Operations Director - Joints & Seals

Filoform is seeking an Operations Director – Joints & Seals based in Geldermalsen, Netherlands.

About Filoform

Filoform creates innovative solutions that make the energy & telecommunications industry safer, more efficient, and more sustainable. The company is a leading manufacturer of sealing and protection products, with a reputation for quality and reliability. Based in the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Germany, its key values include stability, responsibility, and creativity.

Filoform is committed to providing stable, long-lasting solutions that meet customer needs. Its products are designed to withstand tough conditions and provide reliable performance year after year.

Filoform takes responsibility to its customers, employees, and the environment seriously, and is committed to sustainable practices while striving to minimize its impact on the planet. The company continues developing new products and solutions that help customers work smarter.

Filoform has a team of experienced professionals who are passionate about what they do and are always looking for new ways to improve products and processes. Collaboration is central to the company’s approach, and teams work closely with customers to ensure products meet specific needs.

At Infrastructure Products Europe, teams are innovators, problem-solvers, and collaborators with a shared mission of creating manufacturing solutions that simplify complex infrastructure challenges. The culture puts people at the centre of everything it does, valuing ideas, supporting development, and encouraging creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• Company pension contribution
• A range of healthcare options
• Competitive holidays, including Christmas shutdown
• Engagement & Wellbeing initiatives
• Employee referral programme
• Enhanced Family friendly policies
• Career development opportunities across IPE and the wider CRH Group

Reports to: Managing Director – Joints & Seals

Role Overview

This role will be key to the strategic growth and development of Joints & Seals with strategic operational responsibility for the division, which includes sites in Netherlands, Germany and UK including directing and leading all safety and operational activities on-site, leadership and direction to all off-site operations, ensuring safe and efficient installations and support activities, and being a key member of the J&S leadership team.

What our new Operations Director will be doing

• Formulate and deliver strategies to stimulate innovation in operational processes to increase business competitiveness.
• Review, maintain and optimise manufacturing and logistical footprint, consisting of own facilities as well as 3rd party suppliers, to service the continued growth of the organisation. This includes make or buy / insource or outsource decisions.
• Drive vision of operational excellence and develop operating culture to be customer focussed.
• Work with J&S leadership team to formulate and deliver annual strategic targets.
• Manage site KPIs of their Operational teams and play an instrumental role within a matrix structure, to support the development and integration of a functional J&S management model.
• Implement and lead continuous improvement programme to drive operational effectiveness.
• Deliver world class H&S management.
• Work closely with the HR Director to ensure efficient operation of the sites in accordance with all relevant laws and company policies.
• Manage all operational costs and overheads and report on agreed operational performance indicators.
• Collaborate with the wider company and Group to share best practice and build a better business.
• Develop the cultures of the organisations, organise appropriate training to motivate employees and foster a culture of coaching within the organisation to develop the next tier of management through a succession plan.
• Participate in CRH Group best practice sessions and develop a network to drive benefits of OneCRH.
• Create CAPEX plans to drive the business to automation where applicable.
• Drive the industrialisation of operations with the focus on automation and efficiency.
• Successfully deliver the live projects with the mixing, filling and assembly automation.
• Remain abreast of technological advances in equipment, processes or procedures and communicating this to the team.
• Create a strong customer service and quality culture at all levels.
• Review and approve equipment and other capital needs.
• Formal monthly reporting to the Managing Director – Joints & Seals.
• Work with HR Teams to support change within local Works Council.
• Support business growth through safety, automation and operational excellence.
• Ensure product availability for own manufacturing and 3rd party suppliers, and inter-company sources.
• Travel to all sites within the Group, as required, working mainly in the Netherlands but flexible to travel to Germany and the UK regularly.

The experience our new Operations Director will have includes

• BSc Degree or equivalent in Production, Industrial, Manufacturing, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• Significant experience of operating at a senior operations management level within an engineering and manufacturing and supply chain environment.
• Candidates must be fluent in English and Dutch, both written and verbal.
• Experience in a continuous improvement methodology and Health and Safety.
• Must be mobile to undertake EU wide travel between J&S and Group CRH whilst at the same time withstanding the rigors of what will be a very high-profile position within the organisation.
• Background in setting and measuring KPIs, metrics, best practice assessments and performance management against these.
• Proven experience of developing and implementing manufacturing strategies and growing the operational activities.
• Evidence of developing plans to increase capacity and improve delivery performance.
• Track record in managing organizational change and transfer of operations to include developing new production facilities and its personnel.
• Experience of closing and transferring production facilities.
• Must have experience driving business growth through safety, automation and operational excellence.

What Filoform Offers You

A culture that values opportunity for growth, development, and internal promotion

• Highly competitive salary package
• Comprehensive secondary benefits
• Significant contribution to your pension plan
• Excellent opportunities to develop and progress within the wider CRH Group