Head of Manufacturing

Alcott Global is working with a leading global industrial organization to search for a Head of Manufacturing based in Europe.

Role Purpose

The Head of Manufacturing will provide strategic leadership and governance across a network of international manufacturing sites. The role will define and drive the global manufacturing strategy, operational excellence agenda, footprint and capacity priorities, and make‑or‑buy decisions, while establishing consistent standards, KPIs, and improvement methodologies across the network. This is a global corporate leadership role requiring strong operational credibility and the ability to influence plant and regional leaders.

Key Responsibilities

1. Global Manufacturing Strategy & Footprint

• Define and implement the global manufacturing strategy in line with business growth, customer service, quality, cost, and risk‑management priorities.
• Lead strategic footprint, capacity, localization, and make‑or‑buy decisions across the manufacturing network.
• Develop short‑and medium‑term plans in response to changing market conditions, business opportunities, technology developments, and cost pressures.

2. Manufacturing Excellence & Performance Management

• Establish global operational excellence standards, KPIs, governance routines, and performance benchmarks across the manufacturing network.
• Drive measurable improvement in productivity, quality, delivery, cost, safety, asset utilisation, and working capital.
• Embed Lean, continuous improvement, digitalisation, automation, and data‑led decision‑making across operations.

3. Global Governance & Cross‑Functional Leadership

• Provide strategic direction and functional oversight to manufacturing and plant leadership teams across multiple regions.
• Partner with supply chain, procurement, quality, engineering, industrialisation, R&D, finance, commercial, and product‑management functions.
• Influence senior stakeholders, resolve competing priorities, and ensure consistent implementation of global standards.

4. Organizational Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead and develop a high‑performing global manufacturing excellence team.
• Strengthen manufacturing capability, leadership quality, succession depth, and technical expertise across the network.
• Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement, and disciplined execution.

Desired Candidate Profile

• Senior global manufacturing or operations leader with around 15 years of experience in complex, international industrial organisations.
• Proven track record leading multiple factories, regions, or a global manufacturing network, supported by hands‑on plant leadership experience.
• Strong expertise in operational excellence, Lean, manufacturing engineering, industrialisation, productivity improvement, and performance management.
• Demonstrated experience leading manufacturing footprint, capacity, make‑or‑buy, automation, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Effective leader and influencer with experience navigating complex cross‑functional stakeholder relationships.
• High intercultural sensitivity, strong communication and conflict‑management skills, and an engineering or equivalent technical background.