Senior Production Manager

About Kerry

Kerry is a global leader in taste and nutrition, serving the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries with innovative ingredients, technologies, and expertise. The company is committed to creating a sustainable and healthier food future, aiming to reach over two billion consumers with its solutions by 2030.

Safety Commitment

Kerry fosters a culture where workplace safety is paramount; every employee is responsible for ensuring a safe environment so that everyone returns home safely each day.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Senior Production Manager to join our Senior Leadership Team at the Carrigaline production site. This pivotal position entails overseeing production activities including fermentation processes, powder blending, spray drying, liquid formulation, and coordination with toll producers. Reporting directly to the Site Lead, the successful candidate will play an essential role in bolstering operational outcomes, leading people initiatives, and supporting continuous transformation efforts. This is a permanent, full-time position intended for an experienced manufacturing leader with practical production management skills, strong leadership abilities, and a drive towards fostering a culture emphasizing safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Major Responsibilities

• Oversee all production operations to ensure safe, efficient, compliant achievement of objectives related to safety, quality, service, cost, and sustainability.
• Cultivate a performance-driven environment focused on continuous process enhancement, accountability, employee involvement, and operational excellence.
• Lead and mentor production teams to build capacity, nurture talent, and reinforce succession planning.
• Employ Lean principles for operational excellence, aimed at process optimization, standardization, and reducing costs.
• Track and review production metrics, implementing improvements to boost productivity, efficiency, and equipment reliability.
• Manage audits, investigations, and corrective measures to guarantee adherence to health, safety, quality, and regulatory standards.
• Contribute to strategic projects designed to transform site operations.
• Collaborate extensively across departments and with other Kerry locations to share best practices and drive continuous improvement network-wide.

Qualifications & Skills

• Substantial leadership experience in manufacturing, production, or operations management.
• Proven capability in people leadership, fostering team growth, and elevating performance.
• Practical experience managing production within regulated environments.
• Background in food, chemical, pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, bioscience, or related sectors is required.
• Experience in fermentation is preferred; candidates from biopharma or bioscience fields will also be considered.
• Track record demonstrating expertise in operational excellence, continuous improvement, and managing change.
• Comprehensive knowledge of health and safety standards along with quality management systems.
• Strong analytical, pragmatic approach with effective communication and stakeholder management competencies.

Employee Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 25 days.
• Private healthcare coverage.
• Contributory pension scheme with employer matching.
• Company share scheme.
• Access to Perkbox platform featuring discounts at major retailers.
• Employee assistance program for wellbeing support.
• Opportunities for professional development and learning within a global business environment.

Important Note on Recruitment

Kerry strictly warns against recruitment scams, clarifying that no payments for participation in hiring processes are required except for reimbursable travel expenses paid from official accounts. Employment offers and interviews will not be conducted via unofficial email or video chat services. Unsolicited CV submissions from recruitment agencies without signed contracts will not be considered.