Area Manager of Operations

Preferred location: Sheffield - UK

The Area Manager of Operations is accountable for providing strategic and operational leadership across multiple manufacturing sites, ensuring optimal performance in safety, quality, service, cost, and people development.

This role leads and develops Plant Managers, ensuring alignment with business objectives while maximising the utilisation of capital, assets, and human resources across the area. The position ensures that all sites consistently deliver against production plans, customer requirements, and financial targets while fostering a high-performance, continuous improvement culture.

The role acts as a key link between strategic direction (regional/global leadership) and execution at plant level.

• Degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, or a related discipline

• Proven leadership experience within an FMCG, manufacturing, or batch-processing environment

• Strong people management, team development, and stakeholder relationship-building skills

• Knowledge of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, TQM, JIT, and continuous improvement methodologies

• Ability to identify operational bottlenecks and drive process efficiency improvements

• Experience working with plant operations and industrial equipment; chemical manufacturing experience preferred

• Strong communication, reporting, and presentation skills with the ability to influence at all levels

• Commercially and financially aware, with a results-driven approach to performance management

• Strong analytical skills and the ability to use business systems to improve operational performance

• Advanced PC skills, including excellent Microsoft Excel proficiency, with fluency in English required.

What we Offer:

• The established salary range for this position is 

• Work-Life Balance: We value your personal time and well-being. 

• Career Opportunities:Grow within a truly international business. 

• Ongoing Training and Support:Continuous learning and development opportunities.

Pay Transparency

The salary range shown refers to base salary only. In addition to this, we offer a broader total reward package which may include bonus or incentive pay, relevant allowances, and a range of competitive benefits. We encourage candidates to consider the full package when evaluating an offer. 

Salary is determined using a structured and objective framework, taking into account the role’s responsibilities, required skills and experience, market benchmarks, and internal equity. This ensures pay decisions are fair, consistent, and aligned with our commitment to equal pay and legal compliance.

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• Lead and develop site leadership teams, fostering a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.

• Drive operational performance across multiple manufacturing sites, ensuring achievement of production, quality, yield, and customer service targets.

• Champion health, safety, and environmental excellence, promoting a zero-harm culture and ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements.

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, implementing best practices and Lean methodologies to enhance efficiency, productivity, and operational consistency.

• Own area-level financial performance, driving cost optimization, productivity improvements, asset utilization, and capital investment priorities.

• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Commercial teams to optimize forecasting, production planning, inventory management, and on-time delivery performance.

• Ensure compliance with quality, environmental, and operational standards while maintaining effective governance and reporting across all sites.

• Translate business strategy into actionable operational plans and lead transformation initiatives that support long-term growth and business performance.