Head of Site Operations - Killeshandra (County Cavan) Lakeland Dairies Co-operative Society Limited (The Group) is the second largest dairy processor on the island of Ireland. The business is complex and ambitious with a milk supply pool of 2 billion litres of milk, drawn from over 3,200 family farms across 16 counties. With the most modern dairy manufacturing facilities in 6 locations on a cross-border basis, the Group supplies to a broad customer base including some of the worlds foremost blue chip companies across the dairy food ingredients, foodservice and consumer food channels on a domestic Ireland, UK, European and global basis. Internationally we export some 240 different products to over 100 countries worldwide. The Groups Agribusiness Division (Lakeland Agri) operates a state-of-the-art Animal Feed Manufacturing Facility and is a leading and innovative provider of the highest quality feeds and agricultural inputs to dairy, beef, and sheep farmers across the north and south of Ireland. The Role The Head of Site Operations will lead and oversee all aspects of daily operations at our food manufacturing facility in Killeshandra Co. Cavan. The successful candidate will ensure the Site operates to the highest standards of operational efficiency, quality, cost effectiveness and safety standards from milk intake to processing and dispatch of finished products. It is both a strategic and operational role, leading and developing the site management team to deliver the site business plan and budgets. The Head of Site Operations will work in close collaboration with the Operations Leadership team as well as Commercial, HR, Finance and IT to contribute to the highest standards of excellence in all aspects of the site. The role will also involve closely liaising with the other associated production sites within the overall Lakeland Dairies Group. Key Responsibilities Direct, develop and support the site management team in the efficient and safe operation of all site activities. Foster a high-performance culture with regular feedback, performance discussions and communication across the team. Lead, develop and maintain a culture of positive employee engagement in support of Site, Operations and Group people strategy and objectives. Optimise production in the most cost-effective manner to the set standards of safety, quality and specification. Ensure the quality of the finished products meets the in-house, customer, legal and statutory requirements. Work closely with the Chief Operating Officer to develop and deliver the site business plan and budget. Collaborate with Heads of Site Operations, external suppliers and external bodies associated with delivery of business objectives. Regularly report on the performance of the site against KPI targets and budgets. Ensure production yields are measured, monitored and controlled against the agreed standards. Manage site costs ensuring measurement against set daily, weekly and monthly KPIs and reported accordingly. Oversee management of site services such as Effluent Treatment, Power Supply, Gas Supply, Water Supply etc. Manage and negotiate contractor relationships to meet business needs and to ensure they provide a professional and efficient service. Lead, develop and maintain a culture of continuous improvement across the site. Work with Group HR in relation to all people related issues including Talent Management (resource planning, succession planning, training & development) and in addressing IR and HR issues that arise ensuring that proper procedures are adhered to and that a positive employee relations culture is developed and maintained. Provide comprehensive operational and strategic support to the Chief Operating Officer in respect of capital projects. Ensure any such projects are appropriately managed, delivered on time and are within budget. Promote and enforce a workplace safety culture while delivering on all the legal and statutory requirements and working with Group H&S to achieve a ZERO Harm Workplace. Qualifications and Experience A relevant third level qualification in Engineering, Food Science, Business, Operations Management or related field is preferred. Significant experience in food manufacturing to include experience in a senior operational leadership role. Demonstrated experience in leading high performing teams. Strong financial acumen and experience managing operational budgets. Proven experience leading cross functional teams and managing large scale plant operations. Strong knowledge of regulatory requirements and industry standards. Experience working in a highly automated, high volume, fast paced environment is essential. Excellent leadership, communication and problem-solving skills. To apply for this role, please submit your CV and cover letter quoting reference OPS00255 no later than Friday 8th August 2025. Lakeland Dairies Ltd is committed to having an inclusive workplace where every employee feels they belong. If you require accommodations to be made during the recruitment process or have questions relating to accessibility, please contact us at or email Skills: Operations Management Operations Leadership Manufacturing Benefits: Pension Free Parking