Operations Manager

Job Title: Operations Manager – Polymer Manufacturing Chemical Site

Location: Le Havre, FrancePurpose of the roleThe Operations Manager defines, implements and oversees the site’s operational strategy, ensuring the sustainable performance of polymer production, utilities, the wastewater treatment plant and logistics, whilst maintaining a regular on-site presence to safeguard operations, teams and facilities.They act as a key liaison for site management, translating strategic directions into tangible, measurable and sustainable industrial results.Position and key roleMember of the site management committee (or direct contributor)Responsible for the overall consistency of operations 24/7Strategic interface between:Managementshift-based operational teamssupport functions (maintenance, HSE, supply chain, finance)Guarantor of operational excellence in a demanding ICPE environmentScope of responsibilityActivities:Polymer production (continuous and/or semi-continuous processes)Industrial utilitiesWastewater treatment plantInternal logistics (raw materials, finished products)Human resources:~100 employees2 direct reportsDay shifts and shift teams working 5×8Strategic and operational responsibilities1.

Defining the operational strategyTranslate the site’s industrial strategy into:production targetsreliability and safety prioritiescost and consumption reduction targetsDevelop multi-year roadmaps (performance, energy, reliability, environment)Balancing priorities between short-term performance and long-term robustness2. Overall management of industrial performanceEnsuring Quality, Cost, Lead Time, Safety, and Deviations targets are metImplementing and managing a robust system of indicatorsAnalysing variances, defining and monitoring structural action plansChallenging existing organisations and operating procedures3. Operational excellence & continuous improvementDeploy a structured culture of continuous improvementManage cross-functional projects:energy optimisationreduction of material lossesimproving plant reliabilitySupport the digitalisation of operations (monitoring of energy, performance, incidents)4. Health, Safety and Environment LeadershipAct as the site’s managerial point of contact for health and safety within the operations remitSet the expected standards for health and safety at all levelsApprove high-risk operational decisionsEnsure regulatory compliance (ICPE, discharges, permits)Promote a long-term vision regarding the environment and sustainability5. Team Management and DevelopmentSupervise, develop the skills of and empower operational managersDefine the optimal organisation of day and shift teamsMaintain a strong on-site culture, particularly amongst 5×8 teamsIdentify and develop key talentFoster commitment, accountability and operational discipline6. On-site presence and operational controlEnsure a regular presence in production, utilities, wastewater treatment plants and logisticsParticipate in:post-incident reviewsmajor start-ups/shutdownsatypical or degraded situationsMaintain a detailed understanding of processes and real-world constraints7. Economic contribution & investmentsManage the OPEX budget for the operations divisionPlay an active role in defining and prioritising CAPEXAssess returns on industrial investmentJustify technical decisions to senior managementInternal and external interfacesSite / Group managementMaintenance & engineeringHSE / EnvironmentQualitySupply Chain / ProcurementRegulatory authoritiesStrategic service providersProfileKey skillsStrategic industrial visionProven leadership in the fieldStrong process safety cultureExpertise in energy and utility systemsAbility to mediate and make decisionsClear and structured communicationExperienceProven experience in chemical site operationsManagement of teams working 24/7 shiftsRegulated and complex environments