Head of Site

DORC Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center (International); Zuidland; On-site; EUR 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

8% holiday allowance

13th-month salary

Performance-based bonus

Company car or car allowance

Employer pension plan

Job summary

ZEISS and DORC joint leadership site seeks a Head of Site to drive operational performance and cultural transformation at a high-tech, highly regulated manufacturing site. You will lead a diverse leadership team and shape long-term site development.

You will translate strategy into local results, align with global Operations, and collaborate with R&D to industrialize new products while expanding site capabilities.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline (e.g. Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Physics, Materials Science) or equivalent experience.
• More than 10 years of manufacturing experience in a highly regulated environment (medical devices, optics or similar).
• At least 5 years leading large, multidisciplinary teams with full operational accountability.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic and operational production planning in alignment with global Operational Excellence and product group leadership.
• Ensure optimized Production and Logistics performance, delivering on time and to high quality standards.
• Drive cross-functional initiatives and lead operational change across technical, economic and organizational priorities.
• Advance industrialization of new products in partnership with R&D and strengthen global process harmonization.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental and regulatory standards and foster accountability.
• Represent management on site and lead the site leadership team while guiding a diverse organization of 250–300 employees.

Skills

LEAN manufacturing

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

Master’s degree in Engineering or related technical discipline

Job description

Two years ago, DORC became part of ZEISS, marking the beginning of an important new chapter for our organization. Since then, we have been working closely to integrate our strengths and capabilities, bringing together the best of both organizations.

As the organization continues to evolve, new opportunities are emerging. To support this next phase of development, we are introducing the new role of Head of Site.

In this position, you will play a key role in further developing and strengthening the site. You will bring together the strengths of both organizations, build and lead your own leadership team with five direct reports, and drive the continued development and performance of a highly specialized manufacturing site.

As Head of Site, you strengthen the operational foundation of the site, elevate performance and lead its continued transformation.

In this role you report directly to Head of Global Operations and hold full accountability for the operational and cultural performance of the site. You lead a multidisciplinary leadership team and ensure excellence in execution, safety, compliance and people development. As part of the Operations Leadership team you align with global Operations, translate strategy into local results and shape the long-term success of the site.

Your impact

As Head of Site, you lead the performance and direction of the Operations organization. Beyond managing operations, you ensure that strategy, execution and culture are fully aligned to deliver sustainable growth in a highly regulated manufacturing environment.

In this role, you will:

• Lead strategic and operational production planning in close alignment with global Operational Excellence and product group leadership.
• Ensure optimized Production and Logistics performance, delivering on time, in full and at the highest standards of quality and efficiency.
• Drive cross-functional initiatives and lead operational change in line with technical, economic and organizational priorities.
• Advance the industrialization of new products in partnership with R&D while strengthening global process harmonization, capacity development and site expansion.
• Safeguard full compliance with safety, environmental and regulatory standards, embedding a culture of accountability and operational discipline.
• Represent management on site, lead the site leadership team and foster an inclusive, performance-driven culture.
• Lead and develop a diverse organization, initially managing 5 direct reports, with the leadership team expected to grow to 7 over time, while driving engagement, performance, and professional development across an organization of approximately 250 to 300 employees.

Operations Organization

The Operations organization integrates Production, Logistics, Operational Procurement, Continuous Improvement and Site Administration, including Facility Management and Work Safety, into one cohesive structure at the core of the site. Within this integrated organization, operational execution, industrialization of new products and global process alignment come together. Alongside performance and compliance, strong focus is placed on leadership development, engagement and professional growth, building a resilient and future-ready manufacturing organization.

Stakeholder Landscape

You operate at the center of a complex internal and external network. Internally, you collaborate closely with R&D, QA, Procurement, HR, Finance, ICT, internal auditors and the Works Council. Externally, you represent the site towards shareholders, regulators, external auditors, suppliers and key customers.

You recognize yourself in the following

You are a strategic and pragmatic operations leader who sees the bigger picture while staying close to execution. You combine strong business acumen with deep knowledge of LEAN manufacturing and process optimization, translating complexity into structure, performance and measurable results.

You lead with clarity and transparency. Fluent in Dutch and English, you build trust across all levels of the organization and align diverse stakeholders around shared priorities. You are culturally aware, stakeholder-smart and confident in an international matrix environment.

You bring a strong sense of accountability and organizational discipline. Analytical and perseverant, you make well-considered decisions while maintaining momentum in dynamic and demanding settings, with a clear focus on customer impact.

Above all, you are an experienced people leader. You mentor and coach your teams, foster engagement and professional growth, and actively live and promote the Core Values. Through your leadership, continuous improvement and operational excellence become embedded in the way the organization works.

You have:

• A Master’s degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline (e.g. Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Physics, Materials Science), or an equivalent level of professional and technical expertise.
• More than 10 years of experience in manufacturing within a high-quality, highly regulated environment such as medical devices, optics or comparable industries.
• At least 5 years of experience leading large, multidisciplinary teams with full operational and strategic accountability.

What you can expect from us

This role carries full accountability for the site’s performance, leadership capability and operational direction within a high-tech, highly regulated manufacturing environment. It requires leadership that unites and aligns teams to deliver quality and results through collaboration.

• A key strategic role within the Operations Leadership team.
• A professional culture with clear expectations, strong accountability and room for initiative.
• An internationally positioned organization that combines long-term stability with ongoing development.
• Direct collaboration within the global ZEISS Operations network, with scope to influence alignment and drive improvement.
• A clear mandate to lead the site and take decisions that shape operational results and safety standards.
• The opportunity to strengthen leadership, build team capability and implement structural improvements with lasting impact.

As Head of Site, you will lead the site’s operational performance and long-term development. We offer a remuneration and benefits package that reflects your accountability for people, quality and results.

• A salary that reflects the scope and responsibilities of the role, as well as the experience and expertise you bring
• 27 days of annual leave based on full-time employment
• 8% holiday allowance
• A 13th-month salary payment
• A performance-based bonus scheme
• A company car or car allowance, in line with company policy
• A pension scheme fully funded by the employer, with no employee contribution