Our client is a rapidly growing plastics recycling company based in Co. Meath, Ireland, currently employing a team of 60. As a European market leader in circular solutions for the plastics industry, they specialise in transforming waste PET materials using cutting-edge recycling technology. With ambitious plans to potentially triple in size over the next five years, they are now seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Senior Operations Manager to lead and optimise their manufacturing operations.
This is a pivotal role, taking over the day-to-day running of operations from the hands-on CEO. You will bring a strategic, solutions-oriented mindset focused on continuous improvement, operational excellence, and team development. Your mission will be to enhance efficiency, eliminate recurring issues, and embed a culture of continuous improvement — all while upholding the company’s core values of integrity, innovation, ambition, and social responsibility. A key aspect of the role will involve mentoring and developing shift teams to become increasingly self-sufficient and empowered.
Given the nature of the business — manufacturing using recycled materials — the ideal candidate will have a strong track record in operational leadership within complex, fast-paced environments. You will be adaptable, hands-on, and passionate about sustainability and the circular economy, with the drive and expertise to lead operational transformation and support long-term growth.
Responsibilities:
Operations Leadership:
* Lead and manage production, quality, warehouse, and EHS teams to achieve operational excellence with the aim of building self-managing, highly capable production teams.
* Drive performance metrics and ensure adherence to high standards of product quality, safety, and sustainability.
* Implement strategies to optimise site performance, ensuring alignment with company goals.
* Become the onsite leader and expert in the use of NetSuite ERP system to streamline operations.
* Train and support team members in using NetSuite effectively throughout the operations teams.
* Continuously monitor and optimise the use of the ERP system to improve efficiency and data accuracy.
* Drive performance metrics and ensure adherence to high standards of product quality, safety, operational efficiency and sustainability.
* Foster collaboration across departments to deliver smooth, efficient, and safe operations.
* Promote and integrate Lean manufacturing practices such as Six Sigma, 5S, and other efficiency methodologies to streamline operations and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
Production Management:
* Support the Production Supervisor in meeting production targets with minimal downtime and a continual focus on right first-time quality.
* Implement continuous improvement initiatives, reducing waste and operational bottlenecks, while embedding a culture of operational excellence.
* Take ownership of plant performance, ensuring that production targets and key performance indicators (KPIs) are met consistently.
Quality Assurance:
* Work with the Quality Supervisor to uphold strict quality control and compliance standards.
* Lead initiatives to identify and address quality issues, ensuring customer satisfaction.
* Promote a culture of quality awareness and continuous improvement.
* Identify and implement improvements across the quality department and day-to-day operations.
* Support the Quality Supervisor in ensuring the adherence to ISO9001 standards.
Warehouse:
* Collaborate with the Warehouse Supervisor to ensure seamless inventory management and material flow.
* Optimise storage, logistics, and handling to support production schedules and minimise costs.
* Implement lean practices to improve warehouse efficiency and reduce waste.
* Implement stock control systems to ensure up-to-date and accurate inventory and locations.
Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS):
* Partner with the EHS Supervisor to maintain full compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
* Champion initiatives to improve safety culture and reduce environmental impact.
* Lead sustainability efforts to align with the company’s environmental goals.
* Support the EHS supervisor in ensuring the adherence to ISO14001 standards. Financial and Performance Management: • Manage site budgets, ensuring cost-effective operations while maintaining high standards.
* Monitor and analyse key performance metrics to ensure site goals are met.
* Identify opportunities for cost savings and process optimisation.
Requirements:
* Proven Experience in Operations Management: Ideally, candidates will have 10 years of experience, but a minimum of 5 years is required of hands-on experience in an operations leadership role within a manufacturing environment, preferably dealing with plastic recycling or extrusion processes.
* Operational Excellence: Demonstrated ability to implement Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies, improving plant efficiency, reducing downtime, and enhancing production quality.
* Leadership & Team Development: Experience managing, motivating, and developing shift-based teams, with a track record of fostering self-sufficiency and high performance in production teams.
* Problem-Solving & Decision-Making: Strong analytical skills, with a history of successfully addressing recurring operational challenges and implementing long-term, sustainable solutions.
* Technical Knowledge (Desired): Familiarity with extrusion processes and machinery, such as Starlinger or Erema equipment, would be a strong advantage.
* Continuous Improvement Culture: Adept at fostering a culture of continuous improvement, with proven success in embedding operational best practices in a growing company.
* Change Management: Ability to lead change in a fast-growing organisation, with experience in scaling operations and integrating new technology while maintaining high performance and employee engagement
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