Operations Director, Soft Fruit Farming, Norfolk

This is a great opportunity to join a leading soft fruit producer to the UK retail market as Farm Operations Director.

Reporting to the Managing Director this senior leadership position will oversee the growing, harvesting and packhouse side of this major soft fruit producing facility. Once harvested, fruits are processed by the three on-site factories with around 90% being supplied to the UK retail sector and the other 10% exported. This is a business with an excellent reputation in the market that has demonstrated consistent growth leading to the need for this newly created role.

The basic objective of this role is to achieve and then exceed the financial and production targets for the fruit growing enterprises. Further to this you will look for opportunities to deliver improvements to the site such as:

• KPI's around quality, costs, labour and service
• Improved land management and crop production
• New equipment, such as automated picking machinery
• Glass houses and polytunnel improvement
• New product development / commercial opportunities

The reporting team has excellent experience in farming management such as growing, irrigation and harvesting giving you a strong support structure to allow you to focus on strategic improvements to the farm. You will bring commercial acumen, analytical skills and fresh ideas to move the farm forward and keep ahead of the competition.

This role would suit an individual from a large-scale food processing background, with growing experience a plus. A strong people manager who can deliver change through continuous improvement methods would be a distinct advantage. You could be currently working as an Operations Manager/Director or General Manager looking for a board level appointment in your next role.

This is an immediate need, so please submit your CV if you are interested.

Tel: +44 (0) 1625 560778

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