Head of Manufacturing

Head of Manufacturing - Rigid PlasticsOur client, a leading rigid plastic packaging manufacturer serving major FMCG clients, is looking to appoint a Head of Manufacturing based in the UAE. The incumbent will lead multi-site manufacturing operations across Production, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality and Safety, driving operational excellence, productivity, profitability, and continuous improvement across the GCC region.Reporting - Chief Operating Officer (COO) Location - Dubai, UAE Industry - Rigid Plastic Packaging (Food Grade Manufacturing)Salary - AED 30,000 to AED 35,000 + Benefits + BonusSummary of RoleThe Head of Manufacturing will oversee manufacturing, engineering, maintenance, and shop-floor operations across multiple production sites.This is a high-accountability, execution-focused leadership role requiring someone who:Comes from a rigid plastic packaging manufacturing backgroundIs deeply grounded in Lean, OEE improvement, Kaizen, and process disciplineHas strong experience managing multi-site manufacturing operationsHas structured KPI-driven management experienceHas SAP manufacturing digitization exposure, ideally having implemented or driven full adoption at shop-floor levelHas progressed through hands-on shopfloor and manufacturing rolesKey ResponsibilitiesTake full accountability for manufacturing and operational performance across all UAE production sitesDrive production, engineering, and maintenance efficiency across the manufacturing footprintLead Lean transformation, OEE improvement, waste reduction, downtime reduction, and process standardizationStrengthen compliance with FSSC, ISO, HSE, safety, quality, and customer standardsLead SAP integration and real-time digital manufacturing adoption at shop-floor levelEstablish and drive structured manufacturing KPIs and performance management systemsBuild strong second-line leadership and develop a culture of discipline, ownership, accountability, and customer-centricityLead CAPEX projects, plant layout changes, automation initiatives, and capacity expansionDrive manufacturing cost optimization and productivity improvementEstablish robust preventive and predictive maintenance practicesEnsure effective root-cause analysis and permanent corrective actionsIdeal Candidate ProfileCredentials & Experience18–25 years of manufacturing experience, with at least 10 years in senior manufacturing leadershipStrong background in rigid plastic packaging manufacturingProven multi-site manufacturing leadership experienceStrong Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma / Kaizen background; Black Belt preferredDemonstrated experience in SAP manufacturing digitization, with hands-on implementation or adoption experience preferredStrong shop-floor manufacturing background with a track record of progressing through operational rolesExperience managing Production, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and Safety functionsStrong exposure to manufacturing KPIs, OEE, productivity, quality, downtime, waste, and cost optimizationManufacturing Excellence ExpectationsThe successful candidate must have a proven track record of delivering measurable improvements in:OEE Machine efficiencyProduction productivityRejection and defect reductionDowntime reductionManufacturing cost optimizationWaste reductionPreventive & predictive maintenanceProcess standardizationLean manufacturingRoot Cause Analysis (RCA)Continuous Improvement / KaizenManufacturing TechnologiesThe organization currently operates with the following technologies:PET Injection Stretch Blow Molding (ISBM)PET 2-Stage / Stretch Blow MoldingInjection Molding – PP, HDPE & PETExtrusion Blow Molding – HDPE & PPInjection Blow Molding – HDPELeadership QualitiesStructured and process-driven thinkerStrong people leader who coaches and develops teamsCalm, mature, and decisive under pressureCustomer-first mindset with strong alignment to quality and safetyHigh-energy and execution-focusedResilient and comfortable operating in a high-accountability environmentShop-floor oriented and technically hands-onStrong problem-solving and root-cause-analysis mindset