Site Director

About 

First Milk is a wholly British farmer-owned dairy co-operative. They produce award-winning cheddar, regional cheeses and dairy ingredients, and market fresh milk through collaborative milk sourcing and supply chain management services. Their award-winning cheeses are produced by experienced cheesemakers around the UK. They have creameries in the English Lake District and at the idyllic South West tip of Wales. Where they produce a fantastic range of great tasting Cheddar, Red Leicester and Double Gloucester, that are all made with fresh milk and packed full of flavour. The majority of their cheese is sold as high-quality block cheddar through their partner, Ornua. 

In addition to producing cheese, they produce bulk cream and whey proteins. They also focus on providing high quality, traceable fresh milk to a range of dairy manufacturers and processors across the UK. This is a key part of their business and they work with many customers as their long-term supply partner, helping them to deliver their objectives through their responsible sourcing and supply chain management services. 

The Opportunity 

At this time First Milk seeks an outstanding Site Director at their Haverfordwest site. This role will provide site leadership, with full responsibility for the effective delivery of all operational activities to ensure exceptional operational performance whilst delivering on their long-term strategic aims to deliver dairy prosperity to their members.  

Overseeing all aspects of site operational delivery, you will be responsible for:  

• P&L management and accountability for site 
• Ensuring all site objectives are achieved in full, on time and within budget 
• Ensure all regulatory and accreditations are effectively managed 
• Ensure business objectives are achieved in full, on time and within budget 
• Any other accountabilities which will support the delivery of the business strategy 
• Monitoring the day-to-day performance of site; reviewing all KPIs and taking corrective action as necessary

In this role you will provide engaging leadership for the site, setting the agenda and providing clarity and priority for site colleagues. If you are someone who relishes a challenge we would love to hear from you. 

The successful candidate 

You will be Approachable, Inspiring, Open, Enabling and a Positively Challenging leader.

Essential criteria: 

• Experienced leader with food industry experience who has demonstrable experience of leading multi-functional teams of c.100 employees plus 
• Ability to adapt leadership style to suit situation & individuals and is able to motivate and empower others through coaching and mentoring skills 
• Significant experience of extensive people management across all areas of the employee life cycle • Strong technical background with the ability to understand complex processes quickly 
• Evidence of success in leading successful change management programmes 
• Significant, demonstrable Project Management experience 
• The ability to influence, motivate and connect equally well at all levels 
• Demonstrates an ability to prioritise both short and long term priorities – enjoys both the strategic challenges and day to day transactional matters 
• Robust, resilient and determined; able to drive through plans and their execution

Desirable criteria: 

• Dairy industry experience 
• Experience of operational excellence tools such as Lean/TPM. 
• Degree qualified in relevant discipline 
• Post graduate management qualification 
• Recognised H&S leadership qualification

The location 

This role is based at the Haverfordwest site in rural Wales, this is a site based position and support to relocate to this idyllic location would be offered. 

Haverfordwest can be found in the centre of Pembrokeshire, positioned on the western arm of the upper reaches of the River Cleddau and is home 14,000 people. It dates as far back into history as the Saxons, although Iron Age Settlers were nearby on Beacon Hill, Romans, and Viking Invaders have all left their mark. Its surrounded by pleasing rich green countryside and is only six miles or so from the sea. The town nudges the border of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park so walkers and cyclists are often kept busy, whilst those who prefer to explore the town will certainly uncover a myriad of shops, bars, and restaurants with tasty morsels to try, and there is even an ancient Coaching Inn dating back to the 1700’s, which continues to play its part to visitors just as it did when Haverfordwest was on a coaching route in centuries past. The town has an industrial legacy of coal mining and stone quarrying, together with dairy farming which today provides the creamery with milk. 

To apply, please send your CV to Jaclyn Needham, Director at FWB Park Brown at applications@fwbparkbrown.com.  For an initial confidential conversation please contact 0131 539 7087.