Job Title: Operations Director Role Type: Full Time, Permanent Location: UK / Ireland (with regular travel to farms)
Overview: On behalf of our client, Harper Finley are recruiting an Operations Director on a full time, permanent basis. Our client is a well-established organisation within the agricultural sector, specialising in the end-to-end livestock supply chain from calf rearing through to finished cattle. They are seeking an experienced and commercially focused operator to lead and scale their farming network, driving performance, efficiency, and consistency across all operations. This is a hands-on leadership role suited to an individual who can operate both strategically and on the ground, with a clear pathway to Managing Director.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Drive operational performance across all farms, including both rearing and finishing operations
Maintain high standards across performance, animal welfare, and overall brand delivery
Identify underperforming farms and implement improvements or restructure where required
Oversee calf rearing operations across both owned and partner farms, ensuring consistency and throughput
Manage finishing operations, focusing on output, efficiency, and cost control
Oversee the movement of cattle through the supply chain, including logistics, planning, and slaughter scheduling
Work closely with procurement teams to ensure correct volumes and throughput across the system
Lead Technical and Planning teams, ensuring strong communication and execution across the network
Conduct regular farm visits, using data and insights to drive performance improvements
Review operational performance, manage costs, and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and margins
Qualifications and Experience Required:
Proven experience in a senior multi-site Operations or Supply Chain role within agriculture, livestock, or a similar sector
Demonstrated track record of improving operational performance and scaling operations
Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience managing costs, margins, and output
Highly data-driven, with the ability to analyse performance metrics and implement improvements
Experience leading and developing high-performing teams across multiple locations
Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and build relationships across farm networks
Benefits:
Competitive base salary circa £110,000
Performance-related bonus up to £50,000
Profit share linked to margin growth
Total bonus potential capped at £200,000
Clear pathway to Managing Director
High level of autonomy and ownership within the role
Opportunity to play a key role in scaling a growing operation
