Area Production Leader: Safety, Quality & OEE

What's Cooking Group; Wanze; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

What's Cooking Group is seeking an experienced production leader to drive operational excellence across a Belgian production area. You will translate plant objectives into actionable targets, own performance metrics such as output and OEE, and lead TCP implementations to improve safety, quality and cost efficiency.

You will guide a high-performing team, ensure FSQR compliance, and manage maintenance, budgets, and continuous improvement initiatives in line with our plant strategy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration or a related field.
• 10 to 15 years of experience in Production Management, Operations or a similar role, preferably within a complex production environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all operational activities within your assigned production area, ensuring that products are produced safely, on time, at the required quality level and at optimal cost.
• Translate plant objectives into clear operational targets and priorities for your area and take ownership of the results across safety, quality, maintenance and production performance.
• Contribute to the Plant Leadership Team by providing insights into area performance, risks and opportunities and ensuring alignment with the overall site strategy.
• Take full responsibility for production performance, including output, OEE and efficiency. Monitor KPIs, analyse deviations and implement corrective and preventive actions to achieve sustainable results.
• Ensure compliance with quality and food safety standards (FSQR) and drive continuous improvements in product quality and food safety.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure that all activities within your area comply with internal standards, legal requirements and company policies regarding safety, quality and environment.
• Take responsibility for equipment reliability and production continuity by ensuring effective maintenance programs, equipment availability and continuous reliability improvements.
• Manage costs and resources within your area, including OPEX and CAPEX, and ensure that budgets and financial targets are achieved.
• Own and continuously improve processes and procedures within your area, implement best practices and lead continuous improvement initiatives in line with the plant's operational excellence strategy.
• Ensure audit readiness, follow up on audit findings and drive the implementation of corrective actions.
• Lead, coach and develop your team, supporting team leaders and supervisors in building accountability, ownership and high performance.
• Ensure appropriate staffing, competence development and succession planning within your area and contribute to creating a strong culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Skills

People leadership

Coaching

Team development

Strategic thinking

Operational leadership

Problem-solving

Decisiveness

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration or related field

Job description

What's Cooking Group is seeking an experienced production leader to drive operational excellence across a Belgian production area. You will translate plant objectives into actionable targets, own performance metrics such as output and OEE, and lead TCP implementations to improve safety, quality and cost efficiency.

You will guide a high-performing team, ensure FSQR compliance, and manage maintenance, budgets, and continuous improvement initiatives in line with our plant strategy.