Director of Operations, Europe

Overview

This leadership role oversees manufacturing operations for GroupeSTAHL across Europe, managing multiple facilities in the UK, Spain, Germany, and Italy. The position demands frequent travel (30-50%) to various production sites and emphasizes hands-on operational management, continuous improvements, and consistent application of global standards. The Director acts as the key operational link between European sites and Global Operations leadership, ensuring strategic alignment and operational excellence across diverse labor markets and cultures.

Key Responsibilities

• Champion safety and environmental health standards, fostering a zero-incident workplace and ensuring compliance with UK, EU, German, Spanish, and Italian regulations.
• Lead investigations and corrective measures for all incidents and maintain adherence to safety, environmental, health, and employment laws alongside site leaders.
• Drive regional operational goals around service, quality, productivity, and cost efficiency, using KPIs and daily management systems to identify and mitigate risks.
• Standardize manufacturing processes and reporting practices across all European plants to ensure consistent performance management.
• Develop and mentor site leadership teams, fostering succession planning and enhancing organizational capabilities.
• Collaborate with HR on workforce and talent development strategies promoting accountability and continuous improvement.
• Implement lean manufacturing, operational excellence, and quality initiatives while enforcing global manufacturing standards and best practices.
• Support problem-solving activities addressing quality, cost, productivity, and customer satisfaction challenges.
• Work closely with Supply Chain, Planning, and Global Operations to coordinate capacity planning and the monthly S&OP process, balancing production and labor resources effectively.
• Manage cross-border manufacturing flows in collaboration with Procurement, Finance, Trade Compliance, ensuring compliance with customs, VAT, import/export regulations, including post-Brexit requirements.
• Participate in capital projects such as facility expansions, equipment enhancements, and automation implementations, ensuring projects meet safety, timeline, and budgetary goals.

Qualifications

• Based in the UK, Spain, Germany, or Italy.
• Over 10 years of advancing manufacturing operations experience, including 3-5 years leading multiple sites.
• Proven capability managing manufacturing facilities across multiple European nations.
• Expertise in operational KPIs, quality systems, cost control, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experienced in lean manufacturing, standard work processes, and operational excellence systems.
• Strong leadership with demonstrated success in cultivating manufacturing leaders and teams.
• Bachelor's degree specializing in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Technology, Supply Chain or similar fields.
• Fluent in English, with proficiency in German, Italian, or Spanish preferred.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in decorated apparel, heat transfer, printing, converting, or textile manufacturing sectors.
• Comfortable working in matrixed multinational manufacturing environments.
• Familiar with European labor relations, works councils, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Lean Six Sigma certification or comparable continuous improvement credentials.
• Experience in manufacturing consolidations, facility expansions or footprint optimizations.
• Involvement in regional S&OP and capacity planning activities.