Despatch and Intake Manager

The Vacancy

Location: BallymenaDepartment: Supply ChainWorking Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm

Pilgrim’s Europe is seeking an experienced Despatch and Intake Manager to lead the efficient movement, storage, and distribution of raw materials and finished goods at our Ballymena site.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a supply chain professional with food manufacturing experience to take ownership of the site’s Despatch and Intake operation, ensuring the highest standards of customer service, stock control, operational efficiency, and team performance.

Reporting to the Supply Chain Operations Manager, you’ll work closely with Production, Planning, Procurement, Technical, and Logistics teams to ensure products are received, stored, and dispatched safely, efficiently, and in line with customer requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Despatch and Intake functions, ensuring the smooth flow of materials and finished goods across the site.
• Manage inventory, storage, stock rotation, and dispatch activities to maximise efficiency and minimise waste.
• Ensure customer orders are fulfilled accurately and delivered on time and in full.
• Oversee on-site and off-site storage operations, including deep-chill inventory management.
• Coordinate future capacity requirements to support business growth and operational demands.
• Ensure all warehouse, intake, and dispatch systems and processes are fully compliant and effectively managed.
• Deliver departmental KPIs across service, cost, labour utilisation, stock control, quality, and customer satisfaction.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimise warehouse performance and reduce operating costs.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiencies, reduce waste, and support profit improvement plans.
• Monitor stock accuracy, inventory values, picking performance, delivery performance, and service levels.
• Work collaboratively with Planning and Production teams to minimise short-coded stock and inventory risks.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team, creating a culture of engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Support succession planning, training, and development across the department.
• Manage performance, attendance, and employee engagement activities.
• Foster strong communication and collaboration across site functions.
• Champion a positive Health & Safety culture and lead by example.
• Ensure compliance with Food Safety, Health & Safety, Hygiene, and company standards.
• Maintain audit-ready operations and support internal and external audit requirements.
• Ensure appropriate controls, risk assessments, and safe systems of work are embedded across the department.

About You

Essential

• Proven management experience within a food manufacturing, FMCG, warehousing, logistics, or supply chain environment.
• Experience leading Despatch, Warehouse, Intake, Stores, or Logistics operations.
• Strong inventory management and stock control experience.
• Proven ability to deliver operational KPIs and drive continuous improvement.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience working with warehouse management systems and operational reporting.

Desirable

• SAP experience.
• Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing, or Operational Excellence experience.
• Experience delivering change initiatives and performance improvement projects.
• Third-level qualification or equivalent professional experience.

Why Join Pilgrim’s Europe?

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Monday to Friday working pattern.
• Opportunity to lead a key operational function within a large food manufacturing business.
• Ongoing development and career progression opportunities.
• Be part of a company that puts quality, people, and operational excellence at the heart of everything it does.

If you’re an experienced supply chain leader with a background in food manufacturing and a passion for driving performance through people, process, and continuous improvement, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today to join Pilgrim’s Europe as our next Despatch and Intake Manager in Ballymena.

Our Story

Pilgrim’s Europe produces some of the best-known and most iconic brands in the UK and Ireland, including Fridge Raiders, Rollover, Denny, Richmond, Oakhouse and Moy Park, alongside a diverse range of industry leading own-label products in categories including fresh pork, lamb and chicken, working with all the major retailers and food service outlets.

Our portfolio extends to authentic chilled and frozen ready meals, snacking ranges, added value and food service products.

Across Pilgrim’s Europe we combine 20,000 of the best people in the industry, united by a shared set of core values and a passion for producing the highest quality, most delicious and innovative food, which is enjoyed by millions of people in the UK, Ireland and Europe every day. Our Pilgrim’s Europe team are based in our Pilgrim’s UK, Moy Park, Pilgrim’s Food Masters and Pilgrim’s Shared Services businesses.

To be considered for this role you will be redirected to and must complete the application process on our careers page. To start the process, click the Apply button below to Login/Register.

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