Chief Operating Officer / Directeur des Opérations H/F

IONISOS Group; Limonest; On-site; EUR 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Ionisos is seeking a dynamic COO to head Operations and join its Executive Committee. This role will oversee operations across 10 sites, drive operational excellence, and strengthen cross‑department collaboration.

The COO will manage a ~250‑person team and report to the CEO to align operations with Ionisos’ growth trajectory. Responsibilities include setting productivity targets, maintaining high safety standards, and delivering a group-wide manufacturing excellence program.

Qualifications

• 15+ years' experience leading operations (manufacturing, supply chain, logistics) in an industrial life sciences context
• Proven track record sustaining and improving operational performance under high quality and regulatory constraints
• Strong HSE background with experience deploying continuous improvement/operational excellence programs
• Experience leading industrial projects (new sites, capacity extensions, greenfield) is a plus
• Strong people leadership with multisite and multicultural team management
• Strategic vision paired with results-driven mindset and stakeholder relationship skills
• Fluent English; French/German/Spanish a plus
• Sterilization experience is a plus

Responsibilities

• Lead IONISOS’ European site network, ensuring safe, high‑quality sterilization delivered efficiently and cost‑effectively
• Own group operational performance, set targets for productivity and capacity, and ensure accountability
• Manage the group's KPI framework across all sites and adapt to business needs
• Act as senior sponsor for key client relationships and ensure excellent customer service
• Ensure sites have resources, skills, and tools to meet targets and comply with legal/regulatory requirements
• Lead the HSE strategy for the group with ambition of zero accidents
• Direct the Continuous Improvement Director on a manufacturing excellence program with measurable goals
• Head the Industrial Projects Team to expand capacity and open/ramp up new sites
• Arbitrate project priorities and investments, ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery
• Present operational performance, project progress, and actions at Board meetings

Job description

Join Ionisos – Shaping the Future of Sterilization for Healthcare

For more than seventy years, Ionisos has been at the forefront of life-saving innovation. We specialize in sterilization, preservation, and crosslinking, powered by four advanced technologies: Gamma, E-Beam, X-Ray, and Ethylene Oxide.

With more than 10 facilities across France, Germany, Spain, Estonia, and Switzerland, we serve a global network of healthcare and industrial partners. Every day, our teams ensure the safety and reliability of medical devices, pharmaceuticals, veterinary products or cosmetics.

As a trusted healthcare partner, we don’t just meet expectations — we exceed them, with a relentless focus on quality, innovation, and customer success.

At Ionisos, sustainability isn’t a buzzword — it’s our commitment. We champion employee well-being, reduce our environmental footprint, and shape a future where technology and responsibility go hand in hand.

• Make an impact: Your work directly contributes to improving healthcare, safety and quality of life around the world.
• International experience and opportunities to take on exciting challenges.
• A collaborative culture where your ideas matter.

Position summary

IONISOS is seeking a dynamic leader to head Operations and join its Executive Committee. This newly created role will oversee and optimize operations across the company’s 10 sites, foster operational excellence and strengthen collaboration across departments.

The COO will lead a team of around 250 people and will be accountable for four core areas: day-to-day operations management, Health, Safety & Environment (HSE), continuous improvement, and the industrial projects team driving the development of our industrial footprint. As the voice of Operations on the Executive Committee, the COO will work closely with the CEO to ensure that Operations perform, improve and evolve in line with IONISOS’ growth trajectory and strategic objectives.

Key responsibilities

• Lead IONISOS’ network of European sites, ensuring safe, high-quality sterilization services delivered efficiently and cost-effectively
• Own the operational performance of the group: set targets for productivity, capacity utilization, hold the organization accountable for delivering them
• Steer the group’s operational KPI framework ensuring it is consistently applied across all sites and evolves with the business needs
• Guarantee an excellent level of customer service and act as senior sponsor for key client relationships,
• Ensure sites have the resources, skills and tools they need to meet their targets, and that operations comply with all legal and regulatory requirements, in close partnership with Quality
• Manage the HSE Team in setting and delivering the group HSE strategy, with the ambition of zero accident
• Lead the Continuous Improvement Director in building and deploying a group-wide manufacturing excellence program with ambitious measurable improement objectives
• Lead the Industrial Projects Team in delivering IONISOS’ sustainable growth, including capacity expansion and the opening and ramp-up of new sites (including greenfield projects)
• Arbitrate project priorities and investments, and ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget and to specification, with fast and controlled ramp-ups
• Participate regularly in Board meetings, presenting operational performance, project progress, key figures and action plans to the Board and shareholders

Profile

• At least 15 years’ experience leading operations (manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, procurement) in an industrial environment and in the life sciences (medtech, CDMO, pharma)
• Proven track record of sustaining and improving operational performance in a demanding context: highest quality requirements, strong technical and regulatory constraints, and a safety- and customer-driven culture
• Solid HSE background and hands‑on experience deploying continuous improvement / operational excellence programs
• Experience leading industrial projects (new sites, capacity extensions, greenfield) is a strong asset; consulting, project management or cross‑functional facilitation experience is a significant plus
• Strong people leadership, with experience managing multisite operations and leading multicultural teams
• You combine strategic vision with a results‑driven mindset, inspire and develop talent, and build lasting relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Fluent English required; French, German or Spanish is a plus
• Sterilization experience is a plus

Location possible in all Europe.

Ready to shape the future of sterilization with us?