Director of Operations, Europe

Company Overview

GroupeSTAHL is a prominent global manufacturer and distributor specializing in custom textile printing solutions. The company operates several manufacturing plants throughout Europe, including locations in the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, and Italy.

Position Summary

The Director of Operations for Europe will oversee and lead manufacturing activities across all European production sites within GroupeSTAHL. This hands-on leadership role demands strong operational execution and a continuous improvement mindset to uphold and advance manufacturing standards, safety, quality, and cost objectives across the multi-country network.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive safety and environmental health and safety (EHS) initiatives across European manufacturing locations, fostering a zero-incident safety culture and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations in the UK, EU nations, Germany, Spain, and Italy.
• Lead root cause investigations for incidents and enforce thorough corrective actions in partnership with site leadership.
• Achieve regional targets related to service levels, quality standards, productivity, and conversion costs by monitoring operational KPIs and maintaining robust daily management systems at all facilities.
• Identify risks in operations and implement effective corrective measures while establishing consistency in processes, reporting, and performance management among sites.
• Manage and develop site-based operational leaders, supporting succession planning and capacity building across European manufacturing organizations.
• Collaborate with Human Resources on workforce planning and talent development initiatives, promoting accountability, teamwork, and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Lead and champion lean manufacturing, operational excellence, and quality improvement projects, ensuring compliance with global manufacturing standards and approved procedures.
• Coordinate problem-solving activities related to quality, cost control, productivity enhancements, and customer service improvements.
• Assist supply chain, planning, and Global Operations teams in regional capacity planning and balance production demands via participation in the monthly Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process.
• Manage labor planning and resource allocation across the European network for optimal operational efficiency.
• Oversee cross-border manufacturing and material movements, ensuring adherence to customs, VAT regulations, import/export compliance, and addressing post-Brexit operational requirements effectively.
• Contribute to capital project planning, including facility expansions, equipment upgrades, automation initiatives, and productivity enhancement projects, ensuring safe, budget-conscious, and timely execution.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Eligible to be based in Germany, Italy, Spain, or the UK, with an expected travel commitment of approximately 30-50% to manufacturing sites across Europe.
• At least 10 years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations, including a minimum of 3-5 years managing multiple sites.
• Proven ability to oversee operations across various European countries, ensuring effective handling of regional labor markets, languages, regulations, and cultural differences.
• Broad expertise in operational KPIs, cost control, quality systems, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Hands-on experience implementing lean manufacturing, standard work practices, and operational excellence frameworks.
• Established leadership skills with a history of developing high-caliber manufacturing leaders and building efficient teams.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Technology, Supply Chain, or a related discipline.
• Fluent in English; proficiency in German, Italian, or Spanish is preferred.
• Preferred additional qualifications include:
  • Experience in the decorated apparel, heat transfer, printing, converting, textiles, or similar manufacturing sectors.
  • Background working in matrix and multinational manufacturing organizations.
  • Knowledge of European labor relations, including works councils and collective bargaining processes.
  • Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent continuous improvement training.
  • Experience managing manufacturing consolidations, facility expansions, integrations, or network footprint optimization projects.
  • Familiarity with regional S&OP and capacity planning processes.