Senior Operations Manager - Linköping

Arla Foods; Linköpings kommun; On-site; SEK 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Arla Foods’ Linköping Dairy seeks a Senior Operations Manager to steer multiple operational teams and translate strategy into action. You will partner with QEHS, Maintenance & Engineering, Logistics and Finance to deliver site targets with emphasis on safety, quality and cost.

Strong leadership and a track record of continuous improvement are essential. You will guide workforce planning, engage with union representatives, and drive performance using data insights.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or comparable combination of education and experience.
• At least five years of leadership in food production or complex manufacturing.
• Proven record of delivering operational improvements and business results.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, supply chain and financial performance.
• Experience with employee relations, workforce planning and union collaboration.
• High proficiency in Swedish and English (written and spoken).

Responsibilities

• Lead several specialist and operational teams through team leaders.
• Translate strategy into operational priorities and drive performance.
• Collaborate with QEHS, Maintenance & Engineering, Logistics & Planning, and Finance.
• Drive continuous improvement and implement operational excellence practices.
• Build relationships with stakeholders and support workforce planning.

Skills

Leadership

Operational excellence

Strategic planning

Data-driven decision making

People development

Stakeholder management

Education

Master's degree or equivalent

Job description

At Arla's Linköping Dairy, you will play a key role in one of Sweden's most dynamic dairy operations. Producing a broad portfolio of yoghurts, cooking products and lactose-free offerings for several well-known Arla brands, the site is characterised by high complexity, continuous product development and a strong focus on operational excellence.

As Senior Operations Manager, you will have the opportunity to influence both business performance and the future development of the site. As a member of the Linköping Dairy Management Team, you will help shape site priorities, contribute to strategic decision-making, and support the continued growth and success of the organisation. You will work closely with experienced colleagues across multiple functions to create sustainable results and strengthen operational performance.

At Linköping, we produce a diverse portfolio including Arla Ko®, Rosa Mjölk, Arla's popular strawberry-flavored milk drink, Yoggi®, Arla Köket® crème fraiche and lactose-free dairy products, creating a dynamic and complex manufacturing environment. As part of the Linköping Dairy Management Team, you will help shape site priorities, support operational excellence and contribute to the continued development of one of Arla's most important production sites. - Ann-Louise Wärners, Senior Director, Fresh Cluster SE

How You Will Make An Impact

As Senior Operations Manager, you will lead several specialist and operational teams through team leaders and play an important role in delivering the site's business objectives. Reporting to the Senior Director Fresh Cluster Sweden, you will be responsible for translating strategy into operational priorities while continuously developing people, processes and performance.

You will collaborate closely with peers across QEHS, Maintenance & Engineering, Logistics & Planning and Finance, contributing to site-wide priorities and supporting the site's long-term success.

More specifically, you will

• Develop and support leaders and employees, enabling engagement, collaboration and strong performance.
• Execute operational and financial plans to deliver targets within safety, quality, cost, delivery and sustainability.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and support the implementation of operational excellence practices across the organisation.
• Use data, performance indicators and insights to identify opportunities and support informed decision-making.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders while supporting workforce planning, employee relations and collaboration with union representatives.

What Will Make You Successful

We are looking for someone who combines strong business acumen with the ability to lead through others and drive operational excellence. You are comfortable navigating complexity, balancing operational priorities with long-term objectives, and building strong partnerships across the organisation.

You use data and insights to inform decisions, foster a culture of continuous improvement, and create the conditions for teams and leaders to perform at their best. Experience leading change, delivering results, and translating strategy into operational execution will be key to your success.

Key Qualifications Include

• A Master's degree, or a comparable combination of education and experience.
• At least five years of leadership experience within food production or another complex manufacturing environment.
• A proven track record of delivering operational improvements and business results.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, supply chain processes and financial performance.
• Experience of employee relations, workforce planning and collaboration with union representatives.
• High proficiency in Swedish and English, both written and spoken.

To succeed in this role, collaborative leadership, a continuous improvement mindset and balanced decision-making will be important. Success comes from building trust, developing people and creating an environment where teams can succeed together. A proactive approach to identifying opportunities, encouraging new ways of working and supporting sustainable change will be key. Equally important is the ability to consider different perspectives and make informed decisions that support both business performance and people.

Experience with LEAN, Six Sigma, APS or a similar operational excellence system, as well as digital transformation in manufacturing, will be an advantage.

What do we offer?

• We are ambitious people doing good together- that is the spirit of our cooperative, whether at the office, in the dairy or on the farm. We enable good food choices that make life better and work hard to bring health and inspiration to the world, naturally. If you are looking to shape the future with a company that truly cares about your development and success, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.
• Arla Foods has collective agreements, and we always ensure to offer good and competitive working conditions. In addition to that, safety and working environment are our top priorities, which is why we, among other things, conduct random drug and alcohol tests. In this process, we will conduct a background check as part of our recruitment process.

Shape the Future of Dairy

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.

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