Senior Director Operations Europe

The organisation

CentroMotion is a new privately held organization and comprised of a growing portfolio of highly respected global brands that add value through innovative motion, actuation and control technologies. Its core businesses brands are Power-Packer, GitsMfgCo, Yvel, CrossControl, Elliot Manufacturing, Maximatecc and Weasler.

CentroMotion is doing business in more than 50 countries. At this moment 2300 employees are working for the company globally. There are 13 manufacturing facilities and the company has a deep engineering expertise in rotational motion, hydraulic actuation and mobile control & automation systems. The company has 220 patens and 39 Trademarks. Total revenue in 2019 is US$427mln.

CentroMotion is wholly owned by One Rock Capital Partners, experienced investors with differentiated resources. One Rock manages approximately US $1.4 billion in capital, with a focus on high-potential middle-market businesses. The organization makes controlling investments in companies with potential for growth and operational improvement using a rigorous approach that utilizes highly experienced Operating Partners to identify, acquire and enhance businesses in select industries. They bought the brands in 2019 from the Actuant Corporation.

CentroMotion is a leading global designer and assembler of customized position and motion control systems and other industrial products to various transportation and other niche markets. The vehicle systems product lines (Power-Packer, Gits and Power Gear brands) are sold to the truck, automotive, off-highway and specialty vehicle markets.

Products include hydraulic cab-tilt and latching systems sold to global heavy duty truck OEMs such as Volvo, Iveco, Scania AB and CNHTC and electro-hydraulic convertible top latching and actuation systems.

The automotive systems are utilized on both retractable soft and hard top vehicles manufactured by OEMs such as Daimler, Audi, Volkswagen, BMW and Porsche Diesel engine air flow solutions, such as exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems, are used by diesel engine and turbocharger manufacturers to reduce emissions, improve fuel efficiency and increase horsepower.

Primary end markets include heavy duty truck and off-highway equipment serving customers such as Caterpillar Inc., DAF, MAN, Honeywell, and BorgWarner.

The position

Develop and implement the manufacturing operations strategy for the European region in alignment with the CentroMotion strategic plan and to customer needs. Set and achieve goals for safety, quality, delivery, cost, inventory, profitability, and continuous improvement. In coordination and cooperation with the supply chain group, ensure optimal material replenishment strategies are used. Lead the manufacturing organization to establish positive teamwork, communications, staff development, and morale.

Directly manages: 4 Ops leaders/3 General Managers, 1 EHS Manager, approximately 700 employees. Reports to VP Operations CentroMotion.

Tasks & responsibilities

• Safety and Environment
  • Ensure compliance to company and governmental Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) regulation and policy, (ensure) audit of compliance and manage incidents, ensure safety awareness is on a high level, with the goal of zero injuries to personnel and no harm to the environment with an emphasis on proactive, preventive measures.
• Lean transformation and integration
  • Provide solid operations leadership across multiple manufacturing sites. Collaborate with executive management and other regions to drive a culture and results aligned with world class Operational Excellence and lean transformation. Ensure acceptance, integration, and consistency with all manufacturing locations using the Strategy Deployment and KPI processes. This role requires a strong blend of both strategic and tactical approaches to continuous improvement and driving positive business results.
• Quality
  • Drive the quality culture to achieve customer satisfaction as well as minimizing costs of non-conformance. Collaborate with functional leaders in Engineering & Sales in new product project teams to prevent future quality issues. Set performance standards to drive active compliance to customer as well as corporate (OPEX) quality expectations. Work with the sourcing group to achieve expected supplier quality levels.
• Delivery
  • Participate and contribute in the Sales and Operations planning process to ensure customer lead times and deliveries are at or above target levels. Monitor production capacity, scheduling, material flow and order priority to optimize inventory levels and staffing. Manage supplier on time delivery to expected levels.
• Cost
  • Forecast and manage Operations costs; executing frequent review and reporting deviations to plans as well as defining and executing corrective measures. Initiate and execute productivity improvement projects, including definition of the manufacturing footprint strategy. Provide input for the investment master plan (Capex), initiate and review business cases, investment projects and/or sponsor investment projects. Set, manage, and deliver year over year productivity targets.
• Operations Management
  • Set production guidelines and framework, monitor production performance against target, anticipate disturbances and initiate appropriate actions (SQDC to OPEX-KPI strategy). Stay abreast of technology and develop the technology roadmap for the future.
• Continuous Improvement
  • The Director of Operations is a lean expert, practitioner, and champion. Sets the site lean vision and drives a culture of continuous improvement through their own behaviors, actions, and accountability. Collaborates with international colleagues to identify, share, and implement lean best practices.
  • Establishes cadence and methods at the site to ensure that problems are identified and corrected in short cycles through practices such as Lean Daily Management, formal problem solving, and root cause/countermeasure. Lean and continuous improvement are at the heart of everything they do at CentroMotion.
• People
  • Organize, manage, and coach team members and ensure they have the right training and skills to lift or maintain the organization to world class levels of OpEx.
  • Organize, manage and coach team members in such a way that the team’s plans and objectives are met or exceeded. Ensures guidance of the Operations team at the site. Facilitate, train and develop high potential associates and place them in key roles, with succession and development plans clearly aligned, communicated and executed.

Candidate profile

• Superior expertise and demonstrated success in lean leadership and hands-on implementation of lean techniques with proven results in a manufacturing environment. Lean Six Sigma certification a plus;
• Academic degree in engineering, operations, business administration or similar equivalent experience;
• At least 15 years’ experience in international industrial and manufacturing environments with at least five years leading multiple sites in a variety of countries and cultures;
• Intimate knowledge of Sales & Operations planning, assembly processes, Cell Manufacturing, Logistics & Warehousing, Quality Management Systems, Continuous Improvement and Cost Savings;
• Experience relocating and/or consolidating manufacturing footprint;
• Safety Systems & Leadership → Install and support SAFE workplace;
• Good understanding and practical knowledge of leading ERP systems;
• Understanding of Financial Cost Management and making or managing investment plans (CAPEX).
• Fluent in Dutch and English, both oral and written.

Competencies:

• Leadership
  • Lead the Operations in different countries and lead business transformation with an open leadership style.
• Collaboration
  • Able to influence decision making at all levels in the organization.
• Decision making
  • Analyzes problems, opportunities and circumstances and their potential impacts on the business to evaluate alternatives and make effective recommendations/decisions.
• Innovation
  • Encourage innovations. Supporting an environment that nurtures and embraces experimentation.
• Drive for results
  • Execute efficiently. Ownership and strong commitment to achieving goals and organizational success, managing work performance and accountabilities.
• Continuous improvement
  • Champions and fosters a culture of visible accountability, continuous improvement and operational excellence to world class levels.
• Problem solving
  • Able to describe problems, identify root causes as well as handle containment and permanent measures. Teaches and expects use of formal problem-solving tools from all team members.
• Effective communication
  • Promotes and sets expectations for transparent communication on a daily, weekly, monthly basis to direct reports, supervisors and teams and to management.

The primary office location is located in Oldenzaal (the Netherlands). Expected travel is 25-30% to CentroMotion sites, but also including visits to customers and suppliers by car, plane, etc. The majority of travel will be within Europe, however, some international travel will also be required.

Interested?

You are invited to apply for this position by using the form below. 

Procedure:

• Interview with Boyden Amsterdam;
• With approval on both sides, presentation to the client;
• Interviews with the client;
• The first interviews will be held in Q4 2020 at Boyden office in Amsterdam;
• Complete confidentiality.