Interim Site Director

Job Title

Interim Site Director – FMCG

Location

Middlesbrough

Contract Type

Interim, fixed-term (6 months)

Salary

All day rate and/or FTC rates considered.

Role Purpose

The Interim Site Director is accountable for the day-to-day leadership and operational running of the manufacturing site for the duration of a 6-month assignment, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant operations while maintaining continuity of performance across the site.

The role provides hands-on operational leadership across Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, and Health & Safety, ensuring the site continues to run smoothly, safely, and to the required quality and delivery standards throughout the interim period. The Interim Site Director will maintain a stable, high-performing operating environment, provide strong day-to-day leadership to the site team, and ensure a well-governed, well-controlled factory floor.

This is an operationally focused leadership role, providing continuity and stability during the assignment period, with a clear handover to a permanent Site Director at the end of the term.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

Provide day-to-day leadership of the manufacturing site, ensuring safe, efficient, and well-controlled operations throughout the assignment.

Maintain continuity of site performance, ensuring existing operating standards, plans, and priorities are sustained during the interim period.

Ensure manufacturing capability, capacity, and resources are effectively deployed to meet production and delivery requirements.

Provide clear, visible leadership on the factory floor, maintaining stability and confidence across the site during the transition.

Operational Excellence

Provide leadership for all manufacturing and supply chain activities, ensuring safe, efficient, and well-organised operations.

Maintain a culture of operational discipline through continuous improvement, structured problem-solving, and day-to-day performance management.

Monitor and maintain site KPIs and performance reporting, ensuring issues are identified and addressed promptly.

Oversee production planning and scheduling to ensure output, quality, and delivery targets are consistently met.

People & Culture

Maintain a high-performing, engaged site team, providing stable and consistent leadership during the interim period.

Provide day-to-day management and support to site leaders and their teams, ensuring clarity of roles, priorities, and accountability.

Maintain positive employee relations and a collaborative working environment across the site.

Support the development and readiness of the site team ahead of the transition to a permanent Site Director.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

Act as the accountable leader for health, safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory compliance across the site.

Ensure robust governance systems remain in place to maintain compliance with all relevant legislation, customer standards, and industry requirements.

Promote a culture where safety, quality, and compliance are embedded as fundamental day-to-day priorities.

Ensure any safety, quality, or compliance issues are addressed promptly and appropriately escalated.

Continuous Improvement

Maintain momentum on existing continuous improvement initiatives, ensuring operational capability and site performance are sustained or improved.

Champion data-driven decision-making and adherence to best practice across all site functions.

Identify and address operational risks or inefficiencies arising during the interim period, escalating as appropriate.

Skills & Experience Required

Proven operational leadership experience within FMCG, food, beverage, packaging, or other high-volume manufacturing environments.

Demonstrated success leading manufacturing operations at site level, with full accountability for safety, quality, and operational performance.

Experience operating as an interim or transitional leader, able to quickly assess a site and maintain stability and continuity.

Track record of delivering consistent operational performance, productivity, and service through hands-on leadership.

Experience leading multi-functional site teams, including Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain.

Strong understanding of manufacturing governance, quality systems, regulatory compliance, and risk management within a regulated environment.

Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trust quickly.

Resilient, adaptable, and capable of maintaining site stability through an interim leadership transition.

Qualifications

Degree qualified in Operations Management, Supply Chain, Business Management, or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.

FMCG experience is essential

Desirable

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent continuous improvement certification.

IOSH Managing Safely, NEBOSH Certificate, or equivalent Health & Safety qualification.

Experience operating within BRCGS, HACCP, GMP, ISO, or other regulated manufacturing environments.