At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and optimise the entire supply chain from planning to logistics in a fresh produce business.
- Company: Join a leading fresh produce company focused on sustainability and growth.
- Benefits: Enjoy private healthcare, generous pension contributions, performance bonuses, and 33 days of holiday.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and to lead a high-performing team in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact by shaping supply chain strategies and fostering collaboration.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in food supply chains with strong S&OP and stakeholder management skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Are you an experienced supply chain leader who thrives on balancing strategic thinking with operational excellence?
Elevation Recruitment Group are delighted to be working on a retained basis with a leading fresh produce business to recruit an
Operations and
Supply Chain Director .
This is a pivotal leadership appointment, offering the opportunity to shape end-to-end supply chain strategy, build strong supplier partnerships and drive continuous improvement across planning, procurement, logistics and operations.
Working closely with the Managing Director and wider leadership team, you'll ensure the business delivers the right products, at the right time, at the right cost, while building a resilient and sustainable supply chain that supports future growth.
In return, you'll receive a competitive package including
- Private Bupa healthcare for you and your partner
- Up to 7% matched pension contribution
- Performance-related bonus of up to 10% of salary, based on achieving budgeted profit before tax
- 33 days' holiday, inclusive of bank and public holidays (approximately nine public holidays in Scotland)
This is a broad leadership role where you'll take ownership of the entire supply chain function, with the core focus on, and expertise in ‘sales and operations planning (S&OP)’.
Your influence will be from ‘seed to shelf’ and you will need to be able to facilitate co-operation from all the teams that are involved in that process, whether they work for you directly or not.
The aim is to reduce some of the current silos we have between teams and this will include changing the reporting lines of some teams into this role.
Ultimately there will be teams that you need to involve in planning processes that will not report to you.
You'll develop robust planning processes, lead strategic grow versus buy decisions, strengthen relationships with growers and suppliers, and ensure operational excellence across packing and distribution.
You'll also drive cost and yield optimisation, manage risk and develop a high-performing, collaborative supply chain function.
As you demonstrate mastery of this, and possibly from August 2027 (when Summer Crops become very stable in supply and demand terms), then we aim to extend the remit so that the role becomes responsible for the majority of the operation including suppliers, packhouse operations, engineering and logistics.
These roles will report to the MD and other leadership functions until the core planning processes are firmly embedded.
Key responsibilities of the role include
- Lead the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process to balance demand, supply and inventory. This is the core part of the role.
- Develop supply strategies that optimise grow versus buy decisions.
- Drive collaboration across growers, packing operations, logistics and internal stakeholders.
- Identify and implement opportunities to improve processes, systems and overall supply chain performance.
- Manage budgets, monitor KPIs and deliver cost‑saving initiatives.
- Develop resilient supply chain strategies that minimise risk and support long‑term growth.
- Lead, coach and develop teams while fostering a collaborative, high‑performance culture.
- Manage supplier relationships, procurement activity and commercial negotiations. This will be via delegation to a senior manager.
We're looking for an experienced supply chain leader with a collaborative style who can unite teams across the extended supply chain with the support of the MD.
The addition of operational responsibilities would suit individuals with strong planning skillsets and who have ambitions to propel an exciting business forwards in a broad operations role.
You'll bring
- Significant senior leadership experience within short shelf life food supply chains
- This experience must include leadership of large production teams and have demonstrated evidence of success in delivering operational excellence.
- Strong knowledge of leading Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) is key and you will need to demonstrate that you created or evolved processes, not just executed them.
- Experience managing both strategic supplier relationships and dynamic spot procurement will be beneficial
- Strong commercial and financial acumen with experience managing budgets and KPIs.
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence across multiple business functions.
- Experience leading change and developing high-performing teams.
- A continuous improvement mindset with a focus on long‑term business performance.
If you're looking for a senior leadership role where you can make a lasting impact, we'd love to hear from you.
ESG Drysdale are working in exclusive partnership with Elevation recruitment group for the recruitment of this position.
All third‑party applicants will be sent to and become the property of Elevation recruitment group.
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Operations & Supply Chain Director employer: ESG Drysdale
As a leading agricultural supplier in Scotland, we pride ourselves on fostering a supportive work culture that values innovation and collaboration. Our flexible hours allow for a healthy work-life balance, while our commitment to professional development ensures that employees can grow their skills and advance their careers in a meaningful way. Join us to be part of a team that is dedicated to making a positive impact in the agricultural sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations & Supply Chain Director
✨Join Supply Chain Meetups
Get yourself out there by attending supply chain meetups and industry events. It's a great way to meet fellow professionals, learn about trends, and maybe even hear about job openings before they’re posted online.
✨Show Off Your Skills on LinkedIn
Don’t just sit back and wait for opportunities! Post insights or articles on LinkedIn about supply chain challenges or solutions you’re passionate about. This not only showcases your expertise but can catch the eye of recruiters looking for someone like you.
✨Engage with Supply Chain Communities
Dive into online communities related to supply chain operations like forums or groups on Reddit and LinkedIn. Engaging in discussions can help you network, get advice, and you might even stumble upon some hidden job opportunities.
✨Apply through Our Website
When you spot a position at ESG Drysdale, make sure to apply through our website directly. It's often the quickest way to get your application in front of the right people and show that you’re genuinely interested in the role of Operations & Supply Chain Director.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations & Supply Chain Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Supply Chain Savvy:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in supply chain operations. Whether it’s managing logistics or coordinating with suppliers, we want to see examples of how you've navigated the complexities of the supply chain. Concrete achievements, like reducing costs or improving delivery times, will definitely catch our eye!
Quantify Your Impact:When listing your previous roles on your CV, go for numbers! Mention percentages or actual figures where possible—like how much you've improved efficiency or reduced waste. It's all about showing us the tangible impact you've made in your past positions in supply chain operations.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:In your cover letter, don’t just regurgitate your CV. Instead, connect your experiences specifically to the role at ESG Drysdale. Share why you're passionate about supply chain operations and how this full-time role aligns with your career goals—I mean, who wouldn’t want to hear that!
Research and Reflect:Before you apply, take some time to research ESG Drysdale and its supply chain operations. Reflect on how your skills and experiences can fit into their operations. Being able to discuss their challenges and how you can contribute to solving them in your application will really make you stand out!
How to prepare for a job interview at ESG Drysdale
✨Know Your Basics in Supply Chain Management
Make sure you've got a solid grasp of key supply chain concepts like demand forecasting, inventory management, and logistics. We could be quizzed on these during technical rounds, so brush up on any software tools commonly used in the industry like SAP or Oracle. This knowledge will help us show we can hit the ground running!
✨Show Off Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to discuss real-world scenarios where you've used data analysis to solve supply chain challenges. If you've got experience with tools like Excel or Tableau, get ready to talk about how you've used these to optimise processes or improve efficiencies. Employers love seeing that we can turn data into actionable insights!
✨Highlight Your Teamwork and Project Management Skills
In a full-time role, collaboration is key. Think of examples where you've worked on cross-functional teams or managed projects. Sharing how you navigated challenges while working with diverse groups will show that we can thrive in a dynamic environment like at ESG Drysdale.
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by ESG Drysdale
Look into any unique supply chain challenges ESG Drysdale might be facing, whether it's sustainability, supplier relationships, or global disruptions. Being prepared to discuss these topics shows that we're not only informed but also genuinely interested in how we can contribute to their success. That’s a big plus in any interview!
