_{28th November, 2025}

Production Manager Carlow
 
Overview
 
A growing dairy manufacturing business is seeking an experienced and hands-on Production Manager to lead daily operations across a facility producing approximately 20 milk and cream products. This role requires a strong people manager who can motivate an 8-person production team while ensuring products are manufactured safely, efficiently, and in line with forecasted demand.
 
While this is not a highly automated or software-driven environment, the business has strong ambitions to modernise. The successful candidate will bring structure, improved efficiency, and smart KPI-driven management to help the organisation scale sustainably.
 
Key Responsibilities
Production Planning & Output

• Ensure daily production volumes meet forecasted demand across ~20 SKUs.
• Create simple but effective production plans that optimise labour, materials, and equipment usage.
• Monitor yields, wastage, and efficiency ratios, implementing improvements where possible.
• Maintain accurate production records and batch documentation.

People Management

• Lead, motivate, and supervise a team of 8 production operatives.
• Provide coaching, support, and on-the-job training to develop skills and performance.
• Build a positive, collaborative, accountable team culture.
• Manage staff scheduling, performance reviews, and daily role allocation.

Operational Excellence & Modernisation

• Introduce modern production practices suited to a small manufacturing environment.
• Develop and implement meaningful KPIs around efficiency, labour utilisation, downtime, quality, and customer fulfilment.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, reduce waste, and increase throughput.
• Drive continuous improvement across production operations without unnecessary complexity.

Quality & Compliance

• Ensure all products are manufactured to required safety, quality, and hygiene standards.
• Work closely with technical/quality to maintain strong food safety culture and audit readiness.
• Support root cause analysis and corrective actions where deviations occur.

Materials & Inventory

• Support raw material and packaging usage tracking to meet production requirements.
• Work with procurement/owner to ensure appropriate inventory levels are maintained.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Liaise with sales and forecasting teams to anticipate demand and plan accordingly.
• Communicate production challenges or capacity constraints proactively.
• Support NPD or new product rollouts where required.

 
Experience & Qualifications
Essential

• 3-5+ years' experience in a Production Manager, Shift Manager, or Senior Production Supervisor role within food or beverage manufacturing (dairy experience desirable).
• Proven track record of managing, motivating, and developing small teams.
• Strong understanding of production planning, throughput, efficiency improvement, and day-to-day factory operations.
• Experience implementing KPIs and simple performance management structures.
• Familiarity with food safety standards (HACCP, GMP, hygiene).
• Ability to thrive in a hands-on role within a small but growing business.
• Strong problem-solving and organisational skills.

Desirable

• Experience in a dairy or liquid processing environment.
• Some exposure to basic production planning tools or process improvement methodologies (Lean, continuous improvement).
• A relevant technical qualification (Food Science, Production Management, Operations, Engineering, or similar).

Personal Attributes

• Practical, pragmatic, and confident working in a low-automation environment.
• Strong communicator who can bring people with them on a journey of improvement.
• Positive leadership style with a focus on accountability and team morale.
• Ambitious and excited to support a growing family business with expansion plans.

 

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