Operations Director – UK, Belgium, Switzerland

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United Kingdom.

📋 Description

• Oversee and enhance manufacturing operations across various locations in the UK, Belgium, and Switzerland.

• Provide both strategic and operational guidance to plant management teams.

• Promote continuous improvement and standardization throughout operations.

• Ensure operations are safe, efficient, and high-performing, delivering quality products and exceptional customer service.

• Achieve operational and financial performance aligned with budgets, forecasts, targets, and business plans.

• Establish and track KPIs that encompass safety, quality, productivity, efficiency, delivery, waste, downtime, and cost.

• Implement Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma principles, standard work practices, root-cause analysis, and structured problem-solving techniques.

• Plan for production capacity, labor, equipment, and resources.

• Standardize processes, systems, and best practices across all sites.

• Enhance asset reliability, equipment effectiveness, automation, and preventative maintenance strategies.

• Ensure compliance with health and safety, environmental, quality, employment, and regulatory standards.

• Advocate for a safety culture and manage risks, incidents, near misses, and corrective actions.

• Maintain product quality, customer satisfaction, and adherence to ISO, food safety, and customer standards.

• Collaborate with supply chain and procurement teams on planning, inventory, materials, and delivery logistics.

• Support capital investment initiatives, equipment upgrades, automation projects, and site enhancements.

• Lead operational transformation and change management programs.

• Improve energy efficiency, minimize waste, and support environmental and sustainability goals.

• Ensure effective succession planning, talent development, and workforce engagement.

• Provide performance updates, identify risks and opportunities, and make recommendations to senior leadership.

• Travel regularly between sites in the UK, Belgium, and Switzerland, with additional travel as necessary.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related discipline.

• At least 7 years of experience in leadership roles within manufacturing operations.

• Demonstrated success in leading high-performing teams and achieving operational results.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies.

• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Proficient in operational systems, reporting, and data analysis tools.

• Strategic thinker with leadership courage and resilience.

• Customer-oriented with excellent relationship-building capabilities.

• Results-driven, proactive, and solutions-focused.

• Dedicated to delivering performance in alignment with IPL Schoeller values.

🏝️ Benefits

• A sustainable rigid packaging solutions company with a commitment to sustainability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

• Opportunities for professional development, talent cultivation, and workforce engagement.

• The role offers senior leadership responsibilities and engagement in sustainable manufacturing practices.

• Fully remote work arrangements available.