Senior Operations Manager

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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