Operations Director Onsite in Rainham, Essex About us Frive is the UK’s highest-rated meal plan service, cooked by chefs. We prepare, cook and deliver fresh and healthy meals to your door so you can save time and eat healthy at the same time. We work with people from all different backgrounds and communities and recognise our own biases. We strive to create a strong sense of belonging and believe we will be better equipped to achieve our goals by building a team that approaches problems from different angles, using different perspectives and experiences to solve problems. All qualified applicants will be considered and we have no regard for age, ethnicity, ability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, nationality, race, religion, or sexual orientation the more the merrier, and together we can achieve greatness Mission: To make healthy eating convenient, delicious and accessible, whilst championing locally sourced and organic ingredients. Vision: To inspire a global shift towards a healthier society by changing eating habits and restoring food to its purest form. Values Empowerment: We empower our people to make strong, independent decisions with confidence Transparency: We share information openly and with intention Open Communication: We communicate directly and honestly High Performance: We foster an environment that attracts, retains, and rewards high performance Agility: We encourage flexibility in our people by reducing blockers and prioritising their creativity and productivity Impact The Operations Director provides inspiration and strategic leadership across all facets of Operations to ensure the production of high-quality food products in compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards. They lead all operational departments, including kitchen, production, warehouse, procurement, NPD, engineering, technical and quality assurance, to meet organisational goals efficiently and profitably. Whilst able to step into the day-to-day operations if required, the key criteria for success in this role is strategic development of the operational division and its departments, aligned with business growth and strategy. Key Responsibilities: Leadership & Management: Develop and implement strategic plans to improve operational efficiency and profitability, and to ensure delivery of the strategic growth plan. Lead, mentor, and manage department heads and their teams to achieve stretching performance objectives. Collaborate with the People team to recruit, train, and retain a highly skilled and innovative workforce. Lead the achievement of high performance, employee engagement, and conflict resolution. Foster a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement. Production, Infrastructure and Capacity Planning: Ensure the facility is equipped to meet current and future operational demands, including scalability and technological advancements. Through the Senior Operations Manager, ensure the effective planning and execution of production schedules to meet customer demand. Set targets and goals to ensure the facility operates at optimal efficiency while maintaining product quality. Direct teams to monitor and manage inventory levels to balance cost efficiency with production needs. Quality Assurance & Compliance: Take ultimate accountability for all regulatory and compliance matters, including H&S and Food Safety. Through the Head of Technical, ensure compliance with food safety regulations. Direct quality assurance strategy and programs to maintain the highest product standards. Ensure required audits and inspections are completed and reported upon, providing ELT or investor updates as required. Workplace Safety: Set the strategy to ensure a safe working environment and monitor the delivery of safe systems of working to ensure ultimate compliance across all areas. Lead by example, and inspire other leaders to do so, in a “zero tolerance” culture. Ensure supply chain efficiency: Set top-line strategy and targets for Procurement, to ensure that the supply chain is efficient and effective, directing the Head of Procurement to ensure that raw materials and finished products are delivered on time and in full. Support the effective management of supplier relationships and service providers, ensuring contract negotiations and pricing meet the broader budget and financial plans. Oversee and implement inventory management strategies which optimise stock levels and reduce waste. Technology, Engineering and Equipment: Partner closely with our Technology teams to successfully implement and optimise our ERP system in 2025. Set the engineering and equipment strategy to ensure delivery of the broader strategic goals of the organisation, including development of new product lines, growth of production volumes, and/or diversification. Lead the Maintenance/Engineering function to develop and implement preventive maintenance programs to reduce downtime and increase equipment reliability. Ensure the effective maintenance of all equipment and facilities to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient production. Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and standards, including health and safety regulations. Strategic Planning for Factory Relocation: Develop and oversee the end-to-end strategy for a potential 2026 factory move, ensuring alignment with the company’s growth objectives and operational needs. Own, lead and execute detailed plans to successfully onboard the new facility, including all aspects of safety, food safety and resource modelling and hiring. Financial Management: Prepare and manage budgets, ensuring alignment with financial goals. Monitor financial performance, analyze variances, and implement corrective actions as needed. Drive cost control initiatives to enhance profitability. Stakeholder relationships: Collaborate with stakeholders across the organisation to understand how other business decisions (brand, growth, customer, etc) will impact production needs and develop production strategies that meet their requirements. Communicate production strategies and results to stakeholders to ensure alignment and engagement. Lead cross-functional teams to implement production initiatives and resolve production-related issues. Industry knowledge: Stay current with industry trends and best practices to ensure the production program remains innovative and competitive. Attend industry events and conferences to network and learn about new products and techniques. Build and maintain relationships with industry associations, suppliers, and other key stakeholders. Share knowledge and best practices with internal stakeholders to promote continuous improvement. Develop and implement continuous improvement initiatives: Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to optimise production efficiency, reduce waste, and improve quality. Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistent and efficient production processes. Lead and support cross-functional teams in implementing process improvements and achieving production targets. Manage risk and crisis situations: Develop and implement risk management strategies to mitigate and manage risks associated with food manufacturing operations. Lead and support crisis management teams in responding to emergencies and mitigating the impact on operations and customers. Ensure that appropriate contingency plans are in place to address potential disruptions to operations. Key Qualifications: Extensive experience in food manufacturing, with proven experience as a senior leader of all food manufacturing operations across a single site. Subscription-based manufacturing is desirable. Strong knowledge of food manufacturing principles, practices, and methods, with a particular focus on BRC standards. Extensive knowledge of health & safety and food safety standards, with the proven ability to swiftly course correct and implement safe systems of working. Demonstrable experience of successfully leading other leaders, including hiring, onboarding, managing, coaching, training and performance interventions. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities and work under pressure. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Ability to work flexible hours, as needed. Work Environment: The Operations Director will work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, leading a team of Operations professionals. The work may require occasional overtime or weekend work to meet production targets or resolve issues. Staff Benefits Private Medical Insurance 25 days Holiday Public Discount off our amazing food Hybrid working pattern Enhanced parental leave Evolving future options as we scale and learn What's next? If you are interested in learning more about the role and think this could be for you, then don't hesitate and apply now. We look forward to hearing from you and love hearing from people who are passionate about our purpose and vision.