Plant Operations Lead Job at DSM-Firmenich

Are you ready to lead operations at the heart of innovation? At dsm-firmenich, we’re not just running plants—we’re bringing progress to life. As our Plant Operations Lead (fixed term, 1 year), you’ll be the driving force behind operational excellence, aligning production with strategic goals while fostering a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement. By collaborating across functions and deploying the right resources, the Plant Operations Lead inspires teams, optimizes costs, and shapes the future of health, nutrition and care.

Your key responsibilities

• Operational Alignment – Translate business and commercial strategies into actionable plant operations.
• Team Leadership – Directly lead 4 employees and indirectly guide ~30 plant staff and support functions.
• Service Provider Management – Oversee external service partners to ensure seamless support for plant operations.
• Safety & Compliance – Champion SHE (Safety, Health, Environment) leadership and embed a strong safety culture.
• Efficiency & Continuous Improvement – Drive Lean/Six Sigma practices, eliminate waste, and enhance OTIF (On Time In Full) delivery.
• Financial Stewardship – Manage budgets, cost centers, and operational reporting to deliver optimal cost efficiency.

We offer

• Unique career paths across health, nutrition and care- explore what drives you and get the support to shape the future of wellbeing
• A science led company, cutting edge research and creativity everywhere – you’ll work on what’s next
• Growth that keeps up with you – you join an industry leader that will develop your expertise and leadership
• A culture that lifts you up – with collaborative teams, shared wins, and people who cheer each other on.
• Customer-first approach, turning ideas into impactful solutions

You bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Process Engineering, Quality Management, or related field.
• Proven operations leadership experience managing direct and indirect teams in plant operations.
• Strong SHE leadership background, with a track record of driving safety culture improvements.
• Lean/Six Sigma problem-solving expertise, with hands-on continuous improvement project experience.
• Solid financial acumen, including cost control and budget management.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence across functions and levels.