Dairy Operations Director Job Description

This Dairy Operations Director job description sets out the main duties, qualifications, skills and measures of success for the role, which is also known as VP Operations, Plant Director, Manufacturing Director or Head of Operations. Download it free as a Word or PDF template and adapt it for your own vacancy.

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Job title	Dairy Operations Director
Also known as	VP Operations, Plant Director, Manufacturing Director, Head of Operations
Department	Dairy processing
Reports to	Managing Director
Direct reports	Senior Production Manager, Engineering Manager, Quality Manager and other department heads

What does a Dairy Operations Director do?

Leads all manufacturing operations at a dairy processing site, so that products are made and dispatched safely, to specification, on time and within budget. Manages the heads of production, engineering, quality and supporting departments, and drives continuous improvement, cost control and the longer-term development of the site.

Dairy Operations Director duties and responsibilities

Site leadership and people

Lead, coach and hold department heads to account for safety, output, quality and cost
Set up a structured six-monthly appraisal process for managers and supervisors and review the results
Decide staffing levels, recruit senior staff and recommend their pay to the Managing Director
Make sure every new starter completes induction and basic food hygiene training before working in production areas
Run a timetabled cycle of team briefings so information reaches every level of the site
Act as first point of contact for employee relations issues and handle discipline in line with company policy

Production and planning

Turn sales forecasts and the availability of milk, whey and ingredients into realistic production and packing plans
Plan ahead for seasonal changes in milk volume, composition and product demand
Check that plant, people and materials are ready for each production run
Agree contingency plans with managers to keep output moving during breakdowns
Work with planning, sales, logistics and milk procurement to meet customer orders and keep stock rotating

Engineering and assets

Keep plant and equipment maintained, calibrated and available for production
Ensure statutory inspections of pressure vessels, lifting equipment and similar plant are done on time
Identify future investment needs and make the case for capital spending to the board
Specify new equipment and obtain quotations with the purchasing team

Food safety, quality and compliance

Oversee the quality and food safety management systems, including ISO 9001 and ISO 22000 where held
Make sure HACCP critical control points are monitored, recorded and acted on
Check that ingredients and packaging come only from approved suppliers against agreed specifications
Enforce cleaning, hygiene and contamination controls across all production and storage areas
Lead the site through regulatory inspections, customer audits and certification visits
Keep operations in line with current health and safety, food safety and environmental law

Budgets, performance and reporting

Agree departmental budgets and control spending on labour, utilities, packaging and maintenance
Track yields, process losses, waste, energy use and absence, and act on adverse trends
Find savings through better yields, process changes, competitive sourcing and labour efficiency
Produce a weekly report for the Managing Director on yields, efficiency, waste and non-conformances
Present a monthly review of site performance and budget variances to the board

Dairy Operations Director qualifications and experience

Essential

Degree or equivalent qualification in dairy technology, food science or engineering
Extensive senior management experience in food or dairy manufacturing, typically 10 years or more
Track record of leading managers across production, engineering and quality functions
Sound knowledge of HACCP, ISO 9001, ISO 22000 and food safety regulation
Experience of setting and managing manufacturing budgets
Experience of preparing and presenting capital expenditure cases

Desirable

Formal management qualification such as an MBA or diploma in management
Experience in milk powder, whey or infant formula production
Lean manufacturing or Six Sigma training
Recognised health and safety qualification
Experience of product development

Skills and attributes

Leadership and people development
Production planning and scheduling
Financial and commercial awareness
Data analysis and performance reporting
Problem solving under pressure
Clear communication at all levels, including with regulators and customers
Handling conflict calmly and fairly

How success is measured

Lost-time accidents and reportable incidents
Product yield and process losses against budget
Operating costs against budget
Customer complaints, and non-conformances closed on time
On-time, in-full delivery of customer orders
Audit and inspection outcomes

Working conditions and safety

Site-based role in a food production environment, with PPE and hygiene rules in production areas. Hours follow the needs of the business, including some out-of-hours and on-call cover.

Follow health and safety rules and safe systems of work, and wear the correct PPE
Follow food safety, hygiene, HACCP and quality procedures at all times
Report hazards, accidents, near misses and concerns promptly

Dairy Operations Director interview questions

Use these questions to assess candidates for a Dairy Operations Director role. Each one includes what a good answer shows.

How do you turn a sales forecast and seasonal milk supply into a workable production plan?
What a good answer shows: Balances milk volumes, plant capacity, stock and customer priorities, and builds contingency into the plan.
Which measures would you review weekly to judge site performance, and why?
What a good answer shows: Picks safety, yield, losses, efficiency, waste, energy, quality and cost measures, and acts on trends rather than single figures.
How would you plan for seasonal changes in milk volume and composition?
What a good answer shows: Uses supply forecasts to plan capacity, product mix, maintenance and staffing ahead of peaks and troughs.
How do you build a case to the board for capital investment?
What a good answer shows: Links the investment to strategy, presents costs, returns and risks clearly, and shows the alternatives considered.
Milk intake will be 15% above plan for the next two weeks. How do you respond?
What a good answer shows: Assesses capacity and product options, works with sales and procurement, and protects safety and quality while minimising losses.
An unannounced inspection finds serious hygiene failings. What do you do?
What a good answer shows: Acts immediately on risks, takes ownership, agrees corrective actions with clear owners and checks the changes stick.
How do you build a strong food safety culture across every department on site?
What a good answer shows: Leads visibly, sets clear standards, involves staff, acts on issues and makes food safety part of daily management.
How do you make sure health and safety stays ahead of output pressure?
What a good answer shows: Leads by example, never trades safety for output, reviews incidents personally and holds managers accountable.
How do you hold department heads to account while keeping them motivated?
What a good answer shows: Sets clear objectives, reviews progress regularly, gives honest feedback and supports development alongside accountability.
How do you make sure information reaches every level of the site?
What a good answer shows: Uses a regular briefing cycle, clear messages and two-way feedback, and checks that information is understood.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a Dairy Operations Director do?

What qualifications does a Dairy Operations Director need?

Employers usually look for: degree or equivalent qualification in dairy technology, food science or engineering; extensive senior management experience in food or dairy manufacturing, typically 10 years or more; track record of leading managers across production, engineering and quality functions.

Who does a Dairy Operations Director report to?

A Dairy Operations Director usually reports to the Managing Director. Direct reports typically include senior Production Manager, Engineering Manager, Quality Manager and other department heads.

Can I use this Dairy Operations Director job description for my own vacancy?

Yes. Download the free Word template, add your location, contract and salary details, and adapt the duties to your site. You can then advertise the role on Dairy Jobs.