Operations Director

NADIA Recruitment & Management Consultants; Dubai; On-site; AED 350,000 - 650,000; Full time

Job summary

NADIA Recruitment & Management Consultants in Dubai seeks an accomplished Head of Operations to oversee all production and support departments. You will drive performance against budget, lead continuous improvement, and partner with Commercial, Finance, HR and Safety to ensure seamless order processing and optimal costs.

The role requires 10+ years in manufacturing operations, strong ERP and MS Office skills, and an MBA is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management or Industrial Engineering.
• 10+ years of direct Operations experience in manufacturing or process-driven industries.
• Strong proficiency with MS Project, MS Office, and ERP systems.
• Track record in process improvement and cost optimization.
• MBA preferred for advanced planning and analytics.
• Experience with non-mass-production environments is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Monitor departmental results to ensure budgeted KPIs and costs.
• Coordinate with Commercial to fulfill orders on time and cost-effectively.
• Review and improve work practices to boost productivity.
• Lead short- and long-term production planning, including material forecasting.
• Oversee budgeting, cost control, and investment planning.
• Ensure safety compliance and coordinate with Safety teams.
• Drive cross-functional coordination across Finance, HR, and other functions.
• Implement training programs and succession planning.
• Oversee QMS processes, audits, and certifications.
• Document control and performance measurement for Operations.
• Promote customer-centric culture to support growth.
• Manage risk related to cost, capacity, and process development.

Skills

Strategic planning

Cost analysis

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Management

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering

MBA preferred

Tools

MS Project

MS Office

ERP systems

Job description

Job Summary

The role oversees all Operation Departments to ensure the achievement of production, quality, and financial targets as defined in the annual budget. This includes ensuring departmental functionality, driving continuous improvement, and implementing organizational strategy across Operations. The position requires close coordination with Commercial, Finance, HR, Safety, and other internal functions to secure seamless order processing, cost optimization, and timely delivery performance.

Key Responsibilities

• KPI & Performance Control — Monitor departmental results to ensure achievement of budgeted KPIs, production output, and cost targets.
• Customer Order Execution — Work closely with Commercial to ensure timely, cost‑effective, and quality‑driven fulfillment of customer orders.
• Process Improvement — Review and enhance work practices to improve productivity, reduce costs, and optimize equipment utilization.
• Target Setting — Establish development goals for departments to drive continuous improvement in production processes.
• Operational Planning — Lead short‑and long‑term production planning, including raw material forecasting and nomination.
• Cost Control — Conduct regular cost reviews and ensure adherence to budgetary guidelines.
• Investment Planning — Oversee preparation and execution of departmental investment plans.
• Cross‑Functional Coordination — Collaborate with Finance, HR, and Safety on budgeting, manpower planning, training, and compliance.
• Risk Mitigation — Manage operational risks related to quality, cost, capacity utilization, and process development.
• Training & Succession — Ensure implementation of training programs and succession plans to support business continuity.
• Safety Compliance — Enforce safety rules and coordinate with Safety teams to maintain safe working conditions.
• Budget Management — Lead annual budgeting processes for Operations.
• Quality Systems — Oversee QMS processes, audits, and certification renewals.
• Documentation Control — Approve all documents related to Operations functionality.
• Performance Measurement — Implement employee performance evaluation systems.
• Customer Orientation — Promote a customer‑centric culture to enhance satisfaction and support business growth.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management or Industrial Engineering.
• 10+ years of direct Operations experience, preferably in manufacturing or process‑driven industries.
• Strong proficiency in MS Project, MS Office, and ERP systems.
• Demonstrated record of innovation and process improvement.
• Expertise in production organization and operational performance optimization.
• Strategic planning capabilities for short‑and long‑term operational development.
• Strong financial acumen for cost analysis, budgeting, and cost optimization.
• Solid understanding of supply chain integration and interdepartmental coordination.
• Project management skills for systemizing operational activities.
• MBA preferred for advanced business planning and analytical competencies.
• Industry‑specific experience in non‑mass‑production environments is an advantage.