Operations Manager Merksem (Antwerpen)

Raffinerie Tirlemontoise - Tiense Suikerraffinaderij; Antwerpen; On-site; EUR 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fringe benefits

Company car

Job summary

Tiense Suikerraffinaderij zoekt een ervaren Operations Manager in Merksem (Antwerpen) die de dagelijkse productie levend houdt, het onderhoud en de supply chain coördineert en het team adresseert. U rapporteert aan de Plant Manager en bewaakt veiligheid, voedselveiligheid en continue verbetering.

De kandidaat beschikt over een master in engineering en 5–10 jaar relevante ervaring in een productieomgeving, met aantoonbare leiderschapskwaliteiten en een praktische, no-nonsense aanpak.

Qualifications

• Master degree in Engineering (Industrial Engineering, Bio-Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electromechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering), or equivalent through experience.
• At least 5 to 10 years of relevant experience in a manufacturing environment; maintenance management and continuous improvement is a strong asset.
• Proven experience in managing teams with strong coaching and motivational skills.
• Good knowledge of safety regulations and food safety standards.
• A collaborative mindset and a strong team-player attitude.

Responsibilities

• Leiden van de dagelijkse productie-activiteiten in de fabriek.
• Het aansturen, coachen en ontwikkelen van teamleiders en operators.
• Coördineren van onderhoud voor maximale betrouwbaarheid en beschikbaarheid van apparatuur.
• Coördineren en optimaliseren van productieplanning en supply chain-activiteiten.
• Leiden van investerings- en capital expenditure-projecten als projectleider of kernlid.

Skills

Team leadership

Coaching

Safety culture

Collaboration

Process improvement

Education

Master in Engineering

Job description

Tiense Suikerraffinaderij is een referentie in de Belgische voedingsindustrie. Bij ons gaan traditie en innovatie hand in hand : we produceren al sinds 1836 kwalitatieve suiker van lokaal geteelde suikerbieten en werken elke dag aan een duurzamere toekomst.

Om ons team te Merksem te versterken, zijn we op zoek naar een (m/v)

Operations Manager Merksem (Antwerpen)

Tiense Suikerraffinaderij has 6 locations in Belgium and the Netherlands, each location has its own specialty. The factory in Merksem specialises in the production of candy sugars and syrups, better known under the Candico brand, and has always played an important role in the history of sugar production.

To reinforce our team we are looking for an experienced and hands‑on Operations Manager who will lead production operations, inspire and develop the team and ensure the efficient coordination of production, maintenance, supply chain activities and investment projects.

Your job as Operations Manager

You report to the Plant Manager and are responsible for:

• Managing the day-to-day production operations of the manufacturing plant.
• Leading, coaching, and developing team leaders and production operators.
• Coordinating the maintenance in order to ensure maximum equipment reliability and availability.
• Coordinating and optimizing production planning and supply chain activities.
• Acting as project leader or core team member for investment and capital expenditure projects.
• Promoting a strong culture of safety, food safety, quality, and operational excellence.

It's in our roots, In yours too?

At Tiense Suikerraffinaderij, we've been making sugar since 1836. The ingredients for success? They're ingrained in our roots:

• Flexibility and curiosity – We continue to invest in better, more sustainable and more efficient ways of working. As we modernize our processes and equipment, your expertise and ideas will help us make the right choices and drive continuous improvement.
• Technology and common sense – You'll work in a technologically advanced manufacturing environment where data, experience and common sense go hand in hand.
• Solo and as a team – You'll enjoy a high degree of autonomy and the freedom to take ownership of your work. At the same time, you'll be part of a collaborative environment where teams support one another and work together towards shared goals.

You should also possess the following qualifications and experiences:

• Master degree in Engineering (Industrial Engineering, Bio-Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electromechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering), or equivalent through experience.
• At least 5 to 10 years of relevant experience in a manufacturing environment, experience with maintenance management and continuous improvement methodologies is a strong asset.
• Proven experience in managing teams with strong coaching and motivational skills.
• Good knowledge of safety regulations and food safety standards.
• A collaborative mindset and a strong team-player attitude.

A fertile ground for your talent

This is what you can expect from us :

• A versatile role, with plenty of autonomy and responsibilities
• A hands‑on and no‑nonsense work environment with open communication culture and team spirit
• An attractive remuneration package, including fringe benefits and a company car

For more information on Candico and the Merksem site: Home - Candico, Vestigingen | Tiense Suiker.

About Tiense Suikerraffinaderij

For nearly 200 years, Tiense Suikerraffinaderij has been producing sugar from local sugar beets, serving both industries and home kitchens. You'll become part of a family of 600 proud sugar makers who stick together, both on and off the factory floor. They operate with a refined blend of tradition and innovation, aiming for minimal environmental impact as nothing from our sugar beets goes to waste. Our mission? To make life sweeter for people worldwide. And we're excited to do it together with you!

Earliest Possible Start Date: 10/1/2026

Contact: Belin, Marie-Pierre