Factory Director

For an international FMCG food manufacturer, we are seeking an experienced Plant Director. This is a Greenfield operation within a multinational, where an already constructed production site will be established from the ground up: processes, systems, and teams need to be set up from scratch. The organization produces a wide range of high-volume consumer products, including mayonnaise, salad dressings, ketchup, and sauces, serving both retail and foodservice markets. Interested? Please read on.

The company operates in a highly regulated food production environment where operational excellence, food safety, and consistent product quality are essential. The production facility plays a central role in the company’s European operations, focusing on efficient manufacturing, robust quality control, and continuous improvement.

As part of further operational development, the organization is looking for a Plant Director who will have full accountability for the production site, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations while maintaining the highest standards of food safety and compliance. The role includes building the entire production team, establishing processes and procedures, and making the factory fully operational from scratch.

The position is based in the Netherlands, Heerenveen, and reports directly to the Supply Chain Director abroad.

The Position

The Factory Director will be responsible for leading and managing all manufacturing operations at the production site. The role combines operational leadership, people management, and continuous improvement with a strong focus on food safety, efficiency, and cost control.

Key responsibilities and opportunities:

• Operational leadership: oversee all daily production activities and ensure the achievement of production targets across daily, weekly, and monthly planning cycles.
• Production efficiency: ensure optimal utilization of manpower, machinery, and materials while continuously improving production performance and operational efficiency.
• Continuous improvement: implement lean manufacturing, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), and other operational excellence initiatives to improve productivity and reduce waste.
• Food safety and quality compliance: ensure full compliance with food safety standards including HACCP, BRCGS/IFS, GMP, and relevant EU food safety regulations. Maintain strict control of critical control points in emulsified food products such as mayonnaise and dressings.
• Quality assurance: ensure consistent product quality, including taste, viscosity, and microbiological safety, while supporting internal and external quality audits.
• Team leadership: lead, coach, and develop production teams, supervisors, and shift leaders while fostering a strong culture focused on safety, quality, and performance.
• Health, Safety & Environment: ensure compliance with safety regulations and company HSE policies while promoting a zero-accident culture across the factory environment.
• Maintenance coordination: work closely with engineering teams to ensure effective preventive and predictive maintenance programs, minimizing downtime and improving equipment reliability.
• Cost management: manage the factory operating budget, monitor key cost drivers, and implement initiatives to improve cost efficiency and reduce operational losses.
• Supply chain collaboration: coordinate closely with procurement and planning teams to ensure availability of raw materials and packaging while supporting reliable production schedules and on-time delivery.
• Operational excellence: drive initiatives related to Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, and 5S methodologies while supporting digitalization and smart factory initiatives.

The Factory Director plays a critical role in ensuring the reliability, efficiency, and safety of the production facility while supporting the company’s broader operational and commercial objectives.

Profile of the Ideal Candidate

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. A Master’s degree is considered a plus.
• Approximately 10–15 years of experience within food manufacturing environments (FMCG).
• At least 5 years of leadership experience as Factory Manager, Production Manager, or a comparable senior operations role (final responsibility not required).
• Experience working in an international or multinational FMCG environment is a plus.
• Solid technical knowledge of food production processes including mixing, pasteurisation, filling, and packaging.
• Experience with Clean-in-Place (CIP) systems and automated production lines.
• Strong understanding of food safety systems including HACCP, BRCGS, IFS, GMP, and EU food safety regulations.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, TPM, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Familiarity with ERP systems and operational performance metrics such as Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Strong leadership capabilities with the ability to manage and develop multicultural teams in a dynamic production environment.
• Results-oriented mindset with strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Knowledge of sustainability initiatives, energy efficiency, and environmental standards within manufacturing is considered a plus.

Interested? Please apply.

Robert Walters Netherlands is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.