Operations Manager

Background

The family owned Volmary group specialises in the production of quality young plants. Founded almost 95 years ago and covering most of Europe with operations in Asia, Africa and the US, we are a rapidly developing international company headquartered in Germany.

Volmary Ltd operates autonomously from our UK site which has 50 acres of land with 20 acres of efficient glasshouses and Polythene greenhouses. They are computer controlled for under-ground and above-ground heating with lighting, shade, sprinklers and automatic ventilation to provide optimal growing conditions. Planting and cultivating operations within the facilities are largely manual, relying on the skill and dexterity of years of collective horticultural experience, coupled with appropriate modern technology where applicable.

Role

The Operations Manager will report directly to the Managing Director as part of a small structured team of 5 executives. This team comprises the Managing Director, Finance Manager, Technical Manager and Commercial Director.

The Operations Manager will have responsibility for the management of a 200 head operation (at peak season) alongside the Technical Manager. This position replaces the pending departure of our existing Operations manager and presents a rare opportunity to help grow a successful business, building significant efficiency through production process improvements for our family of horticultural products, allowing the Managing Director to direct their energies to the future growth of the business.

Our flat organisational structure has been specifically designed to ensure clear individual responsibilities within our core business process, where a positive atmosphere encourages teamwork and a spirit of mutual cooperation.

Objectives

The Operations Manager will manage a team of managerial and supervisory direct reports to achieve the production plan and lead continuous improvement initiatives in production processes and product quality. Our chief aim is to grow plants which surpass our customer’s quality expectations at the lowest possible cost.

A strong sense of belonging needs to be maintained within the business and beyond into the customer base, ensuring that our facilities are seen as Centres of Excellence for growing plants, which includes responsibility for our physical assets and their maintenance.

Leadership is required to develop clear process flows and implement lean methodologies within a seasonal industry with products which have a finite (short) life cycle.

The Operations manager will demonstrate natural gravitas and have the humility to communicate at all levels. They will have the ability to coach, mentor and lead employees within a flat organisation and provide a highly visible focal point to the business. This includes ensuring our in-house apprenticeship scheme receives appropriate attention and input.

Principal Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day production, goods inwards, despatch and quality operations alongside various horticultural labour processes such as sticking and topping.
• Volume and Labour planning to the sales forecast with labour deployment and control including the management of seasonal agency staff
• Actively develop and refine our stock management systems, developing accuracy and discipline in stock systems and operations
• Lead operational teams to follow the core business process and deliver financial expectations.
• Design, implement and develop production systems within the core business process around operational control, lean principles and efficiency.
• Ensure excellent communication and team working between management, operations, technical, transport and client-facing teams.
• Engage employees to develop their potential, building team spirit and a positive environment.
• Implement organisational change as the business dictates.
• Further develop management KPI reporting systems.
• Manage employee performance, retention and succession.
• To engage and liaise with other group colleagues to achieve best local and international results, harnessing the available group knowledge.
• Ensure Health and safety is paramount and that operational compliance demands are met across the operational business.
• Take charge of HR issues and manage them through, either directly or indirectly via appropriate manager discretion.
• Within remit and financial limits, approving purchase order issue and approving payments to suppliers.

Experience

The successful candidate is likely to be an existing operational leader with a strong background and track record of achievement in:

• Production and project management with a time-critical product in horticulture, food processing or similar.
• Communication & people management within an agile, ‘flat’ organisation.
• Driving system and process improvements to automate or improve labour intensive processes.
• Creative problem solving when there is no precedent.
• Enhancing the B2B customer experience, particularly when dealing with major retail customers.
• Managing flexibility within the workforce.

The Operations Manager must be pro-active and have the drive, determination, resilience, energy, enthusiasm and attitude to continuously improve the operations of Volmary Limited.

Ideally of graduate level calibre, success within the horticultural sector is not a prerequisite but is highly desirable as is exposure to mechanised equipment and high energy absorbing businesses.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £52,500.00-£57,500.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Free parking

Schedule:

• Day shift

Education:

• Certificate of Higher Education (required)

Experience:

• Operations management: 2 years (required)

Work Location: One location