Site Director

UK - Ashford

General Services

Permanent contract

Ardo supplies its continuously growing markets around the world with high quality fresh frozen vegetables, herbs, and fruit with 3,200 employees and 16 production, packing & distribution sites in 7 different countries.

The family business sells in more than 100 countries and has a turnover of more than 1.4 billion euros.

The proximity of our factories to our crops is one of our key strengths and ensures that only minutes are lost between harvest and locking in the product’s natural goodness in our freezers.

Ardo's purpose is to preserve nature’s gifts for future generations by providing fresh frozen, plant-based food while minimising our impact on the planet.

Ardo achieves this goal thanks to an integrated network of growing areas, production units, freezing units, packaging equipment,logistics and stringent quality control.

The group's know-how and flexible structure ensure that it can respond quickly to the newest trends and that innovative products can be brought onto the market quickly.

Here’s what you’ll do

This is a newly created and highly strategic leadership role designed to provide senior operational oversight across the company’s UK manufacturing footprint.

A high-volume frozen fruit and vegetable repacking facility in Ashford

A specialist frozen herb production site in Eye, Suffolk

The role will sit as part of the UK management team and will lead the Production, Engineering, Technical and Supply Chain functions across both locations.

The business is seeking an experienced operational leader capable of creating a highly engaged, performance-driven and inclusive culture focused on:

Safety

Service delivery

Operational excellence

Supply chain performance and optimisation

Quality standards

Continuous improvement

Cost control and profitability

This appointment represents a key strategic hire for the UK business and requires an individual who can provide strong leadership presence, operational rigour and cross-functional collaboration. A key focus of the role will be to strengthen and optimise supply chain operations across the UK sites, ensuring effective coordination between manufacturing, planning, logistics and customer requirements.

Site Overview

Ashford, Kent

The Ashford facility operates 5 production lines repacking frozen fruits and vegetables from bulk octobin storage into retail packaging.

Production

Engineering

Quality / Technical

Supply Chain

Operational performance

Site culture and engagement

The focus will be on ensuring service levels, efficiency, safety and quality standards are consistently achieved through a high-performing operational team.

Eye, Suffolk

The Eye facility specialises in frozen herb production.

The Site Director will oversee

Production planning and execution

Quality and technical standards

Safety compliance

Cost performance

Supply chain coordination and planning

Cross-functional collaboration with the wider Herb Community including Agro, Technical and Engineering teams

Strong collaboration with wider Group support functions across multiple disciplines will also be required.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and oversee Production, Technical, Engineering and Supply Chain departments across both UK sites

Drive operational excellence through safety, quality, service, supply chain performance and productivity improvements

Create a high-performance and inclusive working culture across all functions

Develop and execute operational and supply chain plans aligned to business objectives and budgets

Strengthen supply chain capability across planning, inventory management, warehousing and logistics operations

Ensure effective coordination between manufacturing, customer demand and supply chain activity to optimise service delivery

Reduce operational and supply chain costs while improving productivity and efficiency across product lines

Ensure adherence to all Health & Safety and Environmental regulations

Set and communicate ambitious operational and production targets

Maintain strong communication and collaboration between all departments

Provide leadership, coaching, motivation and development to site teams

Escalate operational risks, issues or obstacles appropriately to the Group Manufacturing Director

Establish workflows and operational policies that improve efficiency without compromising product quality or integrity

Manage workforce planning and staffing schedules to optimise operational output

Maintain all production-related documentation and reporting systems

Ensure all products meet required customer specifications and quality standards

Develop production plans aligned to customer requirements and operational capabilities

Oversee the preparation and evaluation of production proposals

Manage site resources effectively to minimise downtime and maximise productivity

Deliver weekly and monthly KPI reporting related to operational performance, supply chain effectiveness and production costs versus standard

Represent the business professionally with customers and external stakeholders

This is where you recognize yourself

Thorough understanding of food production processes, management obligations (including statutory obligations), requirements and dynamics

Excellent project management skills

Leadership with ability to drive a team

Proven track record of successfully training employees in productivity, continuous improvement and safety

Working knowledge of Health and Safety and Environmental regulations

Ability to coach and mentor employees on a one-on-one basis as well as a group

Good communication skills, with the ability to give messages up and down the organisation effectively.

Previous experience of working with SAP is desirable

What’s in it for you?

We offer you the opportunity to be part of an authentic and sustainable international company, with real growth opportunities and the freedom to actively participate in shaping the business and the opportunity to develop professionally.

You will receive a full remuneration package in line with the level of this position.

We care for our people and create family-friendly surroundings by offering flexibility work arrangements.