WE Soda
Operations Transformation and Portfolio Management Director
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About WE Soda
WE Soda is the world’s largest producer of natural soda ash, a critical raw material used in a wide range of industrial applications, including glass, detergents, and chemicals. Our company takes great pride in producing over 9.5 million tonnes of natural soda ash annually, an exceptional milestone that reinforces our leadership in the global market.
With our headquarters in the United Kingdom and production facilities in Türkiye and the United States, we operate across a broad international footprint. Our products are in high demand worldwide, and we currently export premium natural soda ash to more than 80 countries, reflecting our commitment to operational excellence and our ability to meet the diverse needs of a global customer base.
Role Purpose
The Operations Transformation & Portfolio Management Director is responsible for establishing and leading the Operations transformation portfolio, ensuring operational improvement initiatives, capital projects and strategic programmes are prioritised, governed and delivered in alignment with the Company's operational strategy.
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the role will:
- Establish portfolio governance, project management standards and delivery disciplines across Operations, Engineering, Sustainability, Maintenance, Technical Services and Research & Development (R&D).
- Act as a key partner to the executive leadership team, overseeing the successful delivery of the Operations portfolio, driving operational excellence, productivity, cost optimisation and long-term value creation while working collaboratively with IT, Finance, Commercial, and other business functions.
While the initial focus of the role is on Operations, the successful establishment of this function is expected to provide the foundation for a future enterprise-wide transformation and portfolio management capability as the Company continues to grow and mature.
Key Responsibilities
Operations Portfolio Management & Governance
- Establish and progressively develop the Operations Transformation & Portfolio Management function, defining the organisational structure, governance, capabilities and operating model required to support the Company's transformation agenda.
- Lead the Operations portfolio management framework.
- Develop governance processes for:
- Project prioritisation
- Approval
- Resource allocation
- Decision-making
- Recommend portfolio priorities to the Chief Operating Officer and support executive decision-making.
- Lead regular portfolio reviews, providing clear reporting on progress, risks, budgets and business outcomes.
- Monitor portfolio performance to ensure projects are delivered:
- On time
- Within budget
- Achieve agreed objectives
- Optimise the allocation of resources across the Operations portfolio to maximise business value.
- Regularly assess organisational capability requirements and recommend the evolution of the function in line with the Company's growth strategy and increasing operational complexity.
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Project Management Capability
- Develop and maintain:
- Project management standards
- Methodologies
- Tools and templates
- Establish:
- Project governance
- Stage-gate processes
- Delivery frameworks
- Provide functional leadership, coaching and guidance to project managers and programme leads.
- Promote best practices, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement in project delivery.
- Develop project reporting standards and performance metrics to support effective governance.
- Strengthen project management capability and maturity across the Operations function.
Operational Transformation
- Lead operational transformation initiatives across:
- Manufacturing
- Engineering
- Maintenance
- Technical services
- R&D
- Drive continuous improvement and operational excellence programmes.
- Improve:
- Productivity
- Operational performance
- Cost efficiency
- Support the implementation of best practices and standardised operating processes.
Capital Projects
- Provide portfolio oversight of capital investment projects delivered by Operations.
- Monitor progress against approved business cases.
- Ensure appropriate governance and reporting.
Operational Excellence
- Lead Lean and continuous improvement programmes.
- Drive improvements in:
- Productivity
- Asset reliability
- Operational efficiency
- Improve:
- Production planning
- Maintenance effectiveness
- Resource utilisation
- Deliver measurable cost savings and operational performance improvements.
Sustainability & Resource Optimisation
- Lead programmes supporting:
- Sustainability
- Energy efficiency
- Water stewardship
- Resource optimisation
- Support delivery of corporate sustainability commitments.
Innovation, Research & Development
- Oversee the portfolio of innovation and R&D initiatives.
- Support the development and implementation of new technologies and operational improvements.
- Facilitate collaboration between:
- Operations
- Engineering
- R&D
- Commercial Teams.
Cross-functional Collaboration
- Partner with IT on technology-enabled operational improvement initiatives.
- Collaborate with Finance on investment planning and business cases.
- Coordinate with Supply Chain, Procurement and Commercial on cross-functional operational initiatives.
- Collaborate with the Chief Information Officer (CIO) organisation on enterprise-wide transformation initiatives where operational programmes have broader business or technology implications.
Performance & Success Measures (KPIs)
Performance in this role is measured through the following indicators:
- Successful establishment and continuous improvement of the Operations Transformation & Portfolio Management framework and governance model.
- Successful delivery of the Operations portfolio against agreed business objectives.
- Executive stakeholder satisfaction with:
- Portfolio governance
- Prioritisation
- Decision-making
- Delivery of strategic projects that:
- Achieve approved business case objectives
- Planned benefits
- Achievement of:
- Capital project budget targets
- Schedule commitments
- Quality commitments
- Percentage of projects delivered:
- On time
- Within budget
- To agreed scope
- Measurable improvements in:
- Operational productivity
- Efficiency
- Asset reliability
- Cost optimisation
- Achievement of goals in:
- Operational excellence
- Continuous improvement
- Value creation
- Achievement of objectives in:
- Sustainability
- Energy efficiency
- Resource optimisation
- Improvement in:
- Project governance
- Portfolio management capability
- Organisational project management maturity
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Knowledge, Skills & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in:
- Engineering
- Science
- Business
- Related discipline
- Advanced degree (MBA or equivalent): Preferred.
- Typically, 15+ years of experience in:
- Manufacturing
- Chemicals
- Mining
- Industrial processing
- Energy
- Similarly complex industries
- Proven experience leading:
- Strategic projects
- Capital programmes
- Transformation initiatives
- Experience leading:
- Operational excellence programmes
- Manufacturing improvement
- Capital investment programmes
- Experience establishing, transforming, scaling or leading a:
- Project Management Office (PMO)
- Enterprise PMO (EPMO)
- Similar portfolio management capability: Highly desirable.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen.
- International experience across:
- Multiple geographies
- Stakeholder groups
- Fluency in English: Essential.
- Turkish language capability: Highly desirable.
Personal Attributes
- Strategic, commercially astute, and results-oriented leader with the ability to:
- Translate operational strategy into successful programme delivery
- Achieve measurable business outcomes
- Strong leadership and organisational influence, with the credibility to:
- Engage
- Challenge
- Build effective relationships with:
- Senior executives
- Cross-functional stakeholders
- Excellent:
- Communication skills
- Stakeholder management skills
- Collaboration skills
- Ability to lead and influence across a complex international organisation.
- Highly analytical with:
- Sound judgement
- Strong problem-solving skills
- Ability to make informed decisions in a fast-paced environment.
- Proven ability to:
- Lead organisational change
- Build project management capability
- Drive a culture of:
- Accountability
- Collaboration
- Continuous improvement.
- Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable operating in a:
- Dynamic, evolving business environment
- Environment maintaining composure under pressure.
- High levels of:
- Integrity
- Professionalism
- Personal accountability
- Commitment to delivering:
- Sustainable business value
- Operational excellence.
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