Operations Director - Food Industry

We are looking for an analytical, methodical, and organized profile, with experience in the development and transformation of international supply chains in the food industry and mastery of ERP systems and their operational, tax/customs, and business process workflows, to join as Operations Director at a consolidated SME in the food industry, and to lead and drive the transformation and standardization of its processes.

• Lead operations management, standardization, and management control
• Consolidated family-owned SME in the food industry in full growth

Reporting to General Management, the selected candidate will lead the comprehensive management of the company's operations (distribution of food products), its team and resources, with a special focus on standardization, optimization, and management control of the entire supply chain (from raw material reception to dispatch).

To this end, their main responsibilities will be:

• In an initial phase, analyze the company's processes and operating methods across all areas (including logistics and international trade processes), preparing an accurate diagnosis of all areas for improvement, integration of the ERP with the company's reality, as well as new proposals to develop in order to size and optimize the company's Operations.
• Coordinate the planning and implementation of the supply chain strategy, managing demand planning on a daily basis, considering stages such as the procurement of raw materials and other products, downstream operations, in terms of time, cost, and quality, analyzing the financial impact of each situation to optimize the process and support short, medium, and long-term decision-making.
• Together with Management, and the Sales and Finance areas, coordinate demand review (sales plan), and establish a master operations plan aligning demand forecasts, production, purchasing, and inventory levels.
• Develop and consolidate decision-making criteria based on performance KPIs, customer service, costs, and revenue, ensuring that demand levels, stored stock, and production are consistent and balanced, and analyzing the financial impact of decisions (cost, margin, working capital) in the short, medium, and long term.
• Work on the proper integration of the ERP (Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central), already implemented and with high potential for improvement, ensuring its correct adaptation to the operational reality of the business, physical and documentary flows, and economic control requirements (integrated WMS module, Production, Purchasing, Sales…).
• Ensure advanced warehouse and daily operations management with a high level of knowledge of its concepts and consequences (valued inventories, shrinkage, inventory valuation, entries generated by goods movement, monthly closings). Identify deviations, anomalies, and bottlenecks, and propose the necessary action plans.
• Projection and optimization of stock levels: ensure the necessary stock levels, frequently analyzing their status and potential optimization based on the defined strategy.
• Lead and coordinate periodic Operations meetings, maintaining constant oversight of all relevant aspects, and relying on Purchasing, Finance, Warehouse, and Sales to have updated information on needs, and to carry out the relevant analyses and actions to ensure supply, stock levels, and optimal margins.
• Ensure that all operations comply with foreign trade procedures and regulations, especially monitoring the basic concepts; international transport and movement of goods, imports, triangular operations, tariffs, customs regimes, etc.
• Lead the team in charge, ensuring its proper performance, evaluation, and development, analyzing the appropriate training plan for each person, and promoting their development and versatility.
• Propose improvements and investments to Management, providing accurate information on the activity under their responsibility, and working as a team to achieve the overall optimum.
• Oversee that the company's activity complies with current legislation and regulations, as well as those directives affecting their management and that of their team.

• University degree, preferably in Engineering
• Additional training in Supply Chain is valued.
• At least 10 years of experience in Operations Management and Supply Chain in the food industry
• Proven experience in operations with a foreign trade component, and advanced management of inventories, costs, and operational control.
• Strong knowledge of the tax and customs area, and management control with an accounting approach in similar business realities.
• Mastery of ERP (Business Central) or similar, and the ability to optimize and develop its real use in the company's activity.
• Close, analytical, empathetic, and communicative profile, with initiative, leadership skills, and results orientation.
• Important interest and involvement in a solid family business project in a situation of development and optimization of the business and its operations.
• Must be available to work daily in the Cantabria area.