

• Knowledge and working experience leading, coaching and motivating large, diverse teams of people across multiple shifts within an FMCG business, across production and engineering disciplines.
• Understanding and working knowledge of Operating Models (ideally using an Integrated Work System), continuous improvement and process improvement techniques.
• Commercial understanding, ability to understand a P&L and operational levers, with the ability to analyse and diagnose data.
• Track record of working as part of and leading a “senior leadership team”, combining operational understanding and strategic thinking.
• Ability to build strong, effective and open relationships with employees at all levels and in other functions, developing high trust and confidence.
• Experience of delivering change projects in an operational environment.
• Clear, impactful and influential communication skills with the ability to coach solutions through others.
• Ability to identify and prioritise business needs and areas of focus.

Why Join Taylors?

At Taylors, we do things a little differently, how we care for our people, care for our sourcing and products all with a passion for progress. You’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact—on our people, our operations, and our future. We offer a supportive environment, competitive benefits, and the chance to be part of a much‑loved Yorkshire Family business.

What We Offer You

As a minimum, all our employees receive free meals, drinks and snacks while at work, a discretionary quarterly profit‑share bonus, holiday allowance with the option to buy and (in some cases) sell additional days, company‑wide employee discounts, access to our health cash plan, wellbeing support, company funded counselling, and enrolment in the company pension. We also offer a range of development opportunities no matter your role and ambitions. We encourage everyone to explore what makes them the best version of themselves, and we do this through external training programmes, apprenticeships and internal 1:1 coaching schemes.

Great People, Great Culture

We are Bettys & Taylors Group. Our family business is home to three iconic Yorkshire brands – Yorkshire Tea, Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate. Together we share a passion for quality, service and doing things properly. We are driven by our purpose and our values, and we believe our people are what set us apart. We welcome applications from all cultures, backgrounds, and experiences and we are committed to offering an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive.

There will be a two‑stage recruitment process for this role, we plan that the first stage will take place in July 2026. The closing date for this vacancy is 23rd June 2026.