pladis Global
Global Manufacturing Excellence Senior Manager
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Role Title: Global Manufacturing Excellence Senior Manager
Site Introduction
In 2021, pladis proudly opened the doors to our vibrant global hub, the MIU Campus. Located in the heart of Chiswick Park, West London. Just a short 5-minute walk from Gunnersbury Station, our campus is nestled within 33 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, offering a welcoming and inspiring environment for all. Chiswick Park is home to both our UK and Global Corporate teams, bringing together diverse teams across the business.
What will this role achieve?
The Senior Operational Excellence Manager will play a critical role in driving world-class manufacturing performance across pladis’ snacking and confectionery operations.
This role will lead the deployment of operational excellence frameworks, improve safety, quality, cost, and service performance, and embed a strong continuous improvement culture across multiple factories.
The successful candidate will bring deep experience in the snacking and/or confectionery sector, strong manufacturing and operational excellence expertise, and the ability to influence at all levels in a complex, global organisation.
What will be your key deliverables?
Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement
- Lead the design, deployment, and sustainment of pladis’ Operational Excellence (OE) framework across manufacturing sites, aligned with global standards and local needs.
- Drive measurable improvements in OE%, cost, losses, quality, conformance to plan, and safety performance using problem-solving methodologies.
- Coach and challenge factory leadership teams to embed continuous improvement behaviours and ways of working.
- Identify, prioritise, and execute improvement initiatives with clear business cases and quantified benefits.
Manufacturing Performance & Capability Building
- Partner closely with site, regional, and global manufacturing leaders to improve end-to-end operational performance.
- Support capability building across factories through training, coaching, and hands-on support (e.g., Lean tools, root cause analysis, standard work).
- Ensure consistency of KPIs, performance management routines, and best-practice sharing across the network.
- Act as a subject-matter expert for operational excellence within the snacking and confectionery manufacturing context.
Safety, Quality & Compliance
- Champion a strong safety-first culture, supporting continuous improvement in safety performance and risk reduction.
- Ensure OE initiatives fully align with food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements typical of the snacking and confectionery sector.
- Support reduction of losses, defects, and variability through robust problem-solving and process control.
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Change & Stakeholder Management
- Lead change initiatives across multiple sites and geographies in a matrix organisation.
- Influence senior stakeholders and factory leadership teams without direct authority.
- Work cross-functionally with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, R&D, and Digital teams to deliver integrated improvements.
- Support digitalisation and data-driven decision-making initiatives where relevant to manufacturing performance.
Bring your experience.
Essential
- Proven experience in the snacking and/or confectionery industry is essential.
- Significant experience in manufacturing and/or operational excellence roles within FMCG or food manufacturing.
- Demonstrated track record of delivering sustainable operational improvements in a factory environment.
- Experience working across multiple manufacturing sites and cultures, ideally in a global or regional role.
Technical & Functional Skills
- Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, CI tools, and structured problem-solving.
- Solid understanding of manufacturing KPIs such as OE%, net losses, service, and safety metrics.
- Experience embedding standard work, performance management routines, and continuous improvement systems.
- Familiarity with food safety and quality systems relevant to snacking and confectionery manufacturing.
Leadership & Behavioural Skills
- Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills at all organisational levels.
- Ability to coach, develop, and challenge teams to drive behavioural change.
- Structured, data-driven, and pragmatic approach with a strong delivery mindset.
- Comfortable operating in a complex, matrixed, international environment.
Education & Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or a related discipline.
- Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt / Black Belt) strongly preferred.
- Fluency in English required; additional languages are an advantage.
What will the interview process be?
- Initial telephone call with Talent Acquisition
- 1st stage interview – 45 minutes competency-based interview based on our company values and your experiences.
- 2nd stage interview – 90 minutes – a technical interview to understand your skill set/case study or presentation interview.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
pladis also uses both Psychometric and Aptitude tests to support our processes, so you may be asked to complete these as part of your process. Some processes may differ, but we will keep you updated!
What does pladis offer you?
- Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) – this is the business’s annual bonus scheme.
- Opportunity to self-enrol into Health Cash Plan
- Private medical Insurance (if eligible by grade)
- Enhanced parental leave and a supportive phased return-to-work program to help colleagues balance family and career.
- Stakeholder Pension Scheme
- Life Assurance Cover ~ upon enrolment to Stakeholder Pension Scheme
- 25 days + bank holidays
- Holiday Enhancement Scheme
- 1 Volunteering Day per year
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted gym membership – Carlisle and Chiswick only
- Discount and Cashback Scheme – make your everyday spending work hard for you on major high street brands, supermarkets, and services
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme
- Financial Wellbeing Support
- Access to great training and development opportunities
Our Values
- Purpose led – We’re energised and guided by our purpose to bring happiness with every bite
- Agile – We’re ever evolving, we never stand still, always improving for our customers and our consumers.
- Positive – We’re highly motivated, optimistic, courageous, and we inspire each other to be better
- Resilient – We’re persistent in the face of setbacks, quick to adapt, learn, and move forward
- Collaborative – We gain strength from operating as one pladis, winning and succeeding together
Best mix of ingredients
pladis is an equal opportunities employer, like every great recipe we’re a thoughtful mix. A happy and inclusive place to work that’s as diverse as our consumers and the communities we support, live, and work in, all around the world. Where every voice is heard, and difference is celebrated. Where fresh perspectives and new ideas help us grow and thrive.
Accessibility at Chiswick
Our Chiswick site has step-free access, accessible entrances, and lifts between floors to support individuals with mobility needs. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, and where possible, to perform key job functions.
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