Operations & Site Managing Director-

Client Overview: A specialty chemical and high-performance materials manufacturer that is committed to improving the world through innovation. The business develops and creates new products that solve emerging challenges, created by business climate and customer need. These products are used in a variety of demanding applications, including plastic processing, automotive, oil exploration, bio fractions and technical textiles.

Role Overview: The Operations Director is responsible for leading all operational aspects of work and the workforce at the site. Furthermore, the incumbent is responsible for all legal compliance aspects of the site. Examples of these areas of responsibility are (but not limited to):

• All aspects of health, safety, environmental and process safety
• All aspects of product and service quality and leadership of the site quality management system
• Production capability to meet long term business plan
• Continuous improvement initiatives to drive productivity and efficiency
• Fixed and variable costs
• All investments on the site
• Process development on the site
• All required planning, budgeting and reporting

Work Assignments:

• People Leadership: The Operations Director is a member of the APT leadership team and, as such, is expected to play a leading role in the leadership of the overall business, providing direction and input in areas other than Operations management. Lead and coach the site management team comprising EHSQ, Maintenance, Process Technology, Projects and operations. Develop them to their full potential. Design, develop and implement an organisation structure with optimised resource levels and the required level of competence. Develop a culture of ownership and accountability within the site. Ensure that all direct reports carry out robust performance management of their teams and below, ensuring that reward, recognition and underperformance are promoted consistently. Set priorities to ensure optimized resource utilization. Performance management, including, but not limited to, appraisals, development plans, bonus schemes and salary setting. Ensure compliance with the Corporate Code of Conduct. Ensure an effective working relationship is maintained with the recognised Trade Union. Drive Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging initiatives.
• Process Technology: Ensure process development capability through process R&D and modeling. Ensure process engineering resource and capability meets the business needs.
• Operations: Ensure plant capability is maintained in line with business and S&OP requirements. Manage warehouse and all packing operations to meet business plan for packed and bulk materials.
• Project Management: Develop and implement investment plans for the site. Define a long-term development plan for the site and ensure contingency plans are in place that allow continual operations. Ensure robust project engineering procedures are in place and adhered to for all stages of project implementation from idea through to final project close out.
• Maintenance: Ensure optimum plant reliability through the application of programs such as risk-based inspection and reliability-centered maintenance.
• Environment, Health & Safety, Quality: Ensure compliance with all environmental, health, safety and process safety standards (UK legal, Corporate, ISO, and industry best practice). Maintain the strong positive safety culture on site through promotion and enforcement of the company’s behavioural safety programme “zero harm behaviours”. Ensure compliance with all quality standards (UK legal, ISO, Corporate, and industry best practice). Drive the site continuous improvement program to achieve efficiency and productivity improvements through the application of an improvement mindset across all activities.

Person Specification:

• Graduate or graduate calibre individual
• A minimum of 10 years’ process operations experience gained within a senior manufacturing role, preferably managing a COMAH registered site
• Knowledge of process and functional safety
• Knowledge in management systems and laws and regulations
• Demonstrable evidence of achieving results and managing change in a structured way
• A personal style that instils a sense of responsibility amongst peers and direct reports
• A management style that pervades calm, rational leadership and an ability to lead people through ambiguity and challenge
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills that must include English

To apply please contact Ellie Guest at ellie.guest@listgrove.com