Head of Manufacturing - Packaging

About This Role

Role: Head of Manufacturing

Reporting To: COO

Industry: Rigid Plastic Packaging (Food Grade Manufacturing)

The firm is entering a major growth and transformation phase with multi-site operations, capacity expansion, and full SAP digitization. We require a strong, process-oriented operations leader who can elevate our and drive operational excellence and lean manufacturing efficiency.

This position is critical in shaping the firm’s next five-year agenda.

Summary of Role

The Head of Manufacturing will oversee all manufacturing, engineering, maintenance, and shop-floor operations .

We need someone who:

• Comes from Rigid Plastic Packaging manufacturing.
• Is deeply grounded in Lean, OEE improvement, and process discipline .
• Has strong experience managing multiple sites with structured KPIs.
• Has SAP digitization exposure — ideally someone who has implemented or driven full adoption at the shop-floor level.
• Has grown through hands-on, shop-floor roles .

Key Responsibilities (High-Level)

• Full P&L responsibility for operations performance across all UAE production sites.
• Drive production, engineering, maintenance efficiency.
• Lead Lean transformation, OEE improvement, waste reduction, and process standardization.
• Strengthen compliance with FSSC, ISO, safety, and customer standards.
• Lead SAP integration and real-time digital manufacturing adoption.
• Build second-line leadership and drive a culture of discipline, ownership, and customer-centricity.
• Manage capex projects, layout changes, and upcoming expansions.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Credentials & Experience

• 18–25 years in manufacturing, with at least 10 years in senior roles.
• Background in Rigid Plastic Packaging manufacturing is ideal
• Proven multi-site leadership experience.
• Strong Lean/Six Sigma grounding (Black Belt preferred).
• Demonstrated success in shop-floor digitization ( SAP mandatory ).
• Must be comfortable spending significant time on the floor.

Leadership Qualities

• Structured, process-driven thinker.
• Strong people leader — coaches and builds high accountability.
• Calm, mature and decisive under pressure.
• Customer-first mindset and strong alignment with quality and safety.
• High energy, execution-focused, resilient.

Non-Negotiables

• SAP manufacturing digitization experience
• Multi-site leadership
• Deep Lean/Kaizen/OEE discipline
• Hands-on shop-floor operator at heart

PS : Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted