About the job

Description

Responsible for overseeing all operations at our Devon mill, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality production. Reporting to the Operations Director and overseeing the Operations Manager this role is essential in stabilizing the site, improving governance, and unlocking long-term value. The successful candidate will provide strategic oversight and accountability, aligning the structure with our other remote sites in Longtown and Aspatria. If you have experience across multi sites in a unionised environment, have developed and executed CapEx strategies, and have experience within feed, food or agriculture - you're our ideal candidate!

Why NWF Agriculture?

• Up too £80,000 dependant on experience
• Car allowance
• 20% bonus
• Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm
• 33 days holiday including bank holidays with the option to buy more
• Extensive progression opportunities across the wider group that has 2 other businesses
• Extensive training opportunities with funded accredited courses
• Discounts across shopping, groceries, travel, entertainment, dining, days out, health & beauty and much more!
• Medicash
• Long service awards
• The usual: company pension, life assurance, cycle to work scheme, employee assistance programme, free refreshments, free on-site parking

Day to Day

Leadership & Governance

• Act as the senior leader atWixlandMill, responsible for site performance and culture.
• Lead and develop the site leadership team including the Operations Manager and functional leads.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, teamwork, and professional development.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Own site H&S strategy and compliance. Ensure all statutory and company standards are met or exceeded.
• Provide visible leadership on safety, embedding a culture of continuous improvement and risk awareness.
• Ensure full compliance with UFAS, Trading Standards, EA and internal audit requirements.

Operational Performance

• Drive delivery of budgeted performance across production output, OEE, energy use, cost control, and waste reduction.
• Oversee short- and long-term production planning and ensure the site is resourced effectively.
• Monitor and improve site KPIs, including safety, quality, service, and cost.

People & Culture

• Create a supportive, high-performing environment through strong leadership presence, open communication, and employee engagement.
• Oversee the application of HR policies on site including grievance, disciplinary, performance management, and development.
• Support succession planning and skills development across the site.

Capital & Projects

• Lead site investment projects, including capex planning, business cases, and implementation.
• Collaborate with the Group Engineering Manager to deliver site infrastructure improvements.

What will you bring?

• Proven experience in multi site leadership or senior operations roles within manufacturing feed or food industry would be advantageous.
• Experience developing and executing CapEx strategy.
• Proven experience of delivering performance improvement and cultural change.
• Knowledge of feed manufacturing processes, quality systems, and regulatory requirements.
• Effective people leader, with strongteam-building, communication and decision-making skills.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, able to think on feet and be proactive in managing issues that arise.
• IOSH or NEBOSH would be advantageous.
• Computer literate including Microsoft Office Suite.

Who are NWF Agriculture?

NWF Group comprises of 3 key businesses: NWF Fuels, NWF Agriculture & Boughey Distribution. Employing over 1,400 colleagues across the group, we encourage and empower our people to progress and move fluidly through the group, meaning the sky really is the limit when you join us!

What makes NWF Agriculture different? We go beyond feeds offering a wide range of technical services, including our unique laboratory service, enabling us to develop the correct nutrition for individual flocks and herds. We manufacture the highest quality dairy, beef and sheep feeds to over 4,750 farmers feeding one in six dairy cows across the nation! NWF Agriculture has grown organically to be the second biggest ruminant feed manufacturer in the UK and we want you to be part of it!

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.