Head of Industrial Engineering & Continuous Improvement

Career OpportunityHead of Industrial Engineering & Continuous ImprovementMauritius & Madagascar OperationsLead Transformation Across One of the Region's Largest Integrated Textile & Apparel Manufacturing GroupsEstablished in 1989 and part of Ciel Textile, the textile cluster of CIEL Group, Tropic Knits Group is a leading integrated textile and apparel manufacturer with operations spanning Fabric Manufacturing and Garment Manufacturing across Mauritius and Madagascar.As a Great Place to Work® Certified organization, we continuously invest in innovation, operational excellence and the development of our people.We are seeking an experienced and visionary leader to head our Industrial Engineering and Continuous Improvement function. This strategic leadership role will drive operational excellence, productivity enhancement, Lean transformation and manufacturing performance improvement across multiple sites and business units.Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, the successful candidate will lead a team of Industrial Engineers and Continuous Improvement specialists while partnering closely with Operations, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain and Human Resources teams to deliver sustainable business results.Your MissionTo develop and lead a culture of Continuous Improvement and Operational Excellence across all manufacturing operations, ensuring the organization achieves world-class standards in productivity, quality, delivery, cost competitiveness and employee engagement.Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic LeadershipDevelop and implement the Group Industrial Engineering and Continuous Improvement strategy.Establish a multi-year roadmap for productivity improvement and operational excellence.Drive a culture of continuous improvement across all manufacturing sites.Identify strategic opportunities to improve competitiveness, profitability and customer satisfaction.Act as a key advisor to senior management on operational performance and transformation initiatives.Continuous Improvement & Lean TransformationLead the deployment of Lean Manufacturing methodologies across Fabric and Garment operations.Champion Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, Visual Management and Problem-Solving initiatives.Establish governance structures to monitor Continuous Improvement projects and benefits realization.Drive waste elimination and process optimization throughout the manufacturing value chain.Lead cross-functional improvement projects with measurable business impact.Industrial Engineering ExcellenceEstablish Industrial Engineering standards and best practices across all sites.Oversee time studies, work measurement, capacity planning and productivity improvement programs.Drive line balancing, workforce optimization and resource utilization initiatives.Lead factory layout optimization and material flow improvement projects.Support automation and digital transformation initiatives.Manufacturing Performance ImprovementDrive improvements in:ProductivityEfficiencyQualityDelivery PerformanceCost ReductionWaste ReductionCapacity UtilizationDevelop and monitor key operational KPIs.Ensure performance improvement initiatives are aligned with business objectives.Support manufacturing teams in achieving operational excellence targets.Team Leadership & Capability BuildingLead, coach and develop the Industrial Engineering and Continuous Improvement teams across Mauritius and Madagascar.Build organizational capability in Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies.Develop training programs and coaching initiatives for managers and supervisors.Foster a culture of accountability, innovation and problem-solving.Establish succession plans and talent development initiatives within the function.Regional CollaborationPromote sharing of best practices between Mauritius and Madagascar operations.Standardize processes, methodologies and performance measurement systems.Support new factory developments, expansions and strategic projects.Travel regularly between sites to provide leadership, coaching and project oversight.What are we looking forQualificationsBachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Management or related discipline.Master's Degree in Engineering, Operations Management or Business Administration will be an advantage.ExperienceMinimum 10 years' experience in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Excellence or Continuous Improvement.Minimum 5 years in a senior leadership role.Proven experience leading Lean Manufacturing and Operational Excellence initiatives.Experience in textile, apparel or high-volume manufacturing environments preferred.Experience managing multi-site operations and cross-functional teams.Technical ExpertiseLean ManufacturingSix SigmaKaizenValue Stream MappingRoot Cause AnalysisIndustrial Engineering TechniquesCapacity PlanningProductivity ImprovementProject ManagementData Analytics and KPI ManagementChange ManagementLeadership CompetenciesStrategic ThinkingInfluencing and Stakeholder ManagementCoaching and Team DevelopmentChange LeadershipResults OrientationBusiness AcumenCommunication and Presentation SkillsWhy join us?Lead Regional TransformationDrive improvement initiatives across multiple countries and manufacturing disciplines.Shape the FutureBuild and lead a high-performing Industrial Engineering and Continuous Improvement function.Make a Lasting ImpactInfluence strategic decisions and deliver measurable improvements in business performance.Career GrowthJoin a leading international textile and apparel group committed to innovation, sustainability and people development.Help us build a world-class manufacturing organization !"Transform Processes. Develop People. Deliver Excellence."Location: MauritiusRegional Scope: Mauritius & MadagascarReporting To: Chief Operations OfficerClosing Date: 7th August 2026We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace.Management reserves the right to call only the best candidates for an interview. If you have not received any communication after the deadline, feel free to call us for any query.