At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operations at a fast-paced cereal manufacturing site, driving performance and innovation.
- Company: Join Sincereal UK, a dynamic player in the cereal private label market.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holiday, car allowance, and private medical insurance.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team that values fairness, respect, and equality.
- Why this job: Shape operational strategy and inspire teams to achieve exceptional results.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in manufacturing, with expertise in continuous improvement methodologies.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
About the Role
Employer: Sincereal UK
Location: Bromborough
Salary: Competitive (depending on experience)
Benefits:
- 26 days holiday plus bank holidays
- 7.5% matched contributory Pension Scheme
- Generous car allowance
- Private medical insurance
- Loyalty holiday bonus entitlement
- Discretionary annual bonus
Opportunity
We have an exciting opportunity for a Head of Operations to join our Northwest based Sincereal Team at Bromborough Wirral. This is a critical leadership opportunity to shape and deliver the operational strategy for a fast‐paced cereal manufacturing site. Reporting to the Operations Director, the Head of Operations will take full ownership of site performance—balancing safety, quality, service, cost, and sustainability.
Leading a team of four direct reports and an indirect workforce of around 100 colleagues, you'll drive operational excellence across manufacturing, engineering systems, and continuous improvement. This role also plays a key part in supporting innovation—ensuring new product development and process commissioning are delivered seamlessly from concept to production. You'll be at the forefront of building a high‐performing, future‐ready operation—leveraging automation, data, and best‐in‐class manufacturing practices to deliver outstanding results.
A Bit About Us
Sincereal Group is a dynamic and growing company providing private label offers to customers in Europe. With locations in the UK and France, our factories complement each other enabling us to provide a wide range of products to our customers. Born from a transition from Cereal Partners Worldwide we stand on strong foundations whilst looking ahead with fresh energy and a renewed sense of purpose. We believe in the value of local grains, responsible production and the simple joy of creating food that people trust. Produced with care, integrity and a deep respect for the land and communities around us. This is a great opportunity to contribute to a new independent company that is a major, sustainable and competitive player in the growing cereal private label market.
Role Purpose
As Head of Operations, you'll take full ownership of site performance—leading from the front to deliver exceptional results across safety, quality, cost, and service. This is a high‐impact leadership role where you'll shape the operational strategy, inspire teams, and drive continuous improvement across a complex manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Delivering outstanding operational performance: Taking charge of the site's operational plan, ensuring production targets are consistently achieved while maintaining the highest standards of safety, food safety, and regulatory compliance.
- Driving a culture of operational excellence: Championing Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement to boost productivity, reduce waste, and maximise efficiency—using data and insight to continuously elevate performance.
- Leading and empowering high‐performing teams: Building, developing, and inspiring a strong leadership team and wider workforce—creating a culture of accountability, engagement, and collaboration where people thrive and succeed.
- Optimising manufacturing and engineering capability: Ensuring the reliability and performance of all processes and assets while embracing automation, digitalisation, and smarter ways of working to future‐prove operations.
- Enabling innovation and business growth: Playing a key role in bringing new products to life—leading operational readiness, commissioning new processes, and working cross‐functionally to deliver innovation at pace.
- Owning performance, governance, and sustainability: Delivering against key KPIs, managing budgets effectively, identifying efficiency opportunities, and driving meaningful sustainability improvements across the operation.
What You'll Need
We're looking for a strategic and hands‐on operational leader who can inspire teams and deliver measurable results in a complex manufacturing environment.
Required Qualifications:
- Proven leadership experience in a regulated manufacturing setting (ideally food or FMCG)
- A strong track record of delivering operational performance and improvement
- Experience leading large, multi‐level teams in a fast‐paced production environment
- Expertise in continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, TPM)
- Experience in process commissioning and new product introduction
- Strong knowledge of manufacturing systems, automation, and engineering processes
- A solid understanding of compliance frameworks (e.g. ISO, BRC standards)
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with digital manufacturing systems and ERP platforms
- Safety qualifications (e.g. IOSH) and problem‐solving methodologies
Working Conditions
This role operates in a food manufacturing environment with regular time on the factory floor and exposure to noise, dust (grain), moving machinery, temperature variation, and manual handling activities. Flexibility is required to support shift teams, critical incidents, shutdowns, trials, and business needs.
Right to work in the UK
In accordance with Home Office guidance successful candidates will be required to evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. We have assessed this role and do not consider that we would be able to sponsor a successful candidate under the Skilled Worker route as the role does not meet the relevant Home Office criteria; the successful candidate therefore must be able to demonstrate their own right to work during the recruitment process without Sincereal sponsorship.
Equal Opportunities
We work together as one team. Everyone is welcome here, and we treat each other with fairness, respect, and equality.
Head of Operations employer: Cereal Partners Worldwide (Nestlé & General Mills)
Sincereal UK is an exceptional employer located in Bromborough, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and operational excellence in the cereal manufacturing sector. With a strong commitment to employee growth, the company provides generous benefits including a competitive salary, matched pension scheme, private medical insurance, and opportunities for continuous improvement and leadership development. Join a collaborative team that values local grains and sustainable practices, where your contributions will directly impact the future of food production.
Contact Details:
Cereal Partners Worldwide (Nestlé & General Mills) Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Operations
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with yours. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or use online platforms to refine your answers. Focus on articulating your leadership experience and how you've driven operational excellence in past roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our brand.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Operations
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Head of Operations role. Highlight your leadership experience in manufacturing and any continuous improvement methodologies you've used.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for Sincereal. Share specific examples of how you've driven operational excellence and led teams to success in previous roles.
Showcase Your Achievements:Quantify your achievements where possible! Whether it's improving efficiency or leading successful projects, numbers speak volumes and help us see the impact you've made in your past roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Sincereal!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cereal Partners Worldwide (Nestlé & General Mills)
✨Know Your Operations Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into Sincereal's operational strategies and recent innovations. Familiarise yourself with their manufacturing processes, safety standards, and continuous improvement methodologies like Lean and Six Sigma. This will show your genuine interest and help you speak confidently about how you can contribute.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Head of Operations, your leadership approach is crucial. Prepare examples that highlight how you've built and empowered teams in the past. Think about specific situations where you inspired collaboration and accountability, and be ready to discuss how you would apply those experiences at Sincereal.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making in a fast-paced environment. Practice articulating your thought process in scenarios related to operational challenges, such as managing production targets or implementing new processes. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Align with Their Values
Sincereal values responsible production and community respect. Be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with theirs, especially regarding sustainability and innovation. Share any relevant experiences that demonstrate your commitment to these principles, as it will resonate well with the interviewers.
