Retail Process Improvement Manager in Cookstown

Retail Process Improvement Manager

Join to apply for the Retail Process Improvement Manager role at Dale Farm Ltd .

Dale Farm Ltd recently completed a £70m capital expenditure at our Dunmanbridge site, boosting cheddar production by 20,000 tonnes and enabling an annual capacity of 85,000 tonnes. This investment created the largest single site cheddar manufacturer in Europe and included a high‑speed automated cheese slicing line, expanded warehouse footprint, and new patented products and processes.

The Role

Our retail plant is central to the manufacturing operations at Dunmanbridge. In collaboration with the operations and project teams, this position will shape the future of the facility, delivering world‑class manufacturing and operational excellence. The incumbent will lead process improvements, optimise performance and advance operations through the delivery of capital investment projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Process analysis and optimisation – conduct an in‑depth analysis of retail production lines, material flows and planning & scheduling to identify efficiency gains, cost reductions and quality improvements.
• Strategic capital projects – act as Site Project Leader, working with the Group Project Engineering Manager and the project team to design a future‑ready retail manufacturing facility aligned to growth ambitions.
• Design, implementation and commissioning of capital projects.
• Serve as the primary interface between the project team and operations, ensuring timely communication to all stakeholders on site and across the business.
• Define scope for effective delivery at each project stage.
• Link business needs with Commercial, Procurement and Packaging Technologist to integrate capital projects with initiatives such as sustainable packaging, weight reduction and one‑piece case design.
• Understand end‑to‑end future process impacts and compliance requirements across safety, quality and engineering.
• Analyse SKU and packaging portfolio to ensure optimal manufacturing efficiency.
• Work with finance control to understand future state manufacturing cost versus current operations.
• Evaluate emerging technologies that deliver system improvements, controls and consistent product quality.
• Lead Product Commissioning for new line start‑ups, coordinating planning with PMs, commissioning teams, retail management and production & engineering to achieve timely hand‑over.
• Stress‑test deliverables against the User Requirements Specification and own Factory Acceptance Testing.
• Chair cross‑functional steering meetings, track actions and monitor progress against agreed timelines.
• Anticipate operational bottlenecks and use Good Manufacturing principles to engineer solutions from inception.
• Collaborate with planning and scheduling teams to optimise capacity utilisation across all SKU configurations.
• Develop and maintain effective business continuity plans for all manufacturing lines.
• Coordinate training of personnel on new equipment during commissioning and ramp‑up.
• Apply Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to analyse performance data, uncover trends and recommend improvements.
• Collaborate with the business improvement team to align digitalisation transformation with capital projects.
• Support operations in embedding operational excellence across the site.
• Work closely with cross‑functional teams and stakeholders to gather insights, implement changes and facilitate training on new processes.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of high‑speed consumer goods operations experience with end‑to‑end supply‑chain exposure.
• Proven experience implementing, measuring and achieving KPIs by driving best practices.
• Evidence of strong leadership and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Problem‑solving aptitude – ability to identify root causes of inefficiencies and develop effective solutions.
• Good understanding of process improvement methodologies.
• Expertise in Lean, Six Sigma and other continuous‑improvement frameworks.
• Proficient IT skills including Microsoft Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, and other tools that support process analysis and optimisation.
• Project management ability to manage process‑improvement projects from conception to completion.
• Highly organised with excellent written and verbal communication, capable of working effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.

Additional Information

• Only applications from EU Nationals or those with a valid permit to work in the UK will be accepted.
• Equal opportunities employer – we welcome applications from all backgrounds.
• Learn more about the company and apply online:
• Location: Cookstown, Northern Ireland.

Seniorities and Employment Type

• Seniority level: Mid‑Senior
• Employment type: Full‑time
• Job function: Management, Production, and Manufacturing
• Industry: Food and Beverage Manufacturing

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