Sawmill Production Manager

A premier timber processing group is seeking a permanent, full-time Sawmill Production Manager for their high-volume facility in Fermoy, Ireland.

Reporting directly to the Plant Manager, you will be responsible for the safe, efficient, and disciplined execution of all site production operations. In this role, you will provide strong leadership to a team of Production Supervisors and operational staff, managing a team of six direct reports to drive a culture of safety, quality, and accountability.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership: Direct day-to-day production across log intake, primary processing, secondary processing, and planer mill areas.
• People Management: Coach and support Production Supervisors, setting clear performance expectations and fostering skill progression.
• Performance Optimization: Establish structured daily and weekly meetings to monitor KPIs, including output versus plan, schedule compliance, and OEE.
• Downtime & Cost Control: Drive accurate downtime reporting and lead cross functional root cause analysis to optimize costs and minimize operational delays.
• Supply Chain Alignment: Collaborate closely with internal Planning, Forestry, and Sales teams to match factory execution with raw material supply and customer demand.
• Workforce & EHS Compliance: Partner with HR to manage rostering, training, and skill coverage, while working with Health & Safety to enforce strict operating standards and safety audits.

Position Requirements

• Professional Experience: Minimum of 5 years in a supervisory or management role within an industrial manufacturing or high-volume production environment.
• Industry Background: Prior experience in sawmilling, timber processing, or heavy building material manufacturing is highly advantageous.
• Technical Skills: Strong commercial understanding of production planning, throughput metrics, downtime management, and unit cost control.
• Core Competencies: Proven track record in change leadership, data driven decision making, and building cross functional relationships.
• Education: Degree/qualification in Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, or equivalent practical industry experience.

Appointment Terms

• Remuneration: €70,000 - €80,000 per annum (dependent on experience).
• Employment Type: Permanent, Full time.
• Schedule: Monday to Friday day shift.
• Structure: Managing 6 direct reports with wider team responsibility.