Operational Excellence Manager

Job Description

Join Our Purpose – Feeding the Future

Nutreco is a member of the SHV family, and we are committed to 'Feeding the Future' through sustainable and innovative practices. Nutreco has two business lines:
Skretting is a leading global provider of innovative aquafeed solutions, revolutionizing aquaculture for a sustainable future. Trouw Nutrition specializes in animal nutrition and is committed to advancing livestock health and productivity through cutting‑edge solutions.

Are you passionate about driving operational excellence and continuous improvement in a manufacturing environment? Join Trouw Nutrition GB as an Operational Excellence Manager at our Ashbourne site. In this role, you will lead improvement initiatives, implement best practices, and support the site team to embed a culture of operational excellence.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to Trouw Nutrition’s operational efficiency, support a growing team, and make a tangible impact on both business results and customer satisfaction.

• Lead and execute the Operational Excellence masterplan for the Ashbourne site
• Identify and deliver process improvements and cost‑saving initiatives
• Engage teams on Lean and continuous improvement practices, fostering a culture of operational excellence
• Conduct diagnostics and assessments to identify opportunities aligned with business priorities.
• Own the Operational Excellence projects end‑to‑end, from planning to implementation and follow‑up
• Collaborate with customers to optimize supply chain efficiency and deliver mutual benefits.
• Analyse performance data, generate insights, and translate findings into actionable business recommendations.
• Partner with cross‑functional stakeholders, including Operations, Customer Service, and Planning, to ensure initiatives align with business goals.
• Report progress and contribute to long‑term operational strategies

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in manufacturing, operations, or continuous improvement.
• Proven track record in driving Lean, Operational Excellence, or process optimization initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret data sets into actionable insights.
• Hands‑on experience with improvement tools such as 5S, TPM, or Value Stream Mapping are desirable
• Lean certification preferred;
  Six Sigma Green/Black Belt is an advantage.
• Experience in project management and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Soft skills:
  
  analytical and solutions‑oriented, commercially aware, with strong communication. Resilient, adaptable, and proactive, balancing strategic thinking with hands‑on execution to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.

• Availability for occasional travel within Great Britain and Europe
• Work model:
  On‑site, full‑time (Ashbourne, UK)

• Full‑time role in a supportive and dynamic environment
• Opportunity to contribute to an international, dynamic environment
• Competitive remuneration and benefits package.
• Opportunities for professional growth within Nutreco and the SHV family

We value a seamless candidate experience and aim to respond within five (5) business days. The hiring process typically takes 4–6 weeks. For more information, please contact Luisa Ligabo at  We appreciate your interest in joining our mission to innovate and sustainably shape the future of food production