Group Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement Director

About the role

The Group Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement Director will lead the global manufacturing strategy for the Group, ensuring consistent performance, standardisation and continuous improvement across all plants. Reporting to the COO, the role combines strong analytical capabilities with data‑driven decision making to drive industrial transformation worldwide.

Key responsibilities

• Define and execute the global manufacturing strategy in line with COO directives and local General Managers.
• Monitor, analyse and report core manufacturing KPIs (productivity, efficiency, scrap, OEE, industrial costs, process standardisation) and identify gaps.
• Prioritise improvement opportunities and drive execution plans with local organisations.
• Ensure consistency of production processes, KPIs and methodologies across all global plants, with an initial focus on the NAFTA region.
• Deploy structured continuous‑improvement programmes using data analytics, process mapping and standardised reporting.
• Lead cross‑functional projects targeting quality, productivity, cost optimisation and global harmonisation.
• Maintain a strong visible presence across international sites, travelling up to 50 % of the time.

Required profile

• Experience in multinational industrial companies, preferably from a corporate or headquarters role.
• Proven background in discrete manufacturing with exposure to assembly, stamping or molding operations.
• Hands‑on, execution‑focused leadership style with the ability to influence teams across multiple plants and countries.
• Highly analytical, data‑driven mindset and strong ability to translate insights into actionable plans.
• Willingness to travel frequently and work in high‑priority regions.

Required skills

• Injection mold construction
• Plastic molding
• Ultrasonic welding
• Radio‑frequency welding
• Advanced automation
• Vision inspection systems
• Pleating of non‑woven and paper materials
• Manufacturing analytics
• KPI systems
• Lean methodology
• Operational Excellence (OpEx)
• Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)