10+ years in operations/manufacturing leadership in a complex, 24/7 environment with large teams.
Degree in Engineering or similar technical/operational field.
Proven results in safety, quality, delivery, and continuous improvement.
Ability to make swift decisions under pressure and manage through uncertainty.
Strong skills in production planning, capacity management, and performance oversight.
Technical proficiency across production, maintenance, engineering, supply chain, and quality.
Excellent leadership and communication skills with a collaborative approach.
Project management experience and proficiency in MS Office and manufacturing systems.
Responsibilities
Lead production operations in a 24/7 setting, ensuring safety and health compliance.
Act as deputy to the General Manager, providing leadership and site coordination.
Oversee production utilisation and improvement plans to meet capacity demands.
Develop and execute production plans and resource priorities effectively.
Motivate and manage a production team of around 40 employees, setting clear goals.
Collaborate with Engineering and Maintenance to optimize equipment effectiveness.
Contribute to site strategy and operational excellence as a leadership team member.
Monitor production volumes, costs, quality, and delivery KPIs while managing budgets.
Implement performance management routines for continuous improvement.
Foster effective interfaces with key departments to ensure product compliance.
Drive resolution of complex production issues while initiating system enhancements.
Benefits
Comprehensive health and wellness programs.
Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
Collaborative and inclusive work environment.
Support for continuous learning and improvement initiatives.
Access to state-of-the-art facilities and technology.
Full Job Description
Job Description
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.
Qualifications
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.
