Operations Manager – Pet Nutrition Care

Job Description:Operations Manager Pet Nutrition Care & Treats Birstall SiteLocation: Birstall Site 5/2 on siteReporting to: Senior Site Management TeamA rare and exciting opportunity has arisen at our Pet Nutrition Care & Treats Birstall site for an Operations Manager to join the Site Management Team as a senior leader. This role is pivotal in shaping and delivering the site strategy with a strong emphasis on Safety Quality Cost and People. You will lead a large operations team drive cultural transformation and champion operational excellence through effective leadership strategic vision and a commitment to continuous improvement.What will be your key responsibilitiesStrategic Leadership & Collaboration:Champion and support the delivery of the site strategy ensuring alignment with Safety Quality and Cost objectives.Play a critical role in the Site Leadership Team (SLT) fostering collaboration and strong relationships across all site functions.Contribute to long-term strategic planning and decision-making for operational manufacturing excellence.People Leadership & Development:Lead mentor and develop a team of 12 direct reports and 250 indirect reports creating a high-performance culture through coaching engagement and continuous development.Drive talent management succession planning and organizational development within the Operations team.Embed safety and quality mindsets and behaviors; drive a cultural change towards ownership and responsibility on-site.Operational Excellence:Accountable for delivering site production targets and optimizing the use of resources.Implement and sustain Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) initiatives to optimize equipment reliability reduce downtime and drive continuous improvement.Lead the OPEX agenda on site identifying and executing the roadmap for continuous improvement and cultural change.Manage balanced scorecards/KPIs covering safety quality efficiency and cost for both short- and long-term goals.Deliver on production conversion cost targets for the site.Safety & Quality Compliance:Ensure delivery of required standards across Safety Quality and Food Safety compliance areas fostering a safety-first mindset.Champion initiatives to maintain the highest standards in food safety and workplace safety for all associates.Innovation & Digital Transformation:Leverage automation and digital manufacturing tools to enhance operational efficiency.Train and support teams in adopting new technologies driving digital execution and confidence.What Were Looking ForProven People Leader: Passionate about developing talent and engaging associates; able to motivate and coach teams in a manufacturing setting.Operational Expertise: Minimum 2-3 years experience leading complex high-speed manufacturing operations ideally within FMCG.Strategic Thinker: Experience with site-level strategic planning; skilled in managing KPIs and balanced scorecards.Continuous Improvement Advocate: Demonstrated expertise in lean principles (e.g. Six Sigma) TPM and driving operational improvements.Technical Background: Degree or relevant qualification in a technical or business field preferred.Tech-Savvy: Experience with automation digital manufacturing tools and the ability to drive technology adoption.Growth Potential: Ambition and capability to develop into future business leadership roles (e.g. Plant Manager).What Can You Expect from MarsConsistently ranked among the UKs Top 10 Great Places to Work since 2016.Competitive salary yearly bonus and comprehensive benefits package.Equal Parental Leave: 52 weeks off (26 paid at 90% salary) for all new parents.Mentoring and development support from day one including access to Mars University.Purpose-driven work environment focused on building a better world tomorrow.Succession potential for director-level roles through strong performance and personal development.Mars is committed to providing access equal opportunity and reasonable adjustments for individuals with disabilities long-term health conditions or neurodiversity during the application and recruitment process. To request reasonable adjustments complete our Reasonable Adjustment Request Form here#LI-AB2Required Experience:Manager Key Skills Veterinary Experience,Animal Care,Customer Service,Communication skills,Van Driver,Veterinary Technician Experience,Pet Grooming,Animal Handling,Apache Pig,Hair Styling,Pet Care,Dog Handling Employment Type : Full-Time Experience: years Vacancy: 1