{"id":3359696,"url":"https://alion.io/job/keelings-operations-director","title":"Operations Director","company":{"id":2525463,"name":"Keelings","domain":"keelings.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/keelings","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Occupop","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":88,"open_postings":22,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.5,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-11-02T06:13:15Z"}},"role":"Operations","role_family":"Operations","seniority":"head","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Dublin, Ireland"],"countries":["IE"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":96000,"max_usd":214000,"period":"year","method":"global_role_cell_scaled_by_country","sample_n":2174},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-22T12:26:32Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-27","last_verified_at":"2026-11-02T06:46:38Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":40,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":40},"description":"About Keelings\nKeelings is a 100% Irish-owned family business passionate about fresh produce. Operating across Ireland, the UK, and Europe, we grow, source, and supply top-quality fruit and vegetables. Our success is built on innovation, sustainability, and strong partnerships - powered by our dedicated people.\nPurpose of the Role:\nThe Operations Director is a pivotal senior leadership role responsible for providing strategic direction and operational leadership across the organisation's end-to-end operational function. The role will oversee the complete operational ecosystem, including warehouse, logistics, transport, technical, quality, stock control and site infrastructure functions, ensuring the business delivers exceptional customer service, operational excellence and sustainable growth.\nThe successful candidate will be responsible for developing a high-performing operational capability through effective leadership, robust processes, performance management, continuous improvement and the development of scalable ways of working. Working as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, the role will influence business strategy, shape future operational requirements and ensure the organisation is positioned to support growth, evolving customer expectations and future business challenges.\nKey Accountabilities & Responsibilities:\nProvide strategic leadership across a complex, multi-functional operational environment encompassing warehouse, logistics, transport, technical, quality, stock control and site infrastructure functions.\nDevelop and execute the operational strategy, ensuring the business has the capability, capacity, infrastructure and resources required to support current performance and future growth while delivering agreed service, quality, productivity, safety, compliance and customer performance objectives.\nAssume full P&L responsibility for the operational function, driving financial performance through disciplined budget management, cost control, productivity improvement, sustainable margin enhancement and strategic cost-saving initiatives.\nProvide strategic oversight of the company's transport operation and fleet, ensuring optimum fleet utilisation, compliance, maintenance planning, replacement strategies, operational efficiency and cost effectiveness across a fleet of 50+ vehicles.\nIdentify, sponsor and deliver technology-led improvement programmes, leveraging automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital systems, data analytics and emerging technologies.\nEnsure warehouse, logistics and transport operations consistently deliver exceptional customer service while maintaining robust controls across inventory management, stock accuracy, product integrity, operational risk, food safety, quality, HACCP, health & safety and regulatory compliance.\nKey Skills & Knowledge\nEssential:\nProven experience operating at Director or Senior Leadership level within a complex operational, logistics, distribution, FMCG, food or similarly fast-paced environment.\nSignificant experience managing operational P&L, budgets, cost control programmes and financial performance.\nExperience developing workforce strategies, labour planning models and recruitment plans aligned to changing operational demands and seasonal requirements.\nLegally compliant knowledge of transport operations with a current Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).\nStrong understanding of warehouse operations, logistics, inventory management, distribution, stock control and end-to-end operational flow.\nDemonstrable experience identifying and implementing technology, automation, AI or digital solutions that improve operational capability and efficiency.\nStrong knowledge of food safety, HACCP, quality management systems, health & safety and regulatory compliance.\nDesirable:\nExperience within FMCG, fresh produce, foodservice, chilled distribution or food manufacturing.\nExperience leading warehouse expansion, operational integration, infrastructure development or major capital investment projects.\nExperience implementing Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Transport Management Systems (TMS), ERP platforms or other digital operational technologies.\nKnowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, Six Sigma or other continuous improvement methodologies.\nEvidence of successfully leading large-scale business transformation or organisational growth programmes.\nEducation & Qualifications:\nDegree level (or higher) qualification in Operations Management, Supply Chain, Engineering, Business or a related discipline.\nTransport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification is required.\nEvidence of continuous professional development.\nRelevant leadership, logistics or operational excellence qualifications desirable.\nAdditional relevant information:\nThis role requires a highly visible, commercially focused operational leader who is equally comfortable developing long-term strategy and leading operational execution.\nThe successful candidate will be expected to challenge existing practices, influence change and build a best-in-class operational function capable of supporting the organisation's long-term growth ambitions.\nRegular presence within operational areas is expected to maintain visibility, engagement and a detailed understanding of day-to-day performance.\nThe role may require occasional travel between operational sites, customer locations, suppliers and strategic partners. \nBenefits:\nStaff discount at Keelings Farm Shop and subsidized canteen\nFree On-site parking with access to electric chargers\nWellness Initiatives such as wellness week\nKeelings Values\nPeople Matter\nTeamwork\nIntegrity\nPassion for Achievement\nInclusion & Diversity Statement\nIn Keelings we value all perspectives and knowledge that our colleagues bring to our business. We are committed to forming a diverse and inclusive team where all can share their unique experiences and perspectives. We welcome applications from all cultures and backgrounds and are dedicated to forming an environment of inclusiveness and diversity where all can thoroughly feel a sense of belonging.\nReasonable Accommodation Statement\nIf you require reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know \nRecruitment Process\n1. CV Submission & email acknowledgment of receipt\n2. Phone Screening\n3. 1st Interview\n4. 2nd Interview\n5. Outcome & Feedback\nKeelings Careers - https://www.keelings.com/careers-keelings/\nKeelings Strategy & Values - https://www.keelings.com/our-people/","description_format":"text","description_chars":6583,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Professional development"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["FMCG & Consumer Brand Groups"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-27T20:53:16Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":28,"band":"fade","label":"Fading","p_open":1,"p_active":0.505,"p_room":0.55,"age_days":40,"expected_fill_days":29,"reasons":["conf:3","stale_co","win:tail"],"computed_at":"2026-11-02T06:13:15Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/keelings-operations-director","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/keelings-operations-director.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-02T07:03:44Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":9882,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-03T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":2525463},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=2525463"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fkeelings-operations-director"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fkeelings-operations-director"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fkeelings-operations-director"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/keelings-operations-director\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fkeelings-operations-director"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3359696}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"keelings.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3359696},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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