Operational Manager

BE01 Solina Belgium; Eupen; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Solina Belgium in Eupen seeks an experienced Operational Manager to lead Production and Maintenance, ensuring safety, quality and efficiency while coaching managers and driving continuous improvement across the site.

You will report to the Site Manager, fostering collaboration, cost optimization and ongoing development of teams and processes in an international organization.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Engineering, Operations, Industrial Management or related field.
• Proven leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong people management and coaching skills.
• Experience leading both production and maintenance activities.
• Lean, TPM, CI or Operational Excellence exposure.

Responsibilities

• Lead Production and Maintenance to ensure safe, efficient operations and quality.
• Coach and develop managers and team leaders; monitor performance.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, reliability and service levels.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental and food safety requirements; foster safety culture.
• Plan resources and contribute to cost optimization and investments.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Lean Manufacturing

TPM

Continuous Improvement

Operational Excellence

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Change management

Collaboration

Education

Master’s degree in Engineering/Operations/Industrial Management

Equivalent experience in manufacturing leadership

Job description

Primary Location : EUPEN, Belgium At Solina, our community of close to 5,000 people share a passion for food and live our entrepreneurial culture. We design customised savoury solutions for our clients operating in the food industry, food service, butchery and nutrition markets. With sustainability at the heart of our business model, we aim to produce food that is good in every sense of the word: delicious, nourishing, affordable, sustainable and convenient.

Solina is a fast-growing business, with around 50 production sites and R&D laboratories present in more than 19 countries mainly in Europe and North America. By constantly rethinking culinary solutions, we make food matter for people and the planet.

If you're ready for a new adventure in a dynamic, expanding, passionate, international company, join us ! Solina Belgium - Eupen At Solina, we create customized food solutions for customers across the world.

To support the further development of our site in Eupen, we are looking for an experienced Operational Manager who will lead our Production and Maintenance activities and contribute to the site's operational performance.

In this role, you will report directly to the Site Manager and take ownership of the day-to-day performance of the Production and Maintenance departments. You will ensure that operations are carried out safely, efficiently, and in line with quality standards, while supporting the long-term development of our teams and processes. You will lead and coach managers and team leaders, monitor operational performance, and implement improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, reliability, quality, and service levels. You will play a key role in fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, accountability, and operational excellence.

As a member of the site's leadership team, you will contribute to the achievement of business objectives through effective resource planning, cost optimization, investment projects, and organizational development. You will also ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental, and food safety requirements and actively promote a strong safety culture across the organization.

Profile

• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in Engineering, Operations, Industrial Management, or a related field.
• Proven experience in a leadership position within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong people management and coaching skills.
• Experience managing both production and maintenance activities.
• Solid understanding of Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Continuous Improvement, or Operational Excellence methodologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills combined with a pragmatic, hands-on approach.
• Ability to drive change and achieve results through collaboration and leadership.
• Fluent in French and English.
• Dutch and/or German are an asset.

Interested? If you are a people-oriented leader with a passion for operational excellence and continuous improvement, and you are looking for an opportunity to make a real impact within an international and growing organization, we would love to hear from you.

We are open to talents of all backgrounds.

Our recruitment process is based on competences, and we openly welcome all candidates of all types according to our DEI Commitment.

At Solina, our culture is guided by PACE – a shared mindset that helps us grow, collaborate, and bring ambitions to life. It encourages us to think bigger, take ownership, stay curious, and succeed together.