Operations Director (Factory Head)

We are partnering with a frozen food manufacturer in Saudi Arabia to appoint an Operations Director (Head of Factory).

The Operations Director holds full strategic and operational accountability for the manufacturing facility. This is a senior leadership role responsible for shaping and executing the plant's operational strategy, building a high-performing organization, and delivering against ambitious targets for output, quality, cost, and safety.

The successful candidate will set the operational agenda, modernize and scale the facility, and embed a culture of excellence that positions the plant as a benchmark in the frozen food sector.

• Define and execute the operational strategy for the facility, aligned with the company's growth ambitions and commercial plans.
• Lead the transformation and modernization of the plant, including capacity expansion, automation, and capital investment planning.
• Translate business objectives into clear operational targets and a roadmap that the wider operations team can deliver against.
• Serve as a key member of the senior leadership team, contributing to overall business direction and decision-making.

• Drive operational excellence across the facility through lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and structured continuous improvement programs.
• Improve key metrics including OEE, yield, throughput, labor productivity, and waste reduction, with sustained year-on-year gains.
• Establish robust planning and scheduling disciplines that ensure on-time, in-full delivery against demand.
• Lead root-cause problem solving and a culture of data-driven decision making across all shifts and functions.

• Own the full production operation, from raw material intake through processing, freezing, packing, and dispatch.
• Ensure the reliability and performance of all plant assets, including cold-chain, freezing, and refrigeration infrastructure, through proactive and preventive maintenance.
• Oversee facility management, utilities, and capital projects to keep the plant running safely and efficiently at all times.

• Ensure full compliance with all food safety, quality, and regulatory standards, including SFDA, HACCP, ISO 22000, GMP, and customer-specific requirements.
• Maintain audit readiness at all times and uphold the highest standards of hygiene, traceability, and product integrity.
• Build quality and food safety into the culture of the plant, not just the systems.

• Lead, develop, and inspire a large multi-disciplinary workforce across production, quality, engineering, and supply chain.
• Build organizational capability through hiring, succession planning, training, and performance management.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement at every level.

• Own the facility's operating budget and capital plan, with full P&L accountability for the cost of operations.
• Drive cost optimization across labor, materials, energy, and overhead without compromising quality or safety.
• Partner closely with commercial, supply chain, and procurement teams to align production with sales, inventory, and service targets.

• 15+ years in food manufacturing operations, with significant experience in frozen, chilled, or processed food production.
• Proven track record at Operations Director, Plant Director, or Head of Factory level, leading a full facility at scale.
• Demonstrated success delivering operational excellence, plant transformation, and measurable improvements in cost, efficiency, and quality.
• Deep expertise in food safety and quality systems, with hands-on command of SFDA, HACCP, ISO 22000, and GMP.
• Strong engineering, maintenance, and capital project experience, including cold-chain and freezing infrastructure.
• Experience operating within Saudi Arabia, including familiarity with local regulatory requirements, Saudization, and large-workforce management.
• Engineering, food technology, or operations management degree; postgraduate qualification or lean/Six Sigma certification preferred.
• Exceptional leadership presence, commercial judgment, and the ability to build and lead high-performing teams.

• Strategic and operational leadership
• Operational excellence and continuous improvement
• Food safety and quality governance
• Financial and commercial acumen
• People leadership and organizational development
• Results orientation and accountability