Operations Director

Date: 22 Dec 2025

Location: Riyadh, SA, 11365

Company: Ornua Co-operative Limited

Job Title:         Operations Director

Function:        Operations    

Reports to:     Global Head of Manufacturing      

Location:        Ornua Saudi (Riyadh)

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The Role

Responsible for leading short and long term performance of the Saudi Ornua site, to include health and safety, manufacturing, quality, engineering and continuous improvement. Full responsibility for operational delivery in meeting the needs of the customer. The role will involve creating, delivering and championing a continuous improvement and quality culture, and requires a natural leader who can implement a culture of operational excellence.

Key Areas of Responsibility

  • Responsible for the creation and delivery of the site operational strategy
  • Set strategic goals for operational performance and create a clear and well communicated plan to deliver these.
  • Lead people to be the best that they can be. Ensure all colleagues have a suitable development plan in place and these contribute to an effective succession plan for the site and wider Ornua business.
  • Promote a culture of inclusiveness, teamwork and cooperation that allows the Ornua values to thrive and prosper throughout the organisation.
  • Has ultimate responsibility for the development, implementation, continual review and improvement of the Health and Safety Management system, irrespective of any other responsibilities undertaken by others.
  • Drive quality standards across the business
  • Drive continuous improvement strategy, delivery and culture
  • Oversees the daily manufacturing and supply chain operations using group standard KPI’s variance, downtime, GMP and operating cost.
  • Responsible for maintaining and reviewing the site BCP and property risk management
  • Responsible for Cost Centre Management including Labour, Site overhead spend (people/non people), Capex spend etc.
  • Ensure OTIF service level at 99.5%
  • Ensure all relevant customer and BRC audits passed first time and grades are maintained or improved
  • Input into the S&OP process across the business to drive efficiency and improve service levels
  • Deliver capital projects on time and in budget
  • Collaboration with NPD and ensure smooth execution of product launches

Key Skills / Attributes

  • 10 years + in a Production Management role with significant commercial and technical understanding.
  • Ability to drive performance, seeking root cause to business problems and design and deliver practical solutions to resolve.
  • Bring a sense of urgency to situations where needed, demonstrate an active approach, be willing to get involved in order to increase the pace and achieve goals and objectives.
  • Drive change through personal actions, inspiring others to do the same.
  • Remain rational when dealing with others, work within organisational requirements, be systematic and factual when dealing with colleagues and manage conflict in a way that allows the achievement of a suitable outcome.
  • A strong role model of the Ornua values and behaviours
  • Experience of successfully leading within an operational environment.
  • Possess strong leadership, communication, planning, people leadership and organisation skills.
  • Experience of budgetary processes, cost centre ownership and cost control.
  • Demonstrate high levels of commercial acumen and a strong desire to understand and deliver to customer requirements.
  • Demonstrate a high degree of personal integrity and professionalism.
  • Evidence of working collaboratively within complex environments, prioritising team wins over personal gains.
  • Exposure to and knowledge of Operational Excellence techniques would be a distinct advantage.

 

Ornua Core Competencies  

  • Customer Focus: Advocates for the customer, balances customer and business needs, and spots opportunities for growth.
  • Forward-Looking: Helps others to accept change, implements change, and looks ahead to anticipate change.
  • Curious: Open to asking questions and willing to learn and continuously improve.
  • Working Together: Encourages co-operation in own team and supports cross-functional working.

Accessibility at Ornua

Ornua is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace. We will make every effort to provide for any reasonable accessibility needs you may have during your employment with us. If you require accommodations at any stage of the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know — we’re here to support you.

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS Sunday 11th January