N2Growth Italy, a global executive search and leadership advisory firm, is partnering with a leading multinational services company. With a strong people-centric culture and a solid commitment to quality, and improvement, the Company has entrusted us with the search for the following strategic profile:

OPERATIONS AREA DIRECTOR

This profile will be accountable for the overall performance of a large, complex operational site in a fast-paced, time-critical environment.
The role ensures safe, efficient, high-quality end-to-end service delivery while leading the site through a significant transformation across strategy, organisation, people, processes, operating methods, and performance control systems.

The position combines a strong sense of urgency and hands-on operational leadership with a medium- to long-term strategic vision, ensuring immediate operational stability while building sustainable, structured, and scalable solutions.

The role carries full responsibility for operational excellence, financial sustainability, people leadership, regulatory compliance, ethical conduct, and customer satisfaction, in line with corporate standards, client requirements, and applicable local and international regulations.

The position oversees all activities related to production, warehousing and operations, internal logistics, and last-mile service delivery to external interfaces, with a workforce of approximately 300 employees.

Key responsibilities:

1. Overall Site Leadership

Hold full accountability for the end-to-end management of the site, including production, operational logistics, transport services, and support functions.
Ensure operational continuity, safety, quality, and on-time service delivery in a high-pressure, fast-moving operating environment.
Act as the senior company representative towards clients, regulatory bodies, and local stakeholders.
Ensure site operations are consistently aligned with corporate standards, contractual commitments, and customer expectations.

2. Financial Governance, Investments & Performance

Own the site Profit & Loss and ensure long-term economic sustainability.
Prepare and manage annual budgets and periodic forecasts in coordination with Headquarters.
Define, prioritize, and manage site investment plans (CAPEX), ensuring alignment with operational needs, safety requirements, and return on investment.
Monitor costs, productivity, service performance, and margins.
Identify risks and drive corrective actions and cost-optimization initiatives without compromising quality, safety, or compliance.

3. Operations Management & Decision Making

Define the operational organization model and production plans to meet demand, service levels, and efficiency targets.
Lead and supervise site functional managers (e.g. Production, Quality, Transport, Maintenance, Logistics).
Ensure consistent application of operational procedures, technical standards, and regulatory requirements.
Manage critical situations, disruptions, and operational emergencies with speed, clarity, and authority.
Take timely and well-balanced decisions, including difficult and high-impact choices, in conditions of uncertainty and operational pressure.
Evaluate and govern make-or-buy decisions related to production, logistics, and support activities, balancing cost efficiency, service quality, flexibility, and operational risk.

4. Workforce Planning & People Leadership

Define and continuously review workforce planning in line with demand variability, productivity targets, and service requirements.
Ensure optimal staffing models, shift structures, and skill mix to support operational performance and cost control.
Directly manage the site leadership team and provide clear direction, priorities, and objectives.
Set individual and functional goals aligned with business strategy and operational KPIs.
Drive performance management, talent development, and succession planning.
Promote a strong safety culture, accountability, and alignment with company values.

5. Change Management & Transformation

Lead and govern complex change initiatives affecting organization design, operating models, processes, tools, methods, and control systems.
Translate strategic direction into pragmatic and executable operational actions.
Balance immediate operational fixes with the implementation of structured, long-term solutions.
Act as a visible and credible change leader, engaging managers and employees through clarity, consistency, and discipline.

6. Quality, Safety, Compliance & Ethics

Ensure full compliance with Quality, Health, Safety, Environment, and Security standards.
Partner with Quality and Compliance functions for internal and external audits.
Ensure timely and effective management of non-conformities, incidents, and corrective actions.
Maintain robust governance over risk management and regulatory adherence.
Uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct, integrity, and transparency, setting the tone from the top.

7. Continuous Improvement & Innovation

Champion continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, reliability, and service quality.
Collaborate with Innovation and Continuous Improvement teams to implement new processes, tools, and technologies.
Support digitalization, automation, and standardization initiatives across the site.
Foster a culture of operational discipline, problem-solving, and continuous improvement.

8. Interface with Headquarters

Ensure alignment of site operations with corporate strategy, policies, and governance frameworks.
Provide structured and accurate reporting on operational, financial, workforce, and investment performance.
Actively contribute to cross-functional and transversal corporate projects.

Key Competencies

Strong and credible leadership in complex, fast-paced, labour-intensive operational environments.
Ability to combine sense of urgency with strategic thinking and structured execution.
End-to-end operational mindset combined with solid financial and investment acumen.
Decisive, resilient, and accountable decision-maker, comfortable with ambiguity and pressure.
Proven change leadership and transformation capability.
Excellent stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
Strong ethical compass, integrity, and role-model behavior.

Requirements

University degree (Engineering, Economics, or equivalent – preferred).
5–8 years of experience in Senior Site, Plant, or Operations Management role, with full responsibility for operational performance and team leadership.
Experience in large-scale, industrial or food production environments is highly desirable.
Strong exposure to regulated, safety-critical, and time-sensitive operations.
Fluency in English.

Place of work: Rome (Italy).