Operations Manager

About the company
This is a Danish-owned international company with more than 100 years of experience in developing and manufacturing food packaging solutions. We combine strong craftsmanship, operational know-how and a clear sustainability ambition to serve customers across Europe. The Role For our production site in Genk, we are looking for an experienced Operations Manager who takes ownership of the daily performance of Production and Warehouse. This is a role for a practical people manager, someone who is visible on the shop floor, understands what employees need to do their job well and turns problems into workable solutions. Because there is no local Site or Plant Manager, the role also requires the maturity to provide clear direction and act as a trusted day-to-day leadership presence in Genk. We are looking for someone with sound practical judgement, proven production experience and the ability to earn trust at every level of the organisation. You know when to listen, when to decide and when to roll up your sleeves. You create clarity without making things complicated, keep agreements alive and help foremen and employees perform as one team. You are operationally close enough to understand what is really happening and senior enough to build trust, accountability and direction. As Production Operations Manager, you are responsible for the day-to-day management and performance of Production and Warehouse in Genk. You ensure that operations run safely, reliably and according to plan, with strong attention to quality, delivery, efficiency and employee engagement. You spend a significant part of your time in the operational environment. You work closely with foremen, operators, diesetters, packers and warehouse colleagues, as well as Maintenance, Tooling, Quality and Supply Chain. The role reports directly to the Group Operations Director, who retains the overall Site Manager responsibilities and strategic direction for Genk.

Key Responsibilities
Daily operations & performance Keep Production and Warehouse running safely, steadily and efficiently. Translate the production plan into clear daily priorities, staffing and follow-up. Stay close to output, downtime, waste, inventory flow, delivery performance and the few KPIs that help the operation move forward. Lead short, focused operational meetings and ensure agreed actions are completed. Act quickly when problems occur and bring the right people together to solve them. Maintain high standards in safety, quality, environment and housekeeping. Leadership & employee engagement Be present, approachable and consistent on the shop floor. Coach and support foremen and employees through clear practical help. Build cooperation across shifts and between Production and Warehouse. Create ownership: people understand what is expected, why it matters and what they can decide themselves. Address difficult people dynamics and resistance in a clear, fair and constructive way. Support employee development, training and polyvalence, and maintain constructive day-to-day relations with employees and employee representatives. Continuous improvement & operational development Spot practical opportunities to improve safety, quality, flow, efficiency and waste. Solve recurring problems at the root and make sure improvements remain in place. Use data as a practical tool for better decisions, not as an end in itself. Involve employees in improvements because the best solutions often start on the shop floor. Support approved improvements to processes, equipment and digital tools. Support functions & matrix collaboration Coordinate closely with Maintenance and Tooling to support equipment reliability. Work with Quality on operational issues, non-conformities and corrective actions. Align with Supply Chain on priorities, inventory and customer deliveries. Create effective local execution and alignment, even when support functions do not report directly to you. Keep the Genk organisation well connected with the Group functions in Denmark. Raise site-wide trade-offs, investment needs and strategic issues with the Group Operations Director in time. Contribute practical operational input to relevant site and Group initiatives while respecting the Group Operations Director's overall site responsibility. Profile & qualifications You are an experienced production leader who feels at home among people, machines and daily priorities. Your credibility comes from what you have done, how you lead and the results you have achieved. Preferred

qualifications:
Several years of experience as a Production Manager, Operations Manager, Production Supervisor or in a comparable leadership role in manufacturing. Proven experience leading teams in a shift-based production environment. A good understanding of production flow and the connection with warehouse, maintenance, quality and planning. Strong people-management

skills:
you can connect with employees, set boundaries, address difficult issues and keep people engaged. The leadership maturity to create credibility, direction and accountability without relying on formal authority. A practical improvement mindset. Experience with Lean or structured problem-solving is useful, but practical results matter more than certificates. Comfortable using operational figures and KPIs to see what needs attention and follow up on results. Fluent in Dutch and able to work professionally in English. French is an advantage. Experience with Belgian labour practices and an ISO or BRCGS production environment is an advantage. Personal characteristics You are: You are visible and lead by example. You stay calm when production is under pressure. You communicate clearly and directly, with respect. You listen before deciding, and you follow through after a decision is made. You keep things workable and avoid unnecessary complexity. You build trust while holding people accountable. You take local ownership and make decisions within your mandate, rather than escalating every operational issue. You know when to ask for support and collaborate closely with the Group Operations Director. Why Join ?

We offer
A key operational leadership role with visible impact on people and performance. The freedom to stay close to the operation and turn ideas into practical improvements. A collaborative and informal working environment with short lines of communication. The opportunity to develop teams and help shape the future of the Genk site. Professional and personal development in an international manufacturing company. If you are a practical production leader who gets energy from developing people and improving daily operations, we would be pleased to hear from you.