Operations Manager / Site Leader

Exciting Opportunity: Operations Manager – Liege Site

Are you ready to take on a leadership role in a dynamic and growing environment? We are looking for an experienced Operations Manager to oversee the operational management of our Liege site, ensuring the efficient manufacturing and delivery of both current and future IDS product requirements.

In this key role, you will lead and connect all departments toward achieving operational excellence, ensuring that manufacturing processes are planned, coordinated, and optimized for efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness. You will be responsible for managing both human and material resources, driving continuous improvement and maintaining smooth operations. Additionally, you will assume the statutory role of Site Manager, overseeing compliance and regulatory requirements.

This is an exciting opportunity to drive innovation and efficiency while playing a crucial role in expanding the boundaries of human health through science. If you’re a strategic thinker with a passion for leadership and operational excellence, we’d love to hear from you!

General Responsibilities:

• Oversee production and keep schedules on track.
• Ensure production is cost-effective and meets KPIs.
• Plan and allocate necessary resources.
• Set timelines and adjust schedules as needed.
• Monitor quality standards and implement control programs.
• Select and maintain equipment for smooth operations.
• Collaborate with suppliers, managers, and departments.
• Implement company policies and goals.
• Ensure health and safety guidelines are followed.
• Supervise and motivate the team.
• Review worker performance and identify training needs

Operational Goals:

• Product Availability – Ensure the right stock is always available by aligning production with the sales team’s 12-month rolling forecast. Develop a robust scheduling system to improve mid-term planning and keep operations running smoothly.
• Product Quality – Elevate product quality by refining processes and procedures. Move from traditional, knowledge-based methods to a fully documented best-practice approach. Work with internal teams and third parties to standardize production, reducing batch-to-batch variations and ensuring consistency.
• Production Efficiency – Boost efficiency through process improvements and smart automation. Focus on increasing output per team member while minimizing waste and non-production material use. Explore the shift from a "build-from-scratch" model to a more streamlined "subcomponent batch" system for greater productivity.
• Business Management – Oversee the assets, equipment, and operations of the Liège site, ensuring they meet both current and future needs. Manage the operations budget (OPEX & CAPEX) effectively, keeping costs under control while driving continuous improvement.

People/Management Goals:

• Foster strong collaboration and alignment between the Operations and R&D teams to ensure seamless communication and shared success.
• Promote unity and open dialogue within the Liège Operations and R&D teams, encouraging cross-functional teamwork.
• Build a positive, transparent relationship with Unions and the workforce, cultivating a culture where everyone is engaged, motivated, and aligned with IDS values.
• Inspire a workforce that not only embraces the IDS values but enjoys working here and is passionate about continuously improving the performance of the Liège Site.
• Partner with the HR Business Partner to create an open, collaborative relationship with Union representatives, fostering trust and teamwork.
• Act as the lead representative for the CPPT panel, ensuring effective communication and promoting a culture of safety and collaboration.

Compliance Goals:

• Ensure the site consistently meets and exceeds health and safety standards, as well as all relevant operations-related regulations.
• Champion a culture of safety, responsibility, and legal compliance, creating a secure and compliant environment for all employees.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor degree in Business or Science; MBA and/or Ph.D is preferred
• 8+ years IVD/Bioscience/Medical sector experience
• Health and Safety qualification

Knowledge and Experience:

• 5+ years relevant related professtional track record in an ISO13485, IVD or FDA regulated environment (Ideally gained within Immuno Assay manufacturing for automated systems) across various disciplines.
• 5+ years people/line management track record including leading cross-functional teams.
• 8+ years IVD/bioscience/Medical sector experience
• ISO 9001, 14001, 13485 gained within a GMP business environment
• IVD, bioscience protocols, product transfer and implementation
• Medical poduct certification, processes and working environment

Skills:

• Coaching of project teams in integration management, change management, program management
• Build efficient and strong realtionsips with business project stakeholders, and project portfolio stakeholders, functions and project leaders/teams
• Strong collaborator who can work efficiently with other in matrix environments aross sites and cultures, knows how to use formal and informal networks to drive timely and measurable reults
• Ability to influence with and without authority
• International or global business experience is strongly advantageous
• Fluent in English and French, further languages are beneficial
• Process Improvement techniques
• The capability to maintain, develop and review systems and procedures to align with best practice including GMP, and other process improvement systems
• Excellent planning and organisational skills
• Superior analytical and problem solving/trouble shooting skills

Our Values

• Embrace the unknown - every big idea starts with a bold, fundamental question: What If?
• Passion for people - our people are our greatest asset and fuel our success in service of humanity.
• Collaborate for success - we put team before self to achieve the unexpected with transparency, accountability and integrity.
• Partner with purpose - we inspire new paths with customers to accelerate positive outcomes.

Benefits

We truly value our people and provide a range of benefits as well as providing an environment where our employees’ career and wellbeing can flourish.

Here is a taster of what we offer:

• Up to 32 days off per year + extra days off for seniority
• Hybrid working
• Company Car
• Attractive annual bonus
• We run health, well-being and friendly team spirit initiatives
• Meal vouchers at 8€ per worked day
• Hospitalisation and medical insurance (spouse and children are covered)
• Goup Insurance
• Learning and Development: Benefit from our Skillsoft learning and development platform, offering a wide range of modules to tailor your personal growth.

Diversity, equality and inclusion is really important to us and we are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they can truly be themselves and bring their own originality, creativity and identity to IDS.