The Foods of Athenry are seeking an experienced and dynamic GENERAL MANAGER to join our growing team.
The Foods of Athenry is a family-owned business baking clean label ambient bakery products on-site on the family farm in Athenry from original recipes, specifically catering to the area of ‘free-from’ products. We’ve earned a reputation for exceptional quality, reliability, great taste - trusted and innovative.
As we prepare for the next stage of growth and broaden our market reach, we’re seeking a dynamic and experienced General Manager to join our team. The ideal candidate will bring fresh perspective, strong leadership, and a proven ability to drive performance.
Working closely with senior managers across all departments, the General Manager will play a key role in shaping and delivering the company's strategic goals. This includes championing innovation, operational excellence, and profitability—while staying true to our values of sustainability and quality.
Key Responsibilities:
- Contribute to the definition and implement a strategic 3-5 year business development plan.
- Develop and execute that business plan within the vision, mission, and long-term objectives of the Foods of Athenry , ensuring they align with the Board’s guidance and the company’s growth aspirations.
- Monitor and interpret market trends, adapting strategies as needed to maintain a strong competitive position within the global food industry.
- Lead and oversee daily operations, ensuring all business processes align with company goals and meet food industry standards, while collaborating closely with Quality & Production Management.
- Shape and evolve the organisational structure, providing strong leadership, mentorship, and support to cross-functional teams.
- Champion a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation—empowering employees to contribute meaningfully to the company’s success.
- In conjunction with our in-house Financial Controller , oversee financial and commercialisation, including budgeting, forecasting and reporting, ensuring profitability by tracking success against strategic goals
- Continue to cultivate and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key customers, suppliers, and stakeholders—both within the organisation and throughout the broader food industry.
- Champion a customer-focused culture by driving quality assurance, optimising the customer journey, embracing innovation and technology, and fostering strategic partnerships to continually elevate customer satisfaction
- Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies to combat the impact of these on business growth and operations
- Implement regulatory and compliance requirements, particularly those pertinent to the food industry, ensuring the company is protected against legal, financial, and reputational risks.
- Oversee the evaluation of new markets, route to market structure and any country specific regulatory considerations that need to be addressed.
- Champion continuing sustainable growth by aligning profitability with a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
Experience & Skills:
- Proven senior leadership experience with deep knowledge of the food industry and global market dynamics.
- Strong background in strategic planning, finance and commercialisation, and scaling businesses.
- Demonstrated success in leading organisational change and cultural transformation.
- Excellent communicator with strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
- Experienced in risk management to support long-term business stability.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required.
Key Competencies:
- Visionary Leadership
- Financial Acumen
- Adaptability
- Strategic Problem-Solving
- Resilience
Job Type: Full-time
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Athenry, County Galway H65 DY95: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Education:
- Bachelor's (required)
Experience:
- food industry: 10 years (required)
Work Location: In person
Reference ID: GM0725
