Position Title:Operations Optimisation Lead

Position Type: Regular - Full-Time ​

Requisition ID: 43945 

Manufacturing Optimisation Lead

Netherlands – Hybrid

In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences - together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.

About the role.

The Manufacturing Optimisation Lead plays a key role in driving sustainable cost advantage (SCA) and operational optimisation across manufacturing sites in the Netherlands and Poland. Reporting to the Operations Optimisation Manager, this role partners closely with plant teams to identify, prioritise and deliver cost-saving and efficiency opportunities, while supporting the development of a strong pipeline of future initiatives.

The role combines continuous improvement expertise, analytical capability and strong stakeholder engagement. Working across multiple sites, the Manufacturing Optimisation Lead will help identify and share best practices, drive standardisation, facilitate improvement workshops and support the successful delivery and sustainability of optimisation initiatives.

What you’ll be doing.

• Partner with manufacturing sites across the Netherlands and Poland to identify, develop and deliver sustainable cost-saving and operational optimisation opportunities.

• Support plant teams in building and maintaining their SCA pipelines by providing analytical support, tools, guidance and continuous improvement expertise.

• Build and continuously replenish the regional SCA pipeline by identifying, sizing and prioritising new opportunities across manufacturing operations.

• Lead regional optimisation initiatives, working cross-functionally with plant and regional teams to ensure successful execution and value realisation.

• Analyse operational, performance and financial data to identify trends, quantify opportunities, track benefits and support evidence-based decision-making.

• Identify best practices across sites and support their standardisation and deployment across the region to maximise business impact.

• Facilitate and coach PACE, Kaizen and other continuous improvement workshops, helping plant teams identify and implement sustainable improvements.

• Build capability within plant teams by coaching stakeholders in SCA, continuous improvement and problem-solving methodologies.

• Track and communicate SCA pipeline progress, initiative performance and delivered benefits to regional stakeholders and leadership teams.

• Act as a change agent, promoting a culture of cost discipline, continuous improvement, accountability and data-driven decision-making across manufacturing operations.

What you’ll need to be successful.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field.

• Experience in continuous improvement, operational excellence, lean manufacturing, manufacturing performance or cost optimisation within a manufacturing environment.

• Experience in food manufacturing or a similar FMCG environment is strongly preferred.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret operational and financial data and translate insights into actionable opportunities.

• Demonstrated understanding of cost-saving principles and the ability to quantify, track and forecast business benefits.

• Experience facilitating workshops, Kaizen events, PACE events or similar continuous improvement activities.

• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the confidence to engage and lead discussions with plant teams and stakeholders at different levels of the organisation.

• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly and engage an audience.

• Proven ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously, prioritise effectively and maintain strong organisation and follow-through.

• A self-starter mindset, with the ability to work autonomously across multiple sites and adapt to a changing and evolving environment.

• Strong English communication skills and willingness to travel regularly across manufacturing sites in the Netherlands and Poland.

• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma or other continuous improvement methodologies is preferred.

• Experience with data analytics and reporting tools is preferred.

About the team.

You will join a newly established regional Operations Optimisation team responsible for driving sustainable cost advantage and operational optimisation across McCain's GB&I and EMENA manufacturing network.

Reporting to the Operations Optimisation Manager, you will work as part of a regional team supporting manufacturing sites across a defined geographical area. Your primary focus will be on manufacturing sites in the Netherlands and Poland, while also contributing to wider regional optimisation initiatives.

This role offers significant autonomy and visibility. You will work closely with plant teams, operational leaders and cross-functional stakeholders, while also collaborating with colleagues across the wider Operations Optimisation team to share best practices and maximise opportunities across the region.

The role requires regular travel to manufacturing sites, with an expectation of visiting each site within your area approximately once per month, alongside additional travel depending on business and project requirements. Outside of site visits, the role offers flexibility to work remotely or from a local McCain site.

About McCain.

Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters.

Leadership principles.

At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.

AI & Digital Capabilities

At McCain, AI and digital capabilities are part of how we work and innovate. We value curiosity toward emerging technologies and the thoughtful, responsible use of AI-enabled tools to improve outcomes as part of our future-ready culture.

The McCain experience.

We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you’ll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we’re better together.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know  and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions. 

Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain’s Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy, as applicable. McCain leverages AI in the hiring process, though all final decisions are made by humans. You can understand our approach to AI and how your personal information is being handled here. 

Job Family: Manufacturing

Location(s): NL - Netherlands : Flevoland : Lelystad || NL - Netherlands : Gelderland : Wezep || NL - Netherlands : Limburg : Maastricht || NL - Netherlands : North Brabant : Cuijk || NL - Netherlands : North Brabant : Helmond || NL - Netherlands : North Brabant : Tilburg || NL - Netherlands : North Holland : Amsterdam || NL - Netherlands : Other : Reference job description || NL - Netherlands : Utrecht : Duurstede || NL - Netherlands : Zeeland : Kruiningen || NL - Netherlands : Zeeland : Lewedorp || NL - Netherlands : Zeeland : Rilland || NL - Netherlands : Zeeland : Yerseke  

Company: McCain Alimentaire SAS