Head of Optimisation

Heidelberg Materials Limited; Yate; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international materials company is seeking a Head of Optimisation to shape their internal strategies for process and system optimisation. This role involves overseeing the BSC Academy, managing stakeholder relationships, and driving optimisation projects to align with business objectives. The ideal candidate will have a formal accounting qualification and experience in operational excellence. Responsibilities include setting strategies, budget management, and coaching departmental leadership. Join a dynamic team committed to continuous improvement and transformation.

Qualifications

• Strong background in continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Proven experience in managing stakeholders across various functions.
• Significant experience in delivering optimisation projects.

Responsibilities

• Set and communicate optimisation strategies across the BSC.
• Oversee the BSC Academy and ensure alignment with business needs.
• Drive the delivery of a portfolio of optimisation initiatives.
• Identify standardisation requirements through process documentation.
• Manage relationships with senior management in group functions.
• Set clear budget and FTE management targets.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to departmental leadership.

Skills

Stakeholder Management

Process Optimisation

Budget Management

People Development

Education

Formal accounting qualification (e.g., ACCA, CPA, CIMA)

Job description

The Head of Optimisation sets the internal strategy for optimisation of BSC processes and systems, aligning to the overall BSC efficiency and cost targets. In addition, they own the senior stakeholder relationships with group functions (including Global Process Owners and Group IT) for optimisation agenda.

• Process and System Optimisation Strategies - responsible for setting and communication of process and system optimisation strategies across the BSC. Working in collaboration with peers to ensure that all areas are aligned, and combined to deliver to customer expectations, global best practices, and BSC directors' strategic objectives.
• Academy Strategic leadership - Oversee the BSC Academy, providing strategic direction and leadership to ensure that the Academy offering is aligned to the business needs, and that outcomes continuously justify investment levels.
• Delivery of Optimisation Projects - Provide deep knowledge of the systems and end to end processes across the BSC. Oversee and drive the design, build and delivery of a portfolio of optimisation initiatives. Ensure end to end communication, and connectivity with local countries. Ultimately ensure that all initiatives have positive business cases which are delivered as designed.
• Identify Standardisation Requirements - lead the identification of standardisation needs through comprehensive process documentation and gap analysis and take ownership of maintaining the BSC process variants repository.
• Stakeholder Management - Own the BSC relationship with senior management in group functions such as Global Business Process Excellence and HDigital for Optimisation area. Proactively build positive, collaborative and transparent communication paths to ensure that we are consistently aligned and pulling in the same direction. Understand local requirements and challenges, and work with counterparts to provide appropriate solutions.
• Budget and FTE management - Set clear and meaningful cost and FTE targets for each department / team which contribute to the overall BSC targets. Ensure that efficiencies reported are tangible and can be locked into actual FTE and cost profiles.
• People Development - Provide coaching, mentoring and advice where necessary to all levels of leadership across the department.
  Formal accounting qualification (e.g., ACCA, CPA, CIMA) or demonstrable equivalent experience in an accounting-focused role.
• Experience of working in Continuous improvement, transformation, operational excellence and/or optimisation projects
  The Heidelberg Materials (HM) International Business Service Centre (BSC) provides administrative, transactional and accounting services to in-scope HM companies.