Sr Director Manufacturing

Lamb Weston EMEA; Breda; On-site; EUR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Lamb Weston EMEA in the Netherlands seeks a Sr. Director Manufacturing to lead regional manufacturing, set strategy, oversee safety, quality, cost and productivity across the business unit.

You will drive continuous improvement across multi-site operations, develop leaders, manage capital investments, and align plants with global corporate objectives to deliver sustainable, world-class performance.

Qualifications

• Experience in large manufacturing operations department management.
• Led complex, multi-site manufacturing across countries and cultures.
• Proven leadership and ability to develop high-performing teams.
• Strong business and financial acumen with experience managing operational and financial performance.
• Leadership of continuous improvement processes including cost reduction/savings programs and safety.
• Food safety and quality management experience within the plant environment.
• Strategic project leadership with high-complexity cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder management within a global matrix organization.
• Fluency in English; additional European language capability preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end manufacturing operations across the EMEA region.
• Drive safety performance and culture across all operations.
• Lead plant managers to align regional manufacturing strategies with Lamb Weston goals.
• Instill a zero-loss, continuous improvement culture.
• Drive asset utilization, maintenance excellence and capacity optimization.
• Lead resource allocation and capital investment planning for the region.
• Represent Lamb Weston with external partners and industry groups.
• Embed environmentally responsible manufacturing practices across the region.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Operational excellence

Multi-site leadership

Safety culture

Continuous improvement

Financial acumen

Stakeholder management

English fluency

Cross-cultural

Job description

Are you an experienced manufacturing leader who combines strategic thinking with a strong operational mindset? Do you enjoy leading people, driving continuous improvement and delivering sustainable business results?

As Sr. Director Manufacturing be responsible for the overall performance and strategic direction of the manufacturing organisation. You will oversee the full operational chain, from potato sourcing and raw material optimisation through production, supply chain, engineering, quality and technical services.

Job Responsibilities:

• Embeds a culture of employee safety throughout the organization and drives safety performance across all manufacturing and sourcing operations.
• Drives food safety and quality culture throughout the organization and partners with Corporate FSQ to ensure compliance with all company, customer and regulatory requirements.
• Fosters a “Speak Up” culture rooted in Lamb Weston values.
• Leads Plant Managers to ensure EMEA manufacturing strategies align with Lamb Weston’s overall business strategies and are effectively deployed and executed across the region.
• Instills a zero-loss manufacturing culture focused on continuous improvement, operational excellence and delivering world-class sustainable performance.
• Assesses, identifies and develops talent to ensure future leaders are prepared for expanded leadership responsibilities. Builds organizational capability throughout the region.
• Sets, measures and improves regional operational Key Performance Indicators and coaches plant leadership teams to consistently deliver results related to safety, quality, service, cost and productivity.
• Leads manufacturing transformation initiatives, process optimization efforts, technology implementation and innovation programs that improve operational and financial performance.
• Drives asset utilization, maintenance excellence, capital investment planning and capacity optimization strategies to ensure reliable and efficient operations.
• Serves as a key decision maker in the allocation of regional manufacturing resources, including labor, capital investments, capacity and raw material utilization.
• Accountable for the operational and financial performance of the EMEA manufacturing business unit, including achievement of operating plans, productivity targets and profitability objectives.
• Builds strong partnerships across Lamb Weston’s global matrix organization and collaborates effectively with regional and corporate stakeholders to achieve enterprise goals.
• Represents Lamb Weston with external industry groups, government agencies, customers, suppliers and business partners when appropriate.
• Implements programs that drive sustainable and environmentally responsible manufacturing practices across the region.

Skills and Experience

• Experience in large manufacturing operations department management – preferably food processing/manufacturing
• Demonstrated success leading complex, multi-site manufacturing organizations across multiple countries and cultures.
• Proven leadership and management skills with the ability to develop high-performing teams and future leaders.
• Strong business and financial acumen with experience managing operational and financial performance.
• Leadership of continuous improvement processes including cost reduction/savings programs, innovation, customer complaint resolution, plant/employee safety and security
• Food safety and quality management experience within the plant environment and in managing customer relationships
• Strategic project leadership experience involving high-complexity, cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills with experience operating effectively within a global matrix organization.
• Fluency in English required; additional European language capability preferred.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, pragmatic and people-focused leader who creates clarity, empowers others and holds teams accountable for results. A strong balance between strategic thinking and operational focus is essential, combined with a continuous drive to improve and deliver results.

Most importantly, the role calls for a genuine passion for people, manufacturing and continuous improvement , with the ambition to make a meaningful impact on the future of Lamb Weston’s operations.