Ornua is a dairy co-operative which sells dairy products on behalf of its members, Ireland’s dairy processors and, in turn, Irish dairy farmers. It is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy products, exporting to 110 countries worldwide. Headquartered in Dublin, Ornua has annualised sales of over €3.5 billion and a global team of 3,000 employees.

Ornua is structured across two divisions: Ornua Foods and Ornua Ingredients. We operate from 10 business units worldwide, including 16 production facilities, and have sales and marketing teams working in-market across the globe in Africa, Asia, Germany, Ireland, the Middle East, Spain, the UK, and the US.

You may know us by our brands Kerrygold, Dubliner, Pilgrim’s Choice, Avantage, Forto, and BEO.
Ornua’s Values

At Ornua, our Values lie at the core of everything that we do and how we behave both individually and as a business. Our five values, and their underlying behaviours, encourage us to Seek and Embrace New Ideas , Make It Happen , Be Our True Selves , Show You Care and Achieve Great Things Together.
Ornua’s Growth

At Ornua, our co-operative ethos lies at the heart of how we do business. We care passionately about driving sustainable, profitable growth, underpinned by our ambitious ‘Path to Prosper’ strategy. We have delivered significant growth in our core business, and we have ambitious plans for continued growth over the next five years.

W HY T HIS R OLE IS V ALUABLE

The Operational Excellence Manager role will lead, facilitate & support all continuous improvement activities being undertaken throughout the business.

Reporting to the site Operations Director, this leadership role will be responsible for the delivery of the site Operational Excellence programme, including the creation, development & implementation of Op Ex standards & tools, as well as the facilitation & evolution of Op Ex related forums to support site performance goals.As a skilled data analyst, the role will identify and drive operational process improvement initiatives in line with best practice Op Ex methodologies through the ideation, ownership & facilitation of Op Ex projects and continuous improvement activities.

The role involves a hands-on approach, working with cross functional teams, and applying project management techniques in driving a structured, data-driven approach to deliver site process improvements in such areas as operational productivity, yield enhancement, product quality, waste reduction & process flow optimisation.

The Op Ex manager will act as coach & mentor to the site team members, ensuring best practice Op Ex methodologies & their practical application, are embedded into the site culture

Key Areas of Responsibility: Overall ownership of site Op Ex Programme Lead, facilitate & support all continuous improvement projects & activities Identify and drive operational process improvement initiatives in line with Ornua Group and local site operational goals. Development of “standards & tools” pertaining to best-in-class Op Ex methodologies Facilitation of Op Ex related forums Application of statistical techniques, lean manufacturing tools, six sigma, & other proven continuous improvement tools to achieve value creation and process optimisation goals Coach & mentor site team in Op Ex methodologies & the practical application of same

Key Requirements & competencies:
3rd Level Qualification in Process / Mechanical Engineering or Food/Dairy Science Lean Six Sigma black belt qualification or equivalent. Min. 5 years’ experience in a process improvement role Manufacturing industry experience Excellent project management skills Power BI or other data analytics experience (e.g., Tableau) Excellent collaboration and engagement skills across all levels Capable of leading large & small projects in a timely manner A clearly defined strategic thought process and a continuous improvement mind-set Demonstrate excellent problem-solving skills Confident to liaise at all levels, articulate with good presentation skills RIGOUR: For projects that involve others applies effective professional skill, analysis and decision making and planning and reviewing. FORWARD LOOKING: Leads others through change and contributes to competitive challenges and functional strategy plans . OWNERSHIP: Makes decisions about sustainable growth and/or manages performance and ensures that quality and delivery of others’ work; rewards and recognises success. WORKING TOGETHER: Creates and reinforces a collaborative culture across the business.

#LI-HYBRID