Operations Manager - Muller UK & Ireland : Job Details

Müller UK & Ireland is wholly owned by Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller which employs over 31,000 people throughout Europe. In the UK, Müller develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of branded and private label dairy products made with milk from 1,300 farmers in Britain.Müller is ranked within the top 20 in The Grocer’s Top 100 list of Britain’s Biggest Brands and is picked from shelves millions of times each year. Müller UK & Ireland includes:

Müller Milk & Ingredients which aims to be Britain’s private label dairy leader and produces branded and private label fresh milk, cream, butter and ingredients products. It boasts a network of dairies and depots servicing customers throughout the country.

Müller Yogurt & Desserts which is the UK’s leading yogurt manufacturer which aims to create millions more Müller moments for its consumers. It is responsible for major brands like Müller Corner, Müllerlight, Müller Bliss, Müller Rice, FRijj and Müller Kefir Smoothie and produces chilled desserts under licence from Mondelez International. It also supplies the UK private label yogurt market from a dedicated, state of the art yogurt facility.

Join Our Team as an Operations Manager – Manchester

Location: Manchester

Industry: FMCG / Dairy Manufacturing

Salary: Competitive Benefits

Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Are you a dynamic leader with a passion for operational excellence and continuous improvement? Do you thrive in a fast-paced FMCG environment and have a proven track record in driving performance, safety, and quality? If so, we want to hear from you!

We’re looking for an experienced Operations Manager to take the reins of our Manchester site’s day-to-day production operations. From milk intake to cream production, you’ll be at the heart of our mission to deliver best-in-class manufacturing performance while fostering a culture of innovation, safety, and engagement.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Lead and inspire cross-functional teams across production, processing, and supply.
• Drive site KPIs and implement a continuous improvement culture aligned with our 1-year and 3-year strategic goals.
• Ensure compliance with Health, Safety, Environmental, and Food Safety standards.
• Champion team development, succession planning, and performance management.
• Collaborate on budget planning and cost-competitive improvement initiatives.
• Support capital investment projects and deliver operational excellence through Lean and TPM methodologies.

What You’ll Bring:

• Strong background in FMCG manufacturing, ideally in dairy or liquid processing.
• Proven experience in Lean/TPM/World Class Manufacturing.
• Excellent leadership, coaching, and change management skills.
• Knowledge of BRC, Tesco PIU, ISO standards, and supply chain functions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and SAP.
• A Lean Sigma Green Belt or equivalent is a plus.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a forward-thinking company with a strong commitment to quality and sustainability.
• Work in a collaborative environment where your ideas and leadership make a real impact.
• Enjoy opportunities for career progression and professional development.
• 25 Days Annual Holiday Bank Holidays
• X4 Life Assurance
• Access an exclusive rewards platform
• Company Pension
• Free onsite secured colleague car parking

Ready to lead the way in operations?

Apply now and help shape the future of dairy manufacturing in Manchester.