Title:  Site Operational Excellence Lead

Müller UK & Ireland is wholly owned by Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller which employs over 31,000 people throughout Europe. In the UK, Müller develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of branded and private label dairy products made with milk from 1,300 farmers in Britain.Müller is ranked within the top 20 in The Grocer’s Top 100 list of Britain’s Biggest Brands and is picked from shelves millions of times each year. Müller UK & Ireland includes:

Müller Milk & Ingredients which aims to be Britain’s private label dairy leader and produces branded and private label fresh milk, cream, butter and ingredients products. It boasts a network of dairies and depots servicing customers throughout the country.

Müller Yogurt & Desserts which is the UK’s leading yogurt manufacturer which aims to create millions more Müller moments for its consumers. It is responsible for major brands like Müller Corner, Müllerlight, Müller Bliss, Müller Rice, FRijj and Müller Kefir Smoothie and produces chilled desserts under licence from Mondelez International. It also supplies the UK private label yogurt market from a dedicated, state of the art yogurt facility.

Operational Excellence Lead – Manchester

Permanent | Full-Time | Manufacturing | Continuous Improvement | Six Sigma

We are hiring an experienced Operational Excellence Lead to join our Manchester-based manufacturing site on a permanent, full-time basis. This is a key leadership role focused on driving continuous improvement, embedding a culture of Lean Manufacturing, and delivering measurable performance enhancements.

About the Role

As the Operational Excellence Lead, you will lead site-wide initiatives to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance team capability. You’ll apply Lean tools, Six Sigma methodologies, and performance management systems to deliver strategic improvements aligned with business goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the deployment of Operational Excellence tools: SMED, 5S, RCA, Autonomous Maintenance, and Standard Work.
• Apply Six Sigma Black Belt techniques to analyse and improve manufacturing processes.
• Drive continuous improvement projects focused on eliminating waste and optimising resources.
• Coach and mentor teams to embed a culture of Operational Excellence.
• Set and deploy OGSM targets across all site functions.
• Collaborate with site leadership to integrate OE into daily operations.
• Support team development through coaching, performance reviews, and training.
• Champion health and safety through proactive site engagement.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience in Operational Excellence, Lean Manufacturing, or Continuous Improvement within a production or factory environment.
• Six Sigma Black Belt certification (Master Black Belt desirable).
• Strong analytical, coaching, and facilitation skills.
• Experience in change/project management (DMAIC).
• Ability to influence across all levels and drive cultural transformation.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Development Opportunities

• Advanced OE and Lean training
• Leadership development programmes (Level 5 Fit for Leadership)
• Technical competency workshops
• Coaching and facilitation training

Why Join Us?

This is a high-impact role offering visibility across the business and the opportunity to shape the future of site operations. You’ll be part of a forward-thinking team committed to excellence, innovation, and growth.

Ready to lead change and drive performance? Apply now to become our Operational Excellence Lead in Manchester.

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Contact Details:

F.A.O. UK Recruitment, Müller UK & Ireland, Shrewsbury Road, Market Drayton, Shropshire, TF9 3SQ