OPERATIONS MANAGER: FMCG

Antal International; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading FMCG company in Dubai is searching for an experienced Operations Manager. This role involves overseeing end-to-end factory operations, ensuring efficiency and quality compliance, while leading cross-functional teams. The ideal candidate should possess over 8 years of operations experience in FMCG, including at least 4 years in snack food manufacturing. Strong leadership and continuous improvement skills are essential for success in this position.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in FMCG operations.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in snack food manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of snack food production processes and machinery.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily factory operations, including production, maintenance, and quality.
• Develop and execute operational strategies to improve productivity.
• Monitor production KPIs and take corrective actions.

Skills

Leadership & team management

Operational and commercial acumen

Quality and safety focus

Process improvement mindset

Strong troubleshooting and decision‑making ability

Adaptability in fast‑paced FMCG environments

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Food Technology, or related field

Tools

Lean Manufacturing

Quality systems

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager for a leading FMCG snack food manufacturer in Dubai. The ideal candidate will have 8 years of operations experience in FMCG, with at least 4 years specifically in snack foods such as chips, nuts, baked snacks, extruded products, or confectionery. This role oversees end-to-end factory operations, ensuring efficiency, quality compliance, cost control, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily factory operations, including production, maintenance, quality, warehousing, and logistics.
• Develop and execute operational strategies to improve productivity and reduce manufacturing costs.
• Monitor production KPIs (OEE, yield, downtime, waste, efficiency) and take corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP, GMP, ISO, and UAE food safety regulations.
• Collaborate with QA to maintain product consistency and minimise quality issues.
• Promote a strong HSE culture throughout the facility.
• Lead, train, and mentor cross-functional teams.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, including Lean, Kaizen, and 5S.
• Optimise operational costs, reduce waste, and improve energy efficiency.
• Coordinate with procurement and supply chain teams to ensure RM/PM availability.
• Prepare accurate operational performance reports for senior management.
• Ensure compliance with SOPs and readiness for audits.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Food Technology, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in FMCG operations.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in snack food manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of snack food production processes, machinery, and quality systems.
• Skilled in Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement tools.
• Proven leadership experience in high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Strong communication, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• UAE/GCC experience preferred.

Key Competencies

• Leadership & team management
• Operational and commercial acumen
• Quality and safety focus
• Process improvement mindset
• Strong troubleshooting and decision‑making ability
• Adaptability in fast‑paced FMCG environments