Job Title: Whey Processing Production Manager

Contact: Conor OHagan

Description:

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Whey Processing Plant Manager to lead the operations of a state-of-the-art whey ultra-filtration facility. This senior management role involves overseeing all aspects of performance, including upstream and downstream processing, to produce high-quality whey protein and lactose-based nutrition products for global customers in the infant formula, health, and food sectors.

Top 3 Things to Know About this Role:

1. Strong Salary - depending on experience
2. Opportunity to lead a cutting-edge whey processing facility
3. Work with a global customer base in the nutrition and health sectors

The Role:

As the Whey Processing Production Manager, you will:

• Lead a multi-disciplinary team to ensure the safe, efficient operation, cleaning, and maintenance of the whey processing plant.
• Manage all aspects of upstream and downstream whey processing to optimise output, cost, and quality performance.
• Apply technical and analytical expertise to support high-performance manufacturing.
• Build and utilise process trends to enable data-driven decision-making.
• Drive decisions with a focus on quality, cost, and customer outcomes.
• Investigate and resolve quality issues, implementing corrective actions to restore and improve performance.
• Empower the team with process methodologies to ensure timely and effective decision-making.
• Conduct trials and adjust input parameters to enhance output performance, yield, and efficiency.
• Identify and address bottlenecks in the process, collaborating with the engineering team to implement solutions.
• Act as a key liaison with external customers, ensuring their expectations are met.
• Maintain compliance with food safety, quality, health and safety, and operational standards.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, identifying opportunities to enhance performance and reliability.
• Lead and support investment and improvement initiatives to achieve world-class manufacturing standards.

The Person:

To excel in this role, you will need:

• A third-level qualification in an applied science discipline, preferably chemical or mechanical engineering.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in food processing management or a similar field.
• Strong technical and analytical skills within a continuous processing or complex manufacturing environment.
• Proven leadership experience, with the ability to develop and manage multi-disciplinary teams.
• A track record of delivering operational excellence across quality, cost, output, and continuous improvement.
• In-depth knowledge of food processing operations, with the practical skills and judgement to thrive in a world-class production environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across internal teams and with external customers.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience in dairy, whey, or nutritional ingredients manufacturing.
• Familiarity with filtration technologies and complex processing plant operations.
• A history of leading major improvement or capital investment programmes in manufacturing.

The Reward:

• Competitive salary (negotiable based on experience).
• Opportunity to work in a cutting-edge facility with a global customer base.
• A supportive and innovative company culture that values continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Full-time hours, Monday to Friday.
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression.

Next Steps:

For further information and to apply for this Whey Processing Production Manager role, please contact us. Visit our website to explore a full list of opportunities in your industry.

Why Hunter Savage?

At Hunter Savage, we are a specialist recruitment consultancy dedicated to connecting talented professionals with exceptional opportunities in their industries. Our expert team provides confidential advice and guidance to help you take the next step in your career.

Salary details are provided as a guide and may vary based on experience and expertise. We reserve the right to heighten shortlisting criteria depending on the calibre of response