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Head of Ashford Operations
Givaudan
Source: Headcount Labs · original listing ↗
Job data: Headcount Labs, ODbL 1.0. Job descriptions belong to their employers.
Source date: 11/4/2026
About this role
Join us and celebrate the beauty of human experience. Create for happier, healthier lives, with love for nature. Together, with kindness, humility, and a spirit of adventure, we deliver food innovations, craft inspired fragrances and develop beauty and wellbeing solutions. There’s much to learn from our 79 production sites worldwide, known for their best-in-class processes and procedures. There’s many to learn from, with high-performing leaders and caring colleagues to explore ideas and ambitions with. Every day, your energy, your personality, and your determination will shape our future, making a positive difference on billions of people. Every essence of you enriches our world. We are Givaudan. Human by nature. Head of Operations - Your future role? As the Head of Operations in Ashford, you will have overall responsibility for providing oversight in several areas, including Manufacturing, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Logistics, Quality, and Facilities. This oversight will focus on the Fragrances division at the local level, with the goal of delivering products to customers on time. Additionally, you will apply defined product quality requirements while optimising production costs. You will report to the Head of EAME Operations F&B. Your main responsibinilities: Strategy design and execution • Help design the regional Operations strategy and definition of related goals based on input provided by other departments locally, e.g. Commercial, Regulatory. • Based on regional strategy, oversee the design and execution of tactical and operational plans locally to meet functional goals. Function management • Provide direction across all Operations sub-functions locally to guide understanding and improve operational visibility. • Improve organisational cooperation and process integration projects (Operations Excellence) at local/site level which reduce cycle times, increase organisational agility, improve on time delivery and quality of products and improve cost savings opportunities. • Work across all departments locally to lead the deployment of a world class safety culture, productivity improvements and inventory reductions. • Implement the annual operating plan within the approved budget. People management • Oversee the execution of annual human resources processes for the function at local level and validate related results. • Work with the local Operations management team and HR department in developing a regional talent pipeline for the function. • Improve the development and promotion of local talents within and outside the function at local level. You have: • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management or related discipline. • MBA or Master's Degree in a Technical field is preferred. • 15+ years of experience in manufacturing operations with strong background in supply chain, quality and/or materials management, including exposure to M&A projects, organisational change, operational restructuring, business process redesign, systems implementations, enterprise risk for local organizations. • 8+ years of progressive experience in people management. • Expertise in world class manufacturing concepts (LEAN). LEAN SIX SIGMA Green belt or Problem Solving Level 4 certification or equivalent. • Expertise in product industrialization. • Expertise in change management. • Strong understanding of business process/system redesign. • Strong understanding of financial concepts (e.g. OPEX, CAPEX) Our benefits: • Great compensation package including bonus • Private Medical Healthcare and Group Pension Plan • Learning opportunities • Career development plan • Site Events LI-Onsite At Givaudan, you contribute to delightful taste and scent experiences that touch people’s lives. We value the different perspectives that come from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. Everyone — regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, culture, religion, or any personal circumstances — is warmly welcomed at Givaudan, a place where we all love to be and grow. Every essence of you enriches our world. Join us in making a difference together.