Plant Manager

About Kerry

Kerry is the world\’s leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers\’ most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.

About the role

We are currently recruiting for a Plant Manager to lead the team at our liquid flavour facility in Runcorn.

Reporting directly to the European Manufacturing Director, the successful candidate will provide positive leadership and direction in all areas of the plant’s operation to achieve and improve performance in the areas of safety, quality, cost, service and sustainability.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced manufacturing plant leader to join this key site at an exciting time. In November, Runcorn will become Kerry’s first fully digitized plant in Europe, the successful candidate will play a key role in driving the success of the launch and fully leveraging the technology to maximise the ROI. At all of our locations, safety is our no. 1 priority, we also expect it to be yours, as such you’ll have experience of building and maintaining a strong ‘safety culture’.

Key responsibilities

• Provide clear direction, leadership and support to departmental managers, including Production, Engineering, QHSE, Supply Chain
• Formulate and establish plans, policies and objectives which will deliver the site manufacturing plans and required operational performance around safety, quality, human resource, output, inventory and financial performance.
• Facilitate plant compliance with customer, division, corporate, and regulatory requirements and policies.
• Identify process improvements to lower production costs and reduce operational variation and enhance finished product consistency.
• Ensure that Kerry continues to deliver operational excellence through uncompromising commitment to continuous improvement in the areas of quality, cost, service, and employee leadership and safety.
• Provide clear and consistent communication and leadership around objectives and expectations to all internal teams and external suppliers to ensure site objectives and customer requirements are met or exceeded.
• Provide oversight of projects and capital investment so that resources are effectively utilised and output not affected whilst improvement / modernisation works are delivered within agreed parameters.

Qualifications, skills and experience

• Ideally you’ll be qualified to degree level in Operations Management, Business Management, Engineering or related field. An MBA is highly desirable.
• Several years of progressive management experience, within the food manufacturing industry with at least 3 years at Senior Leadership / Plant Manager level.
• Experience within the flavour or taste sectors is highly beneficial.
• This role requires a strong leader with exceptional team building, communication skills and the ability to motivate others and drive results / positive outcomes.
• Safety first mindset – Health & Safety qualification such as NEBOSH is highly desirable
• Formal CI Training e.g. Kaizan, 5S, GMP, SMED, OEE is desirable.
• HACCP and food safety experience.
• Able to influence and persuade, apply logical thinking and a pragmatic approach.
• Ability to accurately prepare and articulate operational budgets, forecasts and reports.
• Customer orientation – realisation of who the customer is, strives to over deliver in all areas.

Why join Kerry?

• Competitive Salary
• Performance bonus
• Matched pension scheme up to 10%.
• Life Assurance
• Private Medical Health
• Employee benefit platform with discounts and offers for retailers online and offline, travelling, utilities and more.
• Employee Assistance Program, supporting your emotional, physical, nutritional and financial wellbeing.
• Inspiring People – Kerry\’s Global Recognition Program.
• OurVoice, opportunity to share your feedback on the work environment every year.
• OurShare, Kerry share plan available to all employees, with option to enroll once a year.
• MyCommunity, have one day per year to volunteer for a worthwhile cause.

In Kerry, we work as a team, searching for the best ways to inspire sustainable food and nourish life. As well career development opportunities within a leading global player in sustainable nutrition, we also offer:

We are committed to nurturing an environment of positivity and inclusiveness, where everyone can be at their best, both personally and professionally. We are committed to and value Diversity and Inclusion in all recruitment processes within Kerry and do not discriminate based on gender, race, class, economic status, ethnic background, sexual orientation, age, political beliefs, veteran status, marital status or any other protected characteristic.