Divisional Operational Excellence Manager (OpEx) (Midlands Based)

Nottingham, England, United Kingdom

1/31/2025

Divisional Operational Excellence (OpEx) Manager (Midlands)

Based across our 3 Midlands sites in Shropshire and Nottingham

Hours: Flexibility around Monday to Friday 8.30 – 17pm

The Compleat Food Group

At The Compleat Food Group we don’t just make food. We make food to feel good, taste good and do good for everyone.

Our aim is to raise the bar and delight our customers and consumers every day, they are at the heart of all our decision making. We work at the correct pace to take clear decisive actions and deliver on our commitments, on time every time to drive positive difference, having the courage to think differently and challenge the status quo.

We are innovative leaders in the UK chilled food manufacturing industry. We are dedicated to delivering excellence in every aspect of our operations. Our commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence sets us apart, and we are looking for a dynamic individual to lead our Operational Excellence initiatives across the Midlands region.

As the Divisional Operational Excellence Manager, you will play a pivotal role in integrating and embedding operational excellence practices throughout our Compleat Manufacturing sites in the Midlands region. Working closely with the Group Head of Operational Excellence, you will be instrumental in executing the Compleat Operational Excellence Programme. Your primary objective is to identify and drive ongoing improvement efforts and operational excellence initiatives within your designated division.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership and Team Management:
• Lead a team of Operational Excellence practitioners across multiple sites to embed the Compleat Operational Excellence programme.
• Implement industry best practices and nurture a culture of continuous improvement.
• Act as a catalyst for change, addressing gaps in operational efficiency, wastage, quality, and safety.
• Continuous Improvement:
• Embed a continuous improvement culture by coaching, facilitating, and developing colleagues at all levels.
• Govern and manage projects from concept to completion, ensuring delivery within specified time, cost, and quality parameters.
• Promote consistency and standardisation in processes across the organization.
• Operational Excellence:
• Execute and refine Continuous Improvement methodology to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Collaborate with manufacturing colleagues and central functions to identify improvement opportunities using data analysis and industry best practices.
• Develop and implement action plans (Flight paths) to achieve desired results.
• Analytical Support and Project Management:
• Provide analytic support to understand current state, baseline performance, and capture existing issues.
• Collate data and present it in an understandable format to deliver required change.
• Implement principles of project governance and administration, including reporting on progress and benefits delivery.
• Cross-Functional Leadership:
• Lead and support multi-skilled/cross-functional teams in driving improvement initiatives.
• Coach and develop less experienced team members and peers.
• Industry Expertise and Knowledge Sharing:
• Use industry knowledge, product and equipment knowledge, and project management experience to enable successful delivery of complex projects.
• Ensure knowledge sharing during each project to retain Continuous Improvement skills.
  

Requirements

• Proven experience (4+ years) in food manufacturing, implementing and leading organisational change in Operational Excellence (Continuous Improvement).
• Formal qualification in a continuous improvement methodology such as Lean Six Sigma, Lean, TPS, or equivalent.
• Bachelor’s degree or HNC/HND or equivalent vocational qualification.
• Strong leadership skills, business acumen, and the ability to work successfully with different functions across the group.
• Excellent analytical, logical, and numerical competence.
• Strong IT skills.
• Driving Licence
  
  

Desired Skills

• Experience in coaching, developing, facilitating, and managing teams.
• Ability to identify and practically deliver improvements.
• Resilience and perseverance to establish a Continuous Improvement culture.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to handle sensitive topics with integrity.
• Experience with Value Stream Mapping, 5S, 5 Whys, PDCA, and other Lean tools.
  
  

Benefits

• 33 Days annual leave
• 2 Employee Volunteering Days per year
• Online and High-street retailer discount scheme and well-being portal
• Employee well-being and community support groups
• Informal and Formal training opportunities with personalised online LMS platform
• Charity Initiatives and Team events
• 24/7 Access to Grocery Aid
  
  

How to Apply: If you are passionate about driving operational excellence and continuous improvement and experienced in the food manufacturing industry, we want to hear from you by sending your CV and Covering letter.

The Compleat Food Group fosters an inclusive, respectful culture where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. We welcome diverse talent, knowing it drives exceptional results and a better workplace.

We are committed to Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect, we ensure all colleagues can thrive by bringing their whole selves to work. As an equal opportunity’s employer, we provide all the support you need to succeed.

Contact us with any questions about Diversity & Inclusion or accessibility during the application process.

Recruitment Agencies

We have a small, active and trusted Preferred Supplier List to assist us if required. We do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions. We only accept CV submissions for roles released to you directly by our Talent Acquisition team.

If you would be interested in working with us please send a message to recruitment@compleatfood.com and should we have any roles we need additional support with we will reach out to you.

Apply now