Head of Industrial Operations (M/F)
Construction, Engineering & Trades · Civil & Industrial Engineering
In short
As the Head of Industrial Operations, you will be the COO's strategic partner, driving industrial transformation across four sites and integrating a new facility. This role requires an engineering degree, 10+ years of experience in industrial/manufacturing environments, and expertise in Lean methodologies. You will lead complex projects, manage teams, and ensure operational excellence.
Responsibilities
- Act as the operational relay of the COO across the four sites, ensuring alignment between strategic objectives and day-to-day execution
- Build and maintain a consolidated view of operational performance (KPIs, dashboards, group reporting)
- Prepare and present operational reviews; flag risks, deviations, and recommend corrective actions
- Progressively take on direct management of operational teams as the organization scales
- Define, lead and track the transformation roadmap across the three existing manufacturing sites
- Drive layout and flow redesign projects to optimize productivity, safety and quality
- Lead or support Lean deployment initiatives (VSM, 5S, SMED, Kaizen, etc.) in coordination with the dedicated Lean Manager
- Identify and capture operational synergies between sites (shared resources, standardized processes, best practice transfers)
- Coordinate cross-functional teams (Engineering, Production, Quality, HSE) to ensure delivery on time, on budget and on spec
- Support the operational due diligence and onboarding of the newly acquired facility
- Lead the production transfer workstream: capacity planning, sequencing, risk mitigation
- Pilot layout and flow redesign for the new site
- Contribute to make-or-buy / outsourcing analysis and execution as relevant
- Manage project closure and lessons learned across all integration workstreams
- Deploy group operational standards and management routines across all four sites
- Ensure compliance with safety, quality and environmental requirements
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and performance
Requirements
- Engineering degree — Industrial, Mechanical, Manufacturing or equivalent
- Fluent in Portuguese and English (mandatory)
- 10+ years in an industrial / manufacturing environment
- Proven track record in leading complex transformation or integration projects in a multi-site context
- Hands-on experience with Lean methodologies (VSM, 5S, SMED, Kaizen, line balancing — practitioner level)
- Experience in plant layout redesign and flow optimization
Desired Qualifications
- Exposure to M&A integration or production transfer projects is a strong plus
- Experience in a context of organizational growth and team building is a plus
- Autonomous and entrepreneurial: comfortable operating in a fast-moving, sometimes ambiguous environment
- Strong leadership presence: able to federate cross-functional teams without direct authority
- Structured and rigorous: able to manage multiple projects simultaneously without losing sight of priorities
- Hands-on: equally comfortable in strategic discussions and on the shop floor
- Results-driven, with a genuine sense of urgency
- Excellent communication skills — upward (COO, group) and transverse (site teams)
Benefits
- Support from regular feedback, training, and development opportunities
- Opportunities to build career around aspirations and ambitions
- Potential for local, regional, or international growth
#operations#industrial#transformation#manufacturing#lean#continuous improvement#multi-site#project management
Company
ASSA ABLOY Group
Job Posted
1 month ago
Expires
in 1 month
Employment Type
Full Time
WorkMode
On Site
Experience Level
Mid-Senior
Locations
Águeda, Portugal
Qualification
Bachelor
Applicants
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