Job description
IPL is a global leading sustainable packaging solutions provider that manufactures specialty rigid packaging products used in the food, consumer, agricultural, logistics and environmental markets. We have over 2,500 colleagues in 20 manufacturing facilities, two corporate & sales offices and three R&D facilities across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Continental Europe, and China. IPL operates in a fast paced and dynamic environment and has significant growth plans, acquiring four businesses within the past year.
Read more about our story at: www.iplglobal.com
Position Title: VP Operations, Europe
Location: UK, Mainland Europe
Job Overview and key duties:
- Collaborate with all global and regional functions to deliver fit for purpose operational structure, processes and culture.
- Accountable for the divisional operational strategy, safe operations, operating performance, capital deployment, growth initiatives, and day-to-day leadership of the sites.
- Define, communicate and implement operations strategy and change (as required), structure, and processes for Europe.
- Plan, direct, coordinate, and oversee operations activities, ensuring development and implementation of efficient operations and cost-effective systems to meet current and future needs of the organization, increase efficiency and maximize performance.
- Responsible for financial performance and P&Ls of the sites from an operational perspective and in line with legal, regulatory and Company policies.
- Identify, recommend, and implement new processes, technologies, and systems to improve and streamline organizational processes and use of resources and materials Responsible for the leadership and management of 1000+ employees via 8 Plant Managers across 8 industrial sites.
- Guiding, directing and evaluating the work of the management team across operations, quality, health and safety and engineering. Identifying leaders within the team and setting them on a path for management.
- Ensure that all functions under supervision operate in accordance with health, safety and environmental policies and procedures to ensure the safety of staff and visitors.
- Design and deliver the operational efficiency plan for location of tools in the right plants to meet the Division’s market structures.
- Drive operational excellence and efficiencies throughout the Division, ensuring benchmarks and targets are established and managed.
- Lead on all capital development projects, ensuring thorough proposals, cost effective procurement and project success operationally and commercially.
- Work closely to the Supply chain function to support the implementation of the sales and operations planning processes (S&OP) for the division.
- In collaboration with the VP Finance, ensure price costings systems are developed for the sales team to ensure accuracy of pricing in the market.
- Provide regular, consistent, and transparent communication and interaction with the divisional leadership team and as required ELT members about business activities, potential threats, opportunities, and recommended actions.
- Develop mid to long-term (3-5 years) plans for optimizing the organization, function, or sub-function and the talent required to execute strategies in job area.
- Responsible for coaching and developing direct reports and manage high performing teams that deliver continuous improvement, added value and cost reductions.
- Ensure strong communication between teams under leadership to facilitate exchange of information and in order to implement change and improvements.
- Complete regular performance reviews, manage attendance, disciplinary issues and procedures as appropriate.
- Role model our Values.
Essential experience and skills:
- A Director of Operations, COO, VP Operations, GM, or MD with extensive operational experience in running a multi-site plastics manufacturing business.
- Extensive operational experience – able to understand operational processes, customer requirements and technical attributes of the product range.
- Strong experience in multisite P&L management with clear ability to forecast, manage budgets and costs.
- Able to successfully lead and implement change, structure, and process and take a common-sense approach to encouraging continual cultural, technological, and operational transformation.
- Experience of M&A led growth and integration with knowledge of how business is conducted on a global scale. Able to work effectively with senior leadership.
- An inspiring leader who can attract and retain the key talent for the Division. Experience leading, coaching, building teams and mentoring highly skilled and experienced direct reports.
- Comfortable working both at a strategic and a tactical level, with a demonstrated ability to be hands on and remain close to sales and operations.
- ERP experience (IFS advantageous but not essential).
- Experience in a Private Equity (PE) environment is advantageous.
- Ability to travel as needed