Director of Operations

As a leading executive search agency with many years of experience along the industrial value chain, we are exclusively seeking an experienced leader as "Director of Operations | Plant Manager (m/f/d)" on behalf of our client.

Our client is an international technology company specializing in the development and manufacture of particularly robust protection and transport solutions as well as professional lighting systems for demanding industrial and mission-critical environments. The products combine robustness, functional reliability, and durability, protecting high-quality equipment even under extreme conditions. The company serves a wide range of applications in industry, energy, public safety, and other professional fields.

With locations in Europe, North America and Australia a clear growth trajectory, and a strong culture of innovation and quality, the company is excellently positioned for future market requirements.

As Director of Operations, you have full P&L responsibility for the plant in Germany

• You drive and sustain a culture of safety excellence across the facility. Ensure that this first priority is understood and that all employees and guests are safe and injury free
• You are responsible for creating and sustaining an environment of 6S accountability driven by data points and floor-based visible management systems which leads to consistent successful achievement of annual strategic objectives
• You plan, coordinate and direct daily manufacturing processes and operations teams in order to meet quality, cost, and delivery goals
• Your focus is on the use of hour: Hour boards, shift change meetings, and LPAs to continuously monitor performance and use this data to drive actions to continuously improve
• You act as a metrics-driven operator: manage cost absorption/cost control, productivity, OEE/efficiency, and daily/weekly performance routines
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage complex manufacturing inventory systems which provide effective supply, optimized stocking levels, and minimal variances related to WM and IM inventory management
• You proactively lead and manage Ops talent, identify, reward and develop high performers continually. You establish and sustain a culture of staff development and performance that "continually raises the bar"
• You are a proven change leader: you are able to transform a former family-run site into a high-performance, KPI-driven operation

• Proven injection-molding expertise (end-to-end process know-how); rotational molding exposure strongly preferred
• Demonstrated significant accomplishments in the areas of creating successful safety and housekeeping/efficient (6S) cultures at all levels of manufacturing
• Ability to implement and lead a manufacturing culture built on the standards of Operational Excellence, including Visual Management & Process Controls
• Strong sense of urgency to address issues and take actions to implement changes to improve operational performance and the organizational culture
• A solid grasp on lean manufacturing concepts and demonstrated track record of transforming manufacturing plants through Value Stream Mapping, Six-Sigma methodology and disciplined root cause analysis methods
• Ensures that staff is contributing at maximum potential through rigorous hiring practices and an emphasis on training and development initiatives, including coaching and counseling direct reports in their performance and professional development
• Demonstrated knowledge related to; MES, SAP, MRP, BOM / ROUTER / STDs / Cost Management Systems
• Must have excellent interpersonal and leadership skills and interact effectively and cooperatively with the team at all levels
• Regional & cultural fit: understands the local workforce dynamics; regular hands-on presence on site
• B.S. in Engineering or related field, or equivalent specific experience, MBA would be preferred; German and English at a minimum level of "C1"

• Key position in the management team: Active involvement in shaping and implementing the plant's future growth strategy in close cooperation with global manufacturing decision-makers
• Creative freedom: Extensive freedom to significantly shape and further expand the manufacturing site, both strategically and operationally
• High willingness to invest: The owner supports profitable projects with significant investment volumes in order to promote sustainable growth within the plant
• Compensation: Our client offers a commensurate, performance-based salary, a company car for private use with fuel card, company bicycle, and other benefits

For further information, please contact Ms. Katrin Decker at

For reasons of better readability, we mostly use only the masculine form in this advertisement text. Of course, all genders are always addressed.