Regional Operations Director – Sustainable Manufacturing

IPL Schoeller; Coton Farm; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

IPL Schoeller is recruiting an Operations Director to lead manufacturing across the UK, Belgium and Switzerland. You will drive safety, quality and customer service while delivering sustainability objectives and financial performance.

Responsibilities include coaching plant managers, implementing Lean and Six Sigma, standardising processes, and collaborating with engineering, quality and supply chain teams. Expect travel between sites and a strategic leadership role across seven plants.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 7 years' experience in manufacturing operations leadership.
• Proven track record of leading high-performing teams and delivering operational results.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficient in operational systems, reporting, and data analysis tools.
• Demonstrates strategic thinking, leadership courage, and resilience.
• Customer-focused with strong relationship-building skills.
• Results-driven, action-oriented, and solutions-focused.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for manufacturing operations across seven sites.
• Lead, coach and develop plant managers and leadership teams with a safety-first culture.
• Deliver operational and financial performance in line with budgets and forecasts.
• Establish and monitor KPIs including safety, quality, productivity, and cost.
• Drive continuous improvement through Lean, Six Sigma, standard work and root-cause analysis.
• Ensure capacity, labour, equipment and resources meet customer requirements.
• Promote standardisation of processes and best practices across sites.
• Collaborate with engineering and maintenance to improve asset reliability and automation.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Champion a safety culture and manage risks, incidents and corrective actions.
• Partner with quality teams to maintain product quality and customer satisfaction.
• Collaborate with supply chain and procurement to improve planning and on-time delivery.
• Support capital investment plans and site improvement initiatives.
• Lead transformation and change programmes with effective communication.
• Identify opportunities for energy efficiency and waste reduction.
• Succession planning, talent development and workforce engagement.
• Provide regular performance updates and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Undertake regular travel between UK, Belgium and Switzerland.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Manufacturing operations

Lean Six Sigma

Team leadership

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

Safety culture

ISO standards

Education

Bachelor's degree in Operations Management

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

ERP systems

Data analysis tools

Job description

IPL Schoeller is recruiting an Operations Director to lead manufacturing across the UK, Belgium and Switzerland. You will drive safety, quality and customer service while delivering sustainability objectives and financial performance.

Responsibilities include coaching plant managers, implementing Lean and Six Sigma, standardising processes, and collaborating with engineering, quality and supply chain teams. Expect travel between sites and a strategic leadership role across seven plants.