Plant Manager – Fermoy
Reporting to the Head of Operations, the Plant Manager will be responsible for leading all operational activities at a high-volume sawmill site in Fermoy. This role requires a proven leader with strong experience in plant management, a deep understanding of Good Manufacturing Practice, and a commitment to Lean and continuous improvement principles.
The successful candidate will have full responsibility for Production, Maintenance, and Safety, Health, Environment & Quality (SHEQ) on site. Working closely with Forestry, Sales, and the Head of Operations, they will ensure production capacity is effectively managed to meet strategic business objectives.
This role also requires close collaboration with a second production site, as outputs across both locations are interdependent. Building and maintaining a strong working relationship between sites will be critical to overall operational success.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Champion and prioritise a safe working environment for all employees.
- Work closely with the SHEQ Manager to ensure robust policies, procedures, staffing, and systems are in place to meet all safety, health, environmental, and quality standards.
- Develop and deliver the Fermoy production plan to maximise business returns, in collaboration with Forestry and Sales teams.
- Contribute to the development of the overall Group production strategy.
- Monitor site performance against budget using agreed KPIs and take corrective action where required.
- Drive efficiency improvements across all areas of the sawmill through short- and medium-term initiatives.
- Lead standardisation of processes, practices, and reporting through a strong culture of continuous improvement.
- Lead the people agenda on site, including recruitment, onboarding, development, and employee engagement, in partnership with HR.
- Establish and maintain a structured cadence of daily, weekly, and bi-weekly production meetings.
- Build strong relationships with supervisors, supporting them in their roles and encouraging knowledge-sharing and best practice.
- Contribute to capital investment planning and lead the implementation of capital and new product development projects on site.
- Ensure smooth, efficient end-to-end operations from log intake through primary and secondary processing.
- Foster a culture of operational excellence and accountability across the site.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Qualification in Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a Plant or Site Management role; experience in sawmilling or similar heavy manufacturing environments is an advantage.
- Strong knowledge of health & safety regulations and proven experience maintaining regulatory compliance.
- Demonstrated ability to simplify processes, improve efficiency, and maximise operational performance.
- A hands-on leadership style with a positive, “can-do” attitude, high energy, and strong work ethic.
- Excellent organisational skills with strong attention to detail.
- A results-driven mindset with the ability to motivate self and others to achieve high performance.
- Sound decision-making skills with the ability to delegate effectively and build accountability.
- Strong people management skills with a clear focus on development and engagement.
- Comfortable working in a changing environment, managing risk and uncertainty.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to build trusted, collaborative relationships.
For more information please contact [email protected]
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