Director of Operations, Europe

About the role

The Director of Operations, Europe will lead GroupeSTAHL’s manufacturing network across the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany and Italy. Reporting to Global Operations, the role is responsible for safety, quality, delivery, productivity and cost performance across all European sites while driving continuous improvement and alignment with global standards.

Key responsibilities

• Lead safety and EHS performance, promote a zero‑incident culture and ensure compliance with UK, EU, German, Spanish and Italian regulations.
• Deliver regional service, quality, productivity and conversion‑cost targets; monitor KPIs and maintain daily management systems.
• Coach and develop site operations leaders, support succession planning and collaborate with HR on workforce planning.
• Implement lean manufacturing, operational excellence and quality improvement initiatives, ensuring consistent processes and reporting across sites.
• Act as the primary liaison between European sites and Global Operations, aligning capacity planning, operational priorities and strategic objectives.

Required profile

• Proven senior leadership experience in multi‑site manufacturing environments, preferably within the textile or industrial printing sector.
• Deep knowledge of European regulatory frameworks and ability to manage safety, environmental and employment compliance.
• Strong collaborative and communication skills to drive consistency and accountability across diverse cultures and languages.
• Track record of building high‑performing teams and delivering measurable operational improvements.

Required skills

• Lean manufacturing methodology
• Continuous improvement techniques