Interim Site Director

Job Title

Interim Site Director – FMCG

Location

Middlesbrough

Contract Type

Interim, fixed-term (6 months)

Salary

All day rate and/or FTC rates considered.

Role Purpose

The Interim Site Director is accountable for the day-to-day leadership and operational running of the manufacturing site for the duration of a 6-month assignment, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant operations while maintaining continuity of performance across the site.

The role provides hands-on operational leadership across Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, and Health & Safety, ensuring the site continues to run smoothly, safely, and to the required quality and delivery standards throughout the interim period. The Interim Site Director will maintain a stable, high-performing operating environment, provide strong day-to-day leadership to the site team, and ensure a well-governed, well-controlled factory floor.

This is an operationally focused leadership role, providing continuity and stability during the assignment period, with a clear handover to a permanent Site Director at the end of the term.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

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• Provide day-to-day leadership of the manufacturing site, ensuring safe, efficient, and well-controlled operations throughout the assignment.
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• Maintain continuity of site performance, ensuring existing operating standards, plans, and priorities are sustained during the interim period.
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• Ensure manufacturing capability, capacity, and resources are effectively deployed to meet production and delivery requirements.
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• Provide clear, visible leadership on the factory floor, maintaining stability and confidence across the site during the transition.
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Operational Excellence

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• Provide leadership for all manufacturing and supply chain activities, ensuring safe, efficient, and well-organised operations.
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• Maintain a culture of operational discipline through continuous improvement, structured problem-solving, and day-to-day performance management.
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• Monitor and maintain site KPIs and performance reporting, ensuring issues are identified and addressed promptly.
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• Oversee production planning and scheduling to ensure output, quality, and delivery targets are consistently met.
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People & Culture

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• Maintain a high-performing, engaged site team, providing stable and consistent leadership during the interim period.
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• Provide day-to-day management and support to site leaders and their teams, ensuring clarity of roles, priorities, and accountability.
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• Maintain positive employee relations and a collaborative working environment across the site.
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• Support the development and readiness of the site team ahead of the transition to a permanent Site Director.
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Safety, Quality & Compliance

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• Act as the accountable leader for health, safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory compliance across the site.
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• Ensure robust governance systems remain in place to maintain compliance with all relevant legislation, customer standards, and industry requirements.
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• Promote a culture where safety, quality, and compliance are embedded as fundamental day-to-day priorities.
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• Ensure any safety, quality, or compliance issues are addressed promptly and appropriately escalated.
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Continuous Improvement

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• Maintain momentum on existing continuous improvement initiatives, ensuring operational capability and site performance are sustained or improved.
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• Champion data-driven decision-making and adherence to best practice across all site functions.
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• Identify and address operational risks or inefficiencies arising during the interim period, escalating as appropriate.
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Skills & Experience Required

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• Proven operational leadership experience within FMCG, food, beverage, packaging, or other high-volume manufacturing environments.
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• Demonstrated success leading manufacturing operations at site level, with full accountability for safety, quality, and operational performance.
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• Experience operating as an interim or transitional leader, able to quickly assess a site and maintain stability and continuity.
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• Track record of delivering consistent operational performance, productivity, and service through hands-on leadership.
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• Experience leading multi-functional site teams, including Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain.
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• Strong understanding of manufacturing governance, quality systems, regulatory compliance, and risk management within a regulated environment.
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• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trust quickly.
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• Resilient, adaptable, and capable of maintaining site stability through an interim leadership transition.
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Qualifications

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• Degree qualified in Operations Management, Supply Chain, Business Management, or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
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• FMCG experience is essential
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Desirable

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• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent continuous improvement certification.
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• IOSH Managing Safely, NEBOSH Certificate, or equivalent Health & Safety qualification.
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• Experience operating within BRCGS, HACCP, GMP, ISO, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
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