Senior Director/Executive Director in Highland, Inverness

Orion Group are working with a long established wholesale business serving customers across the Highlands and Moray. Built on strong relationships, reliability, and quality service, our client supplies a broad range of food and related products to retail, hospitality, catering, and foodservice customers.

As the business continues to grow and evolve, we are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Managing Director to lead the company through its next phase while maintaining the values and culture that have defined the business for generations.

As the Managing Director you will have overall responsibility for the strategic leadership, commercial success, operational performance, and day to day management of the business. Working closely with the owners and senior management team, the successful candidate will balance growth ambitions with the practical realities of running a family owned wholesale operation.

The role requires strong leadership, commercial discipline, and hands on operational understanding within the food wholesale or distribution sector.

DETAILED RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strategic Leadership
  • To develop and deliver the company’s long-term business strategy.
  • To identify opportunities for sustainable growth across the Highlands and Moray.
  • To support business modernisation, efficiency improvements, and operational scalability.
  • To protect and strengthen the company’s reputation, values, and customer relationships.
  • To champion a customer first culture, ensuring high satisfaction and retention.
  • To provide regular reporting and strategic advice to shareholders and family directors.
• Commercial and Financial Management
  • To be responsible for the financial performance of the company.
  • To deliver sales growth, profitability, and cash flow targets.
  • To oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.
  • To manage pricing strategy, supplier negotiations, and margin performance.
  • To monitor market conditions, competitor activity, and customer trends.
  • To drive commercial performance across all departments.
• Operational Leadership
  • To oversee warehouse, transport, procurement, and sales functions.
  • To ensure efficient stock control, delivery performance, and operational standards.
  • To support continuous improvement across systems, processes, and productivity.
  • To maintain high standards of food safety, hygiene, and product traceability.
• Leadership and Culture
  • To lead and develop the senior management team, fostering collaboration and accountability.
  • To foster a collaborative, accountable, and customer focused culture.
  • To maintain the values and personal approach associated with a family run business.
  • To support employee development, succession planning, and staff retention.
  • To build strong relationships across all levels of the organisation.
• Compliance and Governance
  • To comply with all statutory and legal obligations, including, but not limited to:
  • UK and Scottish food safety legislation
  • HACCP standards.
  • Health & Safety regulations.
  • Employment legislation.
  • Environmental and trading standards requirements.
  • To manage operational risk and business continuity planning.
  • To maintain high ethical and professional standards throughout the business.
• Customer and Supplier Relationships
  • To build and maintain strong relationships with key customers, suppliers, and industry partners.
  • To represent the company at trade events, networking opportunities, and customer meetings.
  • To resolve major operational or commercial issues effectively and professionally.
• General
  • To undertake any other duties which may reasonably be required of you.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

This is a senior leadership role within a fast paced wholesale and distribution environment. The position combines strategic leadership with active day to day involvement across operations, customer relationships, and team management. Travel across Scotland and occasional UK and overseas travel may be required.

Who are we looking for?Essential Experience

• Proven senior leadership experience within food wholesale, foodservice, FMCG, distribution, or related sectors.
• Strong commercial and operational management background.
• Experience leading warehouse, logistics, sales, and procurement functions.
• Demonstrated ability to grow and improve SME businesses.
• Understanding of the challenges and opportunities within family owned businesses.

Skills and Attributes

• Commercially astute with strong financial awareness.
• Hands on leadership style.
• Strong people management and communication skills.
• Strategic thinker with operational focus.
• Decision making and problem solving capability.
• Relationship driven and customer focused.
• Resilient and adaptable in a fast paced environment.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience in business, management, supply chain, or related discipline preferred.
• Professional leadership qualification advantageous.
• Food safety and HACCP knowledge are desirable.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Revenue and profit growth.
• Gross margin performance.
• Cash flow and working capital management.
• Customer retention and service levels.
• Delivery and operational efficiency.
• Staff engagement and retention.
• Compliance and audit performance.

Package

• Competitive executive salary.
• Performance related bonus.
• Car allowance/company vehicle.
• Pension contribution.
• Private healthcare (where applicable).
• Long-term leadership opportunity within a respected family business.