Area Director Operations P&M and GI

We’re looking for an experienced manufacturing leader to oversee multiple facilities and drive operational excellence. In this role, you’ll lead teams, optimize resources, and ensure we deliver high-quality coatings products that meet customer expectations—all while fostering a safe, rewarding, and inclusive environment for employees and the community.This position is remote with a preference to be based from either Germany (around Vaihingen / Mannheim) or in the UK (around Manchester) with 50%-60% time spent travelling within the countries and EMEA. Why Join Us?

This is a high-impact role where you’ll shape the future of our operations and make a real difference for our customers and employees. If you’re passionate about leadership, operational excellence, and continuous improvement, we’d love to hear from you!

In this role you will be responsible for submitting the operating plans for the sites to the Regional VP Operations for approval and then directing the overall operation in obtaining the objectives of the plant and for Continuous Improvement to meet goals and the BU Strategic Plan. The incumbent will lead the team to accomplishment of the mission; that is, the growth of the Safety Culture committed to Five Zeroes, the Quality Culture, and the Continuous Improvement Culture all to Service our Customers and our Business in a Best in Class manner.

To accomplish the site goals requires the coordination and unification of efforts of a number of diversified departments and activities. This requires the incumbent to devote considerable time to planning, developing, and implementing programs and procedures designed to create a team attitude and the vital behaviors for successful achievement of our mission

You will be responsible for the continuous improvement of operations and also periodically reviews the reporting and work flow relationships to simplify efforts, reduce costs (including time requirements) and to achieve compatible, supporting, and harmonious relationships between his staff and their personnel. This also requires the incumbent to spend some time communicating with other managers, external of the plant, in exchanging information and establishing programs for his staff to assist them in reaching their goals.

The incumbent must keep aware of and disseminate appropriate technical and business developments, governmental regulations and corporate policy and procedures (personnel, manufacturing and engineering).

Principal Accountabilities :

Excellence in the Five Focus Areas by Planning years ahead and Executing effectively :

• Safety : Meet EHS objectives. Advance Process Safety Management, Regulatory Compliance, and Injury Reduction to “Five Zeroes” performance. Achieve Sustainability objectives and the Thrive 2025 Goal
• Quality : Provide product Quality objectives and specifications; improve processes to reduce Cost of Poor Quality. Ensure plants, Quality Control laboratories, and warehouses are ready for unscheduled Customer visits (. high level of 5S housekeeping).
• Service : Achieve Service Level and Lead Time objectives. Focus on the Customer.
• Cost / Productivity : Improve productivity and simplify processes to unleash the Hidden Factory and achieve the Thrive 2025 goal. Achieve conversion cost budget. Meet OP16 stretch target. Achieve working capital objectives. Implement Standard Work. Implement Reliability Excellence. Design and Execute Capital projects and training programs to attain volume and productivity goals.
• People : Exhibit Strong Leadership. Build the capability and develop your team to achieve business objectives now and in the future. Improve Employee Engagement continuously.
• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering
• Must be a current Plant Manager or Regional Director or have previous experience as a Plant Manager with a proven track record of success in the Five Focus Areas.
• Be a successful Leader as Plant Manager or Regional Director responsible for multiple plants.
• European experience
• Significant experience with a breadth of knowledge covering operations (Process Safety Management (PSM), supply chain, manufacturing, order management, engineering and procurement)
• Proven track record of successful delivery of change on a number of large scale, high profile, strategic business and technology projects or programs
• In depth knowledge of project management methodology, tools and techniques that deliver quantifiable improvement to the business.
• Experience with process mapping and implementation
• Experience supporting large or complex multi-functional and multi-divisional projects
• Experience with large complex business integrations, acquisitions or site rationalizations preferred.
• Process Safety Management (PSM) experience

Preferred :

Internal Vacancy Announcement

This vacancy is advertised exclusively for internal candidates, with a closing date of Friday 12th December.

Interview dates : Proposed for week commencing 15th December. Successful candidates will be notified in advance, allowing time to prepare.

Please read the  guidelines before handing in your application

All internal employees when applying for a role are required to upload their updated and their last 2 appraisals (which can be retrieved from HR Cloud).