Operations Manager
NewBe an early applicant- Lead the production organisation in a 24/7 environment, with direct accountability for the safety and occupational health of all department employees.
- Act as second-in-command to the General Manager for operational matters, providing visible leadership, clear decision-making and effective site coordination; deputise when required.
- Own Utilisation performance and the associated operating routines, measures and improvement plans, ensuring available capacity is converted safely and reliably to technically compliant product.
- Translate demand and capacity requirements into robust production plans, schedules and resource priorities; maintain disciplined execution, recovery and escalation routines.
- Lead, motivate and develop a production team of ca. 40 people, including the Production Manager and front-line leaders; set clear objectives, build capability and hold the organisation to account.
- Work in close partnership with the Engineering & Maintenance Manager, who owns Availability, and the Process Engineering Manager, who owns Yield, to improve overall equipment effectiveness and remove systemic constraints.
- Be a key member of the site leadership team, contributing to site HSE performance, strategy implementation, investment planning, operational excellence, organisational effectiveness and long-term capability development.
- Hold responsibility for production volumes, labour and operational cost, planning adherence, quality and delivery KPIs, and delivery of the department budget.
- Establish clear performance-management routines and use data to identify losses, prioritise actions and drive sustained continuous improvement using Business Excellence principles and tools.
- Build effective interfaces with Supply Chain, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, R&D, external suppliers and other CVD sites so that ORTEC provides in-spec material in line with agreed customer and downstream-site requirements.
- Lead recruitment, succession planning, performance management, coaching and development across the operational team, creating an inclusive, accountable and high-performing culture.
- Take ownership of complex production issues and cross-functional improvement initiatives, balancing immediate operational recovery with lasting improvements to systems, standards and performance.
- At least 10 years’ experience in operations / manufacturing leadership roles within a complex production environment, including substantial responsibility for 24/7 operations & teams of more than 30 people.
- A degree in Engineering or an equivalent technical or operational discipline.
- A strong track record of delivering results across safety, quality, delivery, cost, people and continuous improvement.
- Demonstrated ability to make clear decisions under pressure and leading through ambiguity and change.
- Strong production-planning, capacity-management and performance-management capability, supported by good financial judgement.
- Strong technical aptitude and an ability to work effectively across production, maintenance, engineering, supply chain and quality functions.
- Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder-management skills, with a collaborative style and the confidence to hold others to account.
- Project-management capability, competence in MS Office and manufacturing systems, and willingness to travel occasionally.