General Manager - Operations

JOB PURPOSE

We are looking for a driven and experienced General Manager Operations to lead our manufacturing operations in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, ensuring full compliance with FPI standards and local regulations — with a relentless focus on Health, Safety & Environment, operational excellence, people development, and business performance.

While we welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, Saudi National candidates are preferred for this position.

Key Accountabilities

Manufacturing & Operations

• Oversee local procurement, HSE, manufacturing, logistics/warehousing, and QC/QA across all assigned sites.
• Ensure production activities meet agreed quality, efficiency, and delivery standards.
• Control site resources — labor, materials, and equipment — efficiently to minimize manufacturing costs.
• Ensure continuous improvement activities are well-defined and actively in place at each site.
• Maintain reject and scrap levels in alignment with group standards.

Maintenance

• Ensure preventive and corrective maintenance systems are in place to minimize downtime and optimize machine efficiency and factory output.

Budgeting & Cost Control

• Ensure budget targets for each site are achieved; define and implement corrective action plans where performance falls short.
• Develop CapEx plans for each site to meet the strategic needs of the business.
• Identify and fully implement cost-saving and cost-control initiatives.
• Ensure P&C policies applicable to Operations are properly implemented, including performance management, succession planning, and people development.

Quality Control

• Ensure all sold products meet required quality standards.
• Drive RFT (Right First Time) performance to meet or exceed group standards.
• Minimize scrap and reject materials; ensure any that occur are properly flagged and disposed of per group policies.

P&L Responsibility

• Hold full financial responsibility for the assigned unit, including ownership of the Profit & Loss (P&L) statement.
• Meet revenue targets, optimize Net Profit, manage operational costs, and report to senior management.
• Attend customer meetings to communicate production schedules, address delays, and manage quality-related concerns.
• Present mitigation plans, build client confidence through transparency, and manage expectations effectively.
• Collaborate closely with Sales, Planning, and Production teams to align operational capabilities with market demands.
• Ensure cross-functional alignment across Operations, Sales, Supply Chain, HSE, P&C, Finance, Business Development, Planning, Scheduling, and Projects.

Health, Safety & Environment

• Build a strong safety culture by ensuring all staff comply with HSE policies and procedures.
• Drive 5S housekeeping and HSE performance across all sites under your control.
• Comply with all safety, quality, and environmental control procedures and instructions.
• Promptly report and investigate unsafe acts, incidents, or safety violations; ensure corrective actions are identified and implemented.

Span of Communication

Internal: Plant Managers, Production Managers, CTO, Sales, AVE, Bids & Proposals, Finance, People & Culture, Legal.

External: Clients, End Users, Contractors, Consultants, Works Council, Labor Unions, Banks.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain, Engineering, or equivalent.
• Minimum 5 years of proven track record managing a large manufacturing site.
• Six Sigma experience (Green Belt or above preferred).
• Fluent in English — spoken and written.

Preferred Experience

• 10+ years of total experience in supply chain management and operations roles; chemical industry background preferred.
• Experience working in a global matrix organization with multiple reporting lines.

Job-Specific Skills

• Strong ability to write and/or review financial statements.
• Process-driven with strong analytical skills.
• Deep commitment to safety and HSE compliance.
• Strong background in decision support and business intelligence.
• Proficient in relevant systems and technical tools.

Core Competencies

• Leadership development and people empowerment.
• Strategic alignment and execution.
• Building and developing high-performance teams.
• Implementing change management strategies.
• Strategic decision-making in complex, multi-site environments.
• Advanced AI knowledge