Job Description

The ideal candidate will be responsible for ensuring operational excellence across a $1 billion multi-plant, multi-rand, global public company. Your primary goal will be to increase our organization's productivity, efficiency, and profitability. You will advise the CEO on key operational insights and provide coaching to employees.  Manufacturing & Engineering is a must; Food Processing Machinery is a PLUS.

Responsibilities

• Produce annual operation forecasting report and strategy
• Oversee and evaluate day-to-day operations
• Identify new market opportunities to accelerate growth
• Present operational strategy recommendations to the CEO based on your market research

Qualifications

• 10 - 15 years of executive experience
• Strategic planning and business development experience
• Strong written and verbal, and presentation skills
• Strong leadership and organizational skills

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or related field (Master’s or MBA preferred).
• 20+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, preferably in capital equipment, industrial automation, or food processing industries.
• Proven track record of managing multi-site operations, scaling production, and leading cross-functional teams.
• Public Company experience

Technical & Industry Knowledge

• Deep understanding of manufacturing processes, including machining, assembly, fabrication, and automation.
• Strong Technical Acumen: Ability to assess and evaluate innovation from a technical engineering perspective, particularly in mechanical design, automation, and food processing technologies. Must be able to bridge the gap between R&D, engineering, and commercial strategy.
• Understanding of aftermarket business models, including service contracts, parts logistics, and customer support.
• Familiarity with food processing technologies 

Leadership & Strategic Skills

• Strong strategic thinking and execution skills with the ability to translate vision into operational plans.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change and foster a culture of accountability and innovation.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; able to collaborate effectively with internal teams, customers, and suppliers.
• Financial acumen with experience managing P&L, budgeting, and cost optimization

Preferred Attributes

• Experience in new product development (NPD) and managing product lifecycle in a capital equipment environment.
• Background in international operations or global supply chain management.
• Strong project management skills, including experience with large-scale capital projects or customer installations.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, customer-driven environment with shifting priorities.

If you fit this background, please apply today. Craig Wilson will reach out immediately for this urgent hire. cwilson@ariteam.com