Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and evolve operational capabilities in a dynamic chocolate brand.
- Company: Montezuma’s Chocolates, known for bold flavours and ethical sourcing.
- Benefits: Join an ambitious growth journey with real ownership and impact.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of a creative, fast-moving chocolate brand.
- Qualifications: Experience in operations management within food manufacturing is essential.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Location: On site at Birdham, near Chichester, with some travel if required to Bristows at our Crediton site in Devon.
Montezuma’s Chocolates is a proudly British chocolate brand known for bold flavours, ethical sourcing, and doing things differently. From exciting product innovation, we combine creativity with commercial discipline to deliver chocolate that creates our loyal following.
As we enter an exciting new phase of growth across D2C, brand collaborations and retail, we are looking for a Head of Operations to lead and evolve our operational capability, ensuring we scale up and deliver excellence without compromising on quality or values.
The Role:
- As Head of Operations, you will have end‑to‑end responsibility for Montezuma’s operational performance.
- You will lead manufacturing, supply chain, planning, logistics, and operational excellence, ensuring our products are delivered efficiently, safely, and to the highest standards.
- This is a senior leadership role, reporting to the Board, and is central to the future of the business, combining commercial strategic thinking with hands‑on operational, people focussed leadership.
- You will work with the other Senior leaders, challenging and supporting them to deliver the overall plan.
Key responsibilities:
- Act as the main point of contact and lead for the Birdham site.
- Oversee the full manufacturing operation including Planning, Production, Technical, Packing, Logistics and Engineering at the Birdham site.
- Support with any Operational needs at our Bristows site if and when required.
- Own the operational strategy, KPI’s and performance reporting.
- Drive efficiency, continuous improvement and cost optimisation without compromising quality.
- Ensure compliance with all food safety, quality and regulatory standards (BRC, HACCP, Soil Association etc).
- Collaborate closely with Commercial, Retail, Finance, NPD and Marketing to support growth.
- Lead, inspire and develop the Operational teams.
- Support capacity planning, forecasting and long term scalability initiatives.
- Management of engineering, maintenance, and contractors.
- Ensure Health & Safety and Quality compliance and standards are met at all times.
- Oversee the achievement of required audits and certification.
About You:
- Brand-first thinker. You care deeply about how our products look, feel, and land and how they are produced.
- You instinctively understand what works (and what doesn’t).
- Commercially aware. You know what drives growth and how to operationally execute this.
- Creative and proactive. You bring ideas and solutions, not just being reactive.
- Hands-on. Happy to both think big and get stuck in.
- Strong communicator with a collaborative mindset.
- A genuine team player – you enjoy working as a team and being around people.
- Leadership qualities that are aligned to Montezuma’s.
- Experience of operations management within a food manufacturing environment with technical understanding.
- Experience of working within a BRC manufacturing environment would be advantageous.
Why Join Montezuma’s?
- Be part of an ambitious growth journey.
- Work in a creative, fast-moving, and entrepreneurial environment.
- Have real ownership and impact from day one.
Head of Operations in Birdham employer: Montezuma's Chocolates
Contact Detail:
Montezuma's Chocolates Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Operations in Birdham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. 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 showcase your passion for the brand and demonstrate that you're the perfect fit for the Head of Operations role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience in operations management can drive efficiency and quality at Montezuma’s. Tailor your examples to highlight your hands-on approach and leadership skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Montezuma’s team and being part of our exciting growth journey.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Operations in Birdham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Chocolate: When writing your application, let your love for chocolate shine through! Mention any experiences or ideas you have that align with Montezuma’s bold flavours and ethical sourcing. We want to see your enthusiasm for our brand!
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in operations management, especially within food manufacturing. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to drive efficiency and maintain high standards, as this is key for us.
Be Creative and Proactive: Don’t just list your skills; show us how you’ve used them creatively in past roles. We’re looking for someone who brings solutions to the table, so share any innovative ideas you’ve implemented in previous positions.
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 don’t miss out on any important updates about the role. Let’s get started on this exciting journey together!
How to prepare for a job interview at Montezuma's Chocolates
✨Know Your Operations Inside Out
Make sure you understand the ins and outs of operations management, especially in a food manufacturing context. Brush up on key concepts like supply chain logistics, quality compliance, and efficiency metrics. This will help you speak confidently about how you can lead and improve Montezuma’s operational performance.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to discuss your leadership approach and how it aligns with Montezuma’s values. Think of examples where you've inspired teams or driven change. They want to see that you can not only manage but also motivate and develop your team to achieve operational excellence.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical situations related to operational challenges. Practice articulating your thought process and decision-making skills. For instance, how would you handle a sudden supply chain disruption? This shows your problem-solving abilities and readiness for the role.
✨Align with Their Brand Values
Familiarise yourself with Montezuma’s brand ethos and ethical sourcing practices. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to their mission while ensuring operational efficiency. Showing that you resonate with their values will set you apart as a candidate who truly understands the brand.