Head Of Industrial Operations

The Head of Industrial Operations will report directly to the Chief Operations Officer (COO), will act as her strategic right hand and operational partner across all four sites.
The mission will be twofold: drive the industrial transformation of existing sites while supporting the integration of the new facility — and over time, take on increasing team management responsibilities.
It will be expected to operate with a high level of autonomy, take ownership of complex cross-functional projects, and bring the operational rigor that allows the COO to focus on strategic priorities.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Act as the operational relay of the COO across the four sites, ensuring alignment between strategic objectives and day‐to‐day execution
Build and maintain a consolidated view of operational performance (KPIs, dashboards, group reporting)
Prepare and present operational reviews;
flag risks, deviations,and recommend corrective actions
Progressively take on direct management of operational teams as the organization scales
Define, lead and track the transformation roadmap across the three existing manufacturing sites
Drive layout and flow redesign projects to optimize productivity, safety and quality
Lead or support Lean deployment initiatives (VSM, 5S, SMED, Kaizen, etc.) in coordination with the dedicated Lean Manager
Identify and capture operational synergies between sites (shared resources, standardized processes, best practice transfers)
Coordinate cross‐functional teams (Engineering, Production, Quality, HSE) to ensure delivery on time, on budget and on spec
Support the operational due diligence and onboarding of the newly acquired facility
Lead the production transfer workstream: capacity planning, sequencing, risk mitigation
Pilot layout and flow redesign for the new site
Contribute to make‐or‐buy / outsourcing analysis and execution as relevant
Manage project closure and lessons learned across all integration workstreams
Deploy group operational standards and management routines across all four sites
Ensure compliance with safety, quality and environmental requirements
Drive a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and performance
CANDIDATE PROFILE
- Engineering degree — Industrial, Mechanical, Manufacturing or equivalent
Languages
- Fluent in Portuguese and English (mandatory)
Experience
10+ years in an industrial / manufacturing environment
Proven track record in leading complex transformation or integration projects in a multi‐site context
Hands‐on experience with Lean methodologies (VSM, 5S, SMED, Kaizen, line balancing — practitioner level)
Experience in plant layout redesign and flow optimization
Exposure to M&A integration or production transfer projects is a strong plus
Experience in a context of organizational growth and team building is a plus
Personal Skills
Autonomous and entrepreneurial: comfortable operating in a fast‐moving, sometimes ambiguous environment
Strong leadership presence: able to federate cross‐functional teams without direct authority
Structured and rigorous: able to manage multiple projects simultaneously without losing sight of priorities
Hands‐on: equally comfortable in strategic discussions and on the shop floor
Results‐driven, with a genuine sense of urgency
Excellent communication skills — upward (COO, group) and transverse (site teams)
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