Operations manager a.i.

Michael Page; Hoek van Holland; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Michael Page is seeking an Operations Manager A.i. to lead daily production operations, translate strategy into actionable plans, and drive KPI improvements in a regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing setting. This four-month interim assignment is on-site in the Netherlands.

You will coach senior team leads, manage external staffing partners, ensure GMP/GDP compliance, and collaborate with planning, training, and implementation functions to deliver operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in manufacturing, production or operations.
• Experience leading managers, supervisors or Team Leads.
• Experience in pharmaceutical, food manufacturing, packaging or other regulated production environments.
• Strong operational and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to drive KPI improvements and operational performance.
• Experience managing larger teams within a production setting.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent leadership, coaching and communication skills.
• Change management experience and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Fluency in Dutch and English.
• Knowledge of GMP, GDP or comparable quality and compliance standards is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee daily production operations.
• Translate operational and production strategy into departmental objectives and execution plans.
• Monitor production performance and ensure achievement of operational targets.
• Define, track and report on departmental KPIs.
• Drive productivity, quality, safety and efficiency improvements through continuous improvement initiatives.
• Analyze operational performance and identify opportunities to reduce losses and improve results.
• Ensure operational processes are consistently executed according to established procedures and standards.
• Collaborate with workforce planning teams to ensure optimal staffing levels and shift coverage.
• Manage relationships with external staffing partners and monitor service performance.
• Lead, coach and develop Team Leads and Assistant Team Leads.
• Support the creation and execution of training and development plans for operational employees.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders across planning, implementation and training functions.
• Provide recommendations to senior leadership regarding productivity and process improvements.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental and quality requirements.
• Maintain strong stakeholder relationships and facilitate effective cross-functional collaboration.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

KPI improvement

Process improvement

Analytical thinking

Communication

Change management

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering/Operations/Supply Chain/Business Administration/Pharmaceutical Sciences

Job description

In This Role As Operations Manager A.i. You Will

• Lead and oversee daily production operations.
• Translate operational and production strategy into departmental objectives and execution plans.
• Monitor production performance and ensure achievement of operational targets.
• Define, track and report on departmental KPIs.
• Drive productivity, quality, safety and efficiency improvements through continuous improvement initiatives.
• Analyse operational performance and identify opportunities to reduce losses and improve results.
• Ensure operational processes are consistently executed according to established procedures and standards.
• Collaborate with workforce planning teams to ensure optimal staffing levels and shift coverage.
• Manage relationships with external staffing partners and monitor service performance.
• Lead, coach and develop Team Leads and Assistant Team Leads.
• Support the creation and execution of training and development plans for operational employees.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders across planning, implementation and training functions.
• Provide recommendations to senior leadership regarding productivity and process improvements.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental and quality requirements.
• Maintain strong stakeholder relationships and facilitate effective cross-functional collaboration.

Play a key role in driving operational excellenceAssignment for 4 months

For This Role As Operations Manager A.i. You Need

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business Administration, Pharmaceutical Sciences or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a manufacturing, production or operations environment.
• Experience leading managers, supervisors or Team Leads.
• Experience within pharmaceutical, food manufacturing, packaging or other regulated production environments.
• Strong operational and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to drive KPI improvements and operational performance.
• Experience managing larger teams within a production setting.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent leadership, coaching and communication skills.
• Change management experience and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Fluency in Dutch and English.
• Knowledge of GMP, GDP or comparable quality and compliance standards is preferred.

Please note: this role is exclusively available for self-employed professionals based in the Netherlands.

Our client is an established manufacturing organisation operating within a highly regulated pharmaceuticals industry in North Holland. The company is focused on operational excellence, continuous improvement, quality assurance and the development of high-performing teams.

• An interim assignment with an immediate start.
• Contract duration until at least 1 January.
• Full-time on-site working environment.
• Opportunity to lead a critical production operation and make a visible business impact.
• Exposure to a dynamic and highly regulated manufacturing environment.