Location: Devens,MA, USA
Head of Operations - Watson-Marlow Americas Manufacturing
Location: 16 Bulge Road, Devens MA
Benefits: Enhanced Carer/Paternity Leave, Additional Holiday, EAP and more
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Group:
We're currently seeking a Head of Operations - Watson-Marlow Americas Manufacturing to join us. You'll join a dynamic team of engineers, salespeople, marketers, administrators, designers, assemblers, chemists, web developers, accountants, analysts, programmers and many more. Globally we are united by our shared values that drive our culture. We want to be an employer where you make our difference.
At Watson Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions, you face different challenges every single day. You are empowered to dream bigger and work smarter. You have time to live your life outside of your job.
We offer a full induction with training and ongoing support for all our systems and products. Along with this you'll gain access to SSE academy where you can upskill and develop at your own pace.
Watson Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions is an SSE PLC Group company ( SSE (London Stock Exchange - FTSE 50) is a manufacturer of engineered solutions, employing 8500 people across 130+ operating units globally. We offer a range of fluid handling solutions across the biotech and industrial markets.
This role will focus on:
The Head of Operations is an integral part of the WMAMI Supply Leadership team and critical to our ongoing success.
Responsible for the Manufacturing teams, Facilities, and Continuous Improvement, you will have both strategic and tactical responsibility for developing, implementing and delivering our Manufacturing strategies alongside our operational goals.
Demonstrating outstanding people skills, you will lead, mentor, coach, inspire and empower our amazingly talented people to continuously learn, develop and achieve their full potential.
With an ambition to exceed customer expectations, you will promote a culture of continuous improvement and drive the implementation of Lean Business strategy and Value Streams.
What you'll be doing
You will hold overall responsibility for Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineering, Facilities, and Continuous Improvement activities across the business, including the monitoring and management of budgets and operational performance.
You will create an environment where everyone can thrive; providing feedback, mentoring and coaching to support continuous development and instill a culture of empowerment and accountability across your teams.
Be responsible for ensuring a positive safety culture in areas of responsibility and in collaboration with other SLT members; ensuring that the health, safety and wellbeing of all personnel is our number one priority.
You will develop SMART objectives for and with team colleagues and departments to aid and improve business performance, whilst utilizing and promoting high levels of engagement with Self Directed Teams across all teams for which you have responsibility.
Implement the Operational Excellence Framework, along with the processes and procedures to drive improvements in business performance.
As the Head of Operations, you will deputize for the Managing Director during periods of absence and holidays and/or attend key meetings and events on their behalf as and when required.
With a keen eye for continuous improvement and efficiency, you will work closely with the Continuous Improvement Lead to direct and successfully implement a Lean Business strategy to achieve best in class practice.
In collaboration with the Finance Business Partner, Value Stream Managers and department leads, you will develop the annual budget and forecasts, along with all Capital Expenditure proposals and in line with all legal requirements and standards.
You will collaborate with relevant Value Stream Managers to measure product sales and optimize profitability through quality management and lean initiatives.
You will prioritize product production to ensure that customer orders and expectations are consistently achieved.
You will proactively contribute to new business initiatives and projects and review and communicate the impacts on manufacturing.
You will identify what and where infrastructure improvements are required, developing the business case to achieve the required investment.
Using your leadership and project management skills, you will deliver timely and in budget support, so we meet our corporate objectives.
Quality Assurance: Implementing and, managing and maintaining quality assurance processes to guarantee that our products meet established standards and customer expectation. This involves conducting regular audits, inspections, and performance evaluations.
Compliance oversight: Ensuring our operations comply with industry regulations, legal standards, and customer requirements. To remain informed and updated on relevant laws and regulations, develop compliance policies, and monitor adherence.
Process Improvement: Identifying inefficiencies and areas for improvement within existing processes. Collaborating with cross-functional teams to identify and manage risk, implement enhancements, optimize workflows, and enhance overall operational efficiency.
Data Analysis: Utilizing data-driven insights to assess and monitor quality and compliance metrics. Analyzing trends, identify root causes of issues, and implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence. You will be responsible for the execution of management review and the implementation of improvement opportunities identified as a result of the data analysis.
Training and Development: Developing and providing training to colleagues and teams on quality standards, compliance regulations, and best practices. Promoting a culture of quality consciousness and ensuring everyone understands their role and responsibilities in maintaining high-quality standards.
Supplier Management: In collaboration with the Supply Chain Team, establish and implement quality and compliance requirements for our suppliers. Ensuring supplier monitoring is established and managed through the appropriate supplier quality data.
Customer and External Audits: Managing a program of customer and external quality audits, audits and ensuring that any identified non-conformities are effectively communicated to the right people for investigation and timely action. You will be responsible for ensuring the appropriate oversight and governance of required improvement actions.
Documentation and Reporting: Maintaining Ensuring the maintenance of accurate records of quality and compliance activities, including customer audit outcomes. Generating regular reports for management, highlighting key performance indicators, areas of improvement, and compliance status.
Performance, KPI's and reporting
Total Cost of Quality and compliance
Product / system compliance
Customer audit compliance
External audit compliance
Supplier quality and audits
Production first time pass
Scrap / rework
Customer satisfaction
Warranty level
Who you'll be working with
You will work and collaborate with the Global Quality Manager Global Quality Team and other Supply Quality leads to agree and implement a group Watson Marlow Fluid Technology quality strategy with UK and European site operations leadership.
You will collaborate and strategize with your peers on the SLT at WMAMI to create the site vision, mission, 3-5-year strategy and annual goals and execute to them.
You will liaise with sales op cos and customers as needed to ensure we are providing excellent customer support on quality matters and through the customer audit process.
You will work closely with Value Stream Managers, along with other department managers; advising on all quality matters and ensuring we achieve the highest levels of zero defects and right first time
To be successful in this role, you will need:
Demonstrable experience of operational leadership and leading manufacturing and with a proven track record in strategic manufacturing.
Ideally, you will hold a bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering/manufacturing discipline or an equivalent
Have a strong and highly developed business acumen, gained through practical experience and/or a formal MBA or equivalent qualification.
Proven track record of achieving LEAN, 6-Sigma and continuous improvement goals
Proven leadership and management skills with the ability to optimize team performance and development.
A highly skilled and confident negotiator, with the ability to negotiate at all levels.
Excellent communication, interpersonal and influencing skills.
Excellent problem-solving abilities.
Resilient, self-motivated and thrives in a fast-paced environment.
Personal attributes:
Passionate about quality and engaging people.
Self-managing and highly motivated, highly developed leadership skills and the ability to work effectively in and with teams.
Highly developed sense of accountability, advocacy, influencing and communication skills.
Resilient, organized and efficient.
The ability to engage others effectively and drive change across all levels and functions.
Strategic, with the vision to plan a clear direction for quality and compliance.
Pragmatic and practical; can develop process and standards as well as manage a team.
An advocate of our Core Values.
Skilled in root cause problem solving e.g. 8D methodology, 6 Sigma.
Can take a 'hands' on approach as required and work collaboratively with others to achieve results.
Previous experience:
Deployment of quality management systems.
Muli-sector quality systems and standard experience with a particular emphasis on Biopharmaceuticals and Medical Device. Experience in implementing quality management systems: ISO 9001, ISO 13485 and of GxP legislation and guidance.
Experience with compliance standards such as: REACH, RoHS.
Building quality capability.
Leading and receiving Quality Management system audits.
Successful engagement of multiple levels of stakeholder, geographies and functions.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in engineering, science or technology, or equivalent
Six Sigma Black Belt preferred
Certificates by accredited bodies in Leading Auditing, Quality Management, process improvement methodologies e.g. Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma.
Closing date: September 16, 2024
As a growing and ambitious organisation with a presence in over 60 global locations and across multiple markets, we can offer you the working environment and support needed to be successful. We are committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or religious belief.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or other protected characteristics as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.
About Watson-Marlow
Every day, we help companies across the globe to be more efficient and sustainable. Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions (WMFTS) is the world leader in niche peristaltic pumps and associated fluid path technologies. Comprising ten established brands, each with their area of expertise, but together offering our customers unrivalled solutions for their pumping and fluid transfer applications. Together with our colleagues across Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc, we are proud to be a FTSE 50 company.