Job Description

Location

Tullamore, County Offaly

Company

Sofina Foods

Hours of Work

Full-time

The Ideal Candidate

You will be an experienced Operations or Production Manager with a strong background in fast-paced manufacturing environments and a genuine passion for operational excellence, people leadership and continuous improvement.

You will ideally bring:

• Proven operational leadership experience within food manufacturing, FMCG or other highly regulated production environments
• Experience managing high-volume production operations within low-risk and ideally high-risk manufacturing environments
• Strong understanding of world-class manufacturing standards, GMP compliance and food safety requirements
• Experience leading large operational teams within fast-paced shift-based environments
• A hands-on leadership style with the ability to build credibility and presence on the factory floor
• Strong people management capability, including coaching, performance management and culture improvement
• Experience delivering operational improvement projects focused on efficiency, waste reduction and process optimisation
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing methodologies including 5S, continuous improvement and waste elimination
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability including RCA and preventative action planning
• The ability to influence and engage diverse teams across varying levels of experience and backgrounds
• Experience within unionised environments would be highly advantageous
• Meat or protein industry experience would be advantageous

Company Information

Sofina Foods isn't just a food company - It’s a place to build your future.

With a team of over 13,000 people across 40 sites in Canada and Europe, we're passionate about delivering quality meats and seafood products to consumers around the world.
Join a company where innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction drive everything we do. At Sofina, you’ll grow your skills, make a real impact, and work with responsibly sourced products from more than 50 protein sources across five continents.

Our vision is bold: to be the most successful food company in the world. If you’re looking for a rewarding career in the food industry, there’s a place for you at Sofina Foods.

Country Code

IE

Why Sofina Foods?

This is an opportunity to join a major food manufacturing operation at a particularly exciting time of operational evolution and cultural development. You will play a genuinely influential role within the site leadership structure, with the ability to shape standards, develop teams and directly impact operational performance.

The business offers a collaborative, hands-on culture where leaders are expected to be visible, supportive and actively involved in the day-to-day operation. You will join an experienced leadership team committed to continuous improvement, operational excellence and building a positive, high-performing manufacturing environment.

With strong retailer partnerships, ongoing investment and clear operational ambitions, this role offers excellent long-term development potential for an ambitious manufacturing leader looking to make a visible impact.

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Schedule

12 Hour Shift, Day Shift

Additional Benefits

Company Bonus Scheme, Company Pension Scheme, Discounted or Free Food

Salary

Competitive Salary

Equal Opportunities

Sofina Foods is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences – regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Your Key Responsibilities

The Operations Manager will be responsible for leading day-to-day production performance, operational standards and people leadership across the facility, including:

• Managing end-to-end production operations across both low-risk and high-risk manufacturing areas
• Driving KPI performance across safety, quality, labour efficiency, yield, downtime and service delivery
• Leading daily operational activity through hands-on floor presence, pre-start meetings and production reviews
• Managing and developing a team of Supervisors across multiple departments and production shifts
• Creating a strong safety-first culture with clear accountability and high operational standards
• Ensuring GMP, recipe compliance, traceability and quality standards are maintained throughout all processing cycles
• Supporting continuous improvement initiatives across labour utilisation, waste reduction, line efficiencies and operational flow
• Working closely with Technical, Engineering, Planning and Supply Chain teams to deliver operational targets
• Managing production across a range of automated and manual processes including slicing, thermoforming, packing and cooking operations
• Supporting customer, retailer and third-party audits and maintaining strong compliance standards across the site
• Leading people management activity including coaching, performance management and disciplinary processes where required
• Driving operational consistency and engagement within a unionised manufacturing environment

Drive performance, lead from the factory floor and shape the future of a fast-paced food manufacturing operation.