Site Director

Our story goes back more than 150 years, to the chilly southern coast of Scandinavia. From our early success in Sweden and Denmark, we’ve grown into the world’s leading specialist producer of plant-based oils, employing more than 4,000 people all across the globe.

We work with our customers to make the products you love even better. The oils we produce go into making your chocolate extra-creamy or putting the crunch into your croissant. And it’s not just food — we work across industries to make products that are higher quality, healthier and better for the planet.

Everything we do is about Making Better Happen.

AAK International (Hull)

AAK International is in the heart of an area enjoying significant redevelopment and investment. The Port of Hull is being established as a world-class center for renewable energy and manufacturing, and at AAK we feel proud to be part of this important industrial renaissance for Yorkshire. We operate the UK’s largest refinery for edible oils and fats at our King George Dock site, and supply ingredients and finished products to businesses in the food manufacturing, baking, foodservice, and retail sectors. We enjoy working closely with customers to co-develop bespoke products, in our well-equipped Customer Innovation Center.

About The Role

Lead and develop AAK Site Hull in accordance with AAK European and Global strategies to ensure the efficient, cost-effective, and safe operation of the site.

Responsible for all operational aspects of the site, including Health, Safety & Environment, Production, Supply Chain, Engineering and Technical functions as well as working closely with the HR, Finance and Commercial business functions.

Responsibilities

• Drive a strong health, safety and environment agenda, ensuring compliance with legislation, local authorities and AAK policies and practices. The Site Director will play a pivotal role in ensuring the health and safety of all employees, contractors, and visitors on-site, as well as promoting and ensuring a strong culture of behavioural safety.
• Responsible for the P&L of Site Hull, ensuring control of operational budgets by monitoring the cost and effectiveness of operational activities to ensure optimisation of resources and achievement of volume, quality, manufacturing and ESG standards.
• Identify, implement, and manage cost-saving initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and profitability.
• Develop and implement strategic site plans to optimise plant operations and achieve site targets.
• Responsible for the site's capital expenditure projects, ensuring they are aligned with strategic goals and delivered within budget and timelines.
• Drive innovation in manufacturing practices by championing continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and productivity, striving for a culture of World Class Manufacturing.
• Responsible for ensuring the highest standards of food safety and quality across all site operations, including compliance with food industry manufacturing practice and relevant customer standards.
• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing team of senior managers.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and interdependent high-performing workplace culture.
  
  
  

About You

• Degree qualified in a relevant field (Chemistry, Engineering or Food Science)
• Previous experience in a similar role with a proven track record of managing large-scale manufacturing operations.
• A proven leader with experience of achieving cultural change in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, quality control, and regulatory requirements.
• Previous edible oils and fats experience is not essential but would be advantageous.
• Previous refinery or heavy industry experience would be advantageous.
• Knowledge of food manufacturing and food safety would be advantageous.
• Strong working knowledge of a P&L and how to manage costs in a manufacturing environment.
• An understanding of world class manufacturing and engineering techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to remain resilient in the face of complex challenges, with a proven track record of managing and overcoming them.
• Proven ability to effectively prioritise tasks and projects, ensuring that critical issues are addressed promptly, and resources are allocated appropriately.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to analyse data and make informed decisions to drive operational success.
  
  
  

In return AAK offer:

• Competitive salary package.
• Company car/ cash allowance.
• 10% non-contribution pension.
• Bonus scheme.
• Private Medical cover
• UK Healthcare scheme.
• 25 days holidays plus bank holidays.
• Group life cover.
• Group income protection scheme.
• Ride2Work scheme.
  
  
  

About AAK

Everything AAK does is about Making Better Happen. We specialize in plant-based oils that are the value-adding ingredients in many of the products people love to consume. We make these products better tasting, healthier, and more sustainable. At the heart of AAK’s offer is Customer Co-Development, combining our desire to understand what better means for each customer, with the unique flexibility of our production assets, and a deep knowledge of many products and industries, including Chocolate & Confectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Plant-based Foods, Special Nutrition, Foodservice and Personal Care. Our 4,000 employees support our close collaboration with customers through 25 regional sales offices, 15 dedicated Customer Innovation Centers, and with the support of more than 20 production facilities. Listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and with our headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, AAK has been Making Better Happen for more than 150 years.

AAK prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, religion, veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under state or federal law in any aspect of the access to, admission, or treatment of students in its programs and activities, or in employment and application for employment.