Alcott Global is working with a leading global ports and terminals organisation to search for a Chief Operating Officer, based in the Middle East.

Role Purpose

The Chief Operating Officer will lead the end-to-end operational performance of a strategically important gateway container terminal. Reporting to the CEO / Managing Director and forming part of the senior management team, the role will have responsibility for driving safe, reliable and efficient terminal operations while leading a large frontline workforce and managing a complex stakeholder environment. The position requires a hands-on operations leader who can combine operational excellence with strong people leadership, sound judgement and the ability to operate effectively within a culturally nuanced environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Terminal Operations & Performance

• Lead the overall operational performance of the terminal, ensuring high standards across safety, service, productivity, quality and cost.

• Drive operational efficiency, reliability and continuous improvement across terminal activities.

• Ensure the terminal is able to respond effectively to changing volumes, customer requirements and operational priorities.

• Champion a strong continuous improvement mindset, leveraging Lean and operational excellence principles where relevant.

2. Frontline Leadership & Employee Relations

• Provide visible and hands-on leadership to a large frontline workforce.

• Build strong engagement across operational teams and reinforce a culture of safety, accountability and performance.

• Manage complex labour and employee relations, including engagement with unions / collective bargaining arrangements.

• Build trusted relationships while maintaining appropriate independence, fairness and sound judgement within a closely connected local environment.

3. Stakeholder & External Relations

• Build effective relationships with government authorities, port stakeholders, customers and other external partners.

• Navigate the requirements of a gateway terminal with significant national and stakeholder visibility.

• Work closely with senior leadership and other functions to ensure operational priorities are aligned with the wider business.

4. Operational Transformation & Digitisation

• Identify opportunities to improve processes, productivity and overall terminal performance.

• Support the continued integration of technology, digitisation and IT-enabled solutions into terminal operations.

• Drive sustainable operational improvements and build organisational capability for the future.

Desired Candidate Profile 

• Senior operations leader with significant experience in ports and terminals, ideally within container terminal / gateway operations.

• Strong track record leading complex, high-volume operations and large frontline workforces.

• Fluent Arabic and English language capability is essential, given the level of interaction with employees, authorities and local stakeholders. 

• Proven experience managing complex labour relations, unions and/or collective bargaining environments. 

• Strong stakeholder-management skills, with experience engaging government authorities and other external stakeholders.

• Exposure to continuous improvement / Lean / operational excellence, with a strong performance-improvement mindset. 

• Good understanding of technology and digitisation within an operational environment. 

• Culturally agile, resilient and comfortable operating in a highly relationship-driven environment.

• Strategic yet hands-on, with strong judgement and the ability to lead effectively in a demanding, high-visibility operation.

• Willingness to relocate to the Middle East is required.

Alcott has been retained to search for a Head of Supply Chain – India & South Asia for one of the global FMCG companies.

Role Overview

Our client, one of the world’s leading FMCG companies, is seeking an experienced Head of Supply Chain – India & South Asia to lead its end-to-end supply chain organization. This is a high-impact, high-visibility leadership role with responsibility for a significant manufacturing, supply chain and operational footprint across India.

The role will have end-to-end responsibility across manufacturing, supply and demand planning, sourcing, third-party manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, quality, engineering, EHS, productivity and customer service. The successful candidate will lead a large, multi-site organization and work closely with regional and global leadership teams.

This is a broad enterprise leadership position rather than a traditional manufacturing or factory leadership role. The successful candidate will be responsible for connecting commercial demand, manufacturing, sourcing, planning, logistics, customer service, quality, engineering, sustainability and talent into an integrated, resilient and growth-ready supply chain.

A key mandate will be to translate the company’s growth strategy into an integrated supply chain roadmap that delivers service, capacity, cost competitiveness, productivity, resilience, digital transformation and organizational capability.

The role requires a strategic and operational leader who can influence senior stakeholders across Commercial, Manufacturing, Procurement, R&D, Finance, HR and regional/global Supply Chain teams while leading a complex and geographically dispersed operating organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the end-to-end Supply Chain function in India, spanning manufacturing, planning, sourcing, third-party manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, quality, engineering, EHS, productivity and customer service.
• Develop and execute an integrated annual operating plan and long-term supply chain strategy aligned with business growth, innovation, capacity requirements, resilience, cost competitiveness and sustainability.
• Ensure safe, reliable and high-quality product supply by maintaining strong standards of quality, regulatory compliance, EHS and operational discipline across manufacturing sites, external partners, logistics and warehousing operations.
• Lead manufacturing excellence across a complex multi-site network, driving plant performance, asset utilization, line productivity, engineering reliability and continuous improvement.
• Develop the manufacturing and supply network required to support significant future business growth, balancing Greenfield, Brownfield and third-party manufacturing opportunities while protecting service, quality, cost and business continuity.
• Strengthen strategic sourcing and upstream supply capabilities to improve material availability, supply security, quality and resilience while developing sustainable long-term supplier and partner relationships.
• Lead demand and supply planning, logistics and customer service to create a responsive supply chain that improves product availability, inventory health, distribution efficiency and business continuity.
• Optimize the warehousing and distribution network to improve customer service, cost competitiveness, responsiveness and operational resilience.
• Own and accelerate the Supply Chain productivity and cost transformation agenda, including manufacturing costs, freight, warehousing, network optimization, inventory and capital effectiveness.
• Identify and execute significant productivity opportunities across manufacturing and logistics to strengthen overall business margins.
• Partner closely with Commercial, R&D, Procurement and Marketing to support innovation launches, new channels, capacity decisions, portfolio transitions and evolving customer requirements.
• Ensure the supply chain has the capacity, flexibility and capabilities required to support the company’s future product portfolio and growth agenda.
• Lead Supply Chain transformation, digitalization, automation and advanced analytics across the end-to-end value chain.
• Drive adoption of advanced planning, demand sensing, logistics visibility, smart manufacturing and shopfloor automation capabilities to improve decision-making, productivity and customer service.
• Strengthen service performance and OTIF, particularly across fast-growing and emerging channels.
• Build future-ready digital and AI-enabled Supply Chain capabilities and leverage global capabilities and shared-service organizations to create scalable ways of working.
• Champion sustainability across the value chain, including responsible sourcing, resource efficiency, sustainable operations and broader environmental commitments.
• Build, develop and lead a high-performing, multi-disciplinary Supply Chain organization across manufacturing and corporate functions.
• Develop robust talent pipelines and succession plans for critical leadership positions while strengthening frontline and organizational capability.
• Lead a large, geographically dispersed and operationally intensive workforce, including exposure to unionised manufacturing environments, creating a culture of safety, accountability, inclusion and high performance.
• Act as a senior member of the business leadership team, contributing beyond Supply Chain to business strategy, growth, culture, risk management and organizational transformation.
• Build effective relationships with suppliers, manufacturing partners, logistics providers, external stakeholders and other strategic partners to strengthen supply security, compliance and business continuity.
• Establish and monitor critical Supply Chain KPIs across service, availability, cost, productivity, safety, quality, capacity, inventory, people and sustainability.

Key Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline; a postgraduate qualification in Supply Chain, Operations or Business Administration would be advantageous.
• 20+ years of progressive leadership experience across Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Engineering, Logistics and/or end-to-end Operations, ideally within FMCG, Foods, Consumer Goods or a comparable high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Significant India market and operational experience, with a strong understanding of the complexities of managing large-scale manufacturing and supply chain operations in the country.
• Demonstrated success leading large, complex, multi-site operations, including a combination of company-owned and third-party manufacturing networks.
• Deep operational expertise across Manufacturing, Quality, Planning, Logistics, Warehousing, Engineering, EHS and Productivity.
• Proven ability to lead complex manufacturing and distribution networks while balancing scale, responsiveness, cost, customer service, quality and business continuity.
• Strong business and commercial acumen, with the ability to translate enterprise growth ambitions into practical capacity, network, investment and capability decisions.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale Supply Chain transformation, automation, digitalization and productivity programmes.
• Strong understanding of digital supply chain, advanced analytics and AI-enabled capabilities, with experience using technology to improve planning, manufacturing, logistics and decision-making.
• Strong track record of delivering measurable cost, productivity, service and operational improvements across manufacturing and Supply Chain.
• Experience enabling significant business growth through capacity expansion, network development, new product introductions and channel evolution.
• Proven people leadership experience across large and geographically dispersed organizations, including exposure to unionised manufacturing environments.
• Strong stakeholder-management capabilities within complex global and matrixed organizations, with the ability to influence senior leaders across business and functional teams.
• Ability to operate as both a strategic and operational leader, seeing the full value chain, making effective trade-offs and translating strategy into execution.
• Strong cross-functional leadership capabilities, connecting Commercial, Manufacturing, Procurement, R&D, Finance and Supply Chain around common business priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to challenge established ways of working and lead major transformation, digitalization, automation and productivity initiatives.
• Strong people and culture leadership, with the ability to create safety, accountability, inclusion, engagement and high performance across frontline and leadership populations.
• Strong resilience and risk-management capabilities, with the ability to anticipate disruption, protect business continuity and make effective decisions in complex environments.
• Excellent executive presence, judgement, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to operate effectively within a global, multicultural and matrixed organization.

About Client

A leading global industrial company with a strong portfolio of category-leading brands and a significant North American presence. The business operates across multiple manufacturing, supply chain, warehousing, and distribution sites in the region and is entering an important phase of operational transformation focused on agility, customer service, cost competitiveness, and capability building.

Role Purpose

The Head of Operations will lead end-to-end regional operations across manufacturing, supply chain, warehousing, and distribution for North America. The role is accountable for improving safety, quality, service, cost, inventory, and operational capability, while driving a major transformation of the North American network into a more agile, customer-focused, and performance-driven operation.

Location: USA 

Key Responsibilities

1. Operations Strategy & Network Transformation

• Define and execute the North American operations transformation strategy across manufacturing, supply chain, warehousing, and distribution.

• Lead footprint and network redesign initiatives, including capacity planning, make-buy decisions, site consolidation, service model design, and capital planning.

• Partner with commercial, procurement, quality, finance, HR, and operational excellence teams to ensure operations strategy supports growth, customer service, margin improvement, and risk management. 

2. Manufacturing, Supply Chain & Distribution Execution

• Own end-to-end regional operations performance across production, inventory, logistics, warehousing, distribution, and supply chain execution.

• Improve safety, quality, service, OTIF, lead time, peak-season reliability, cost, productivity, and working capital performance across the regional network.

• Strengthen SIOP / integrated planning discipline, KPI cadence, and corrective action routines to improve demand-supply alignment and operational accountability. 

3. Operational Excellence & Performance Improvement

• Embed Lean, continuous improvement, and a robust operating system across the North American manufacturing and distribution network.

• Lead productivity and cost-improvement initiatives focused on conversion cost reduction, gross margin improvement, inventory optimization, and service reliability.

• Deploy automation, analytics, digital tools, and disciplined governance to improve visibility, decision-making, execution, and measurable transformation outcomes. 

4. Organizational Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead the full North American operations organization across multiple manufacturing sites and distribution locations.

• Build, coach, and develop a high-performing operations leadership team, strengthening succession depth across plant, supply chain, and distribution leadership roles.

• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, performance ownership, and cross-functional partnership. 

Desired Candidate Profile 

• Senior operations leader with 15-20 years of experience across manufacturing, supply chain, distribution, and multi-site operations leadership.

• Proven track record leading multiple plants and / or distribution centers with full operational accountability, ideally within a large regional or business-unit scope.

• Strong end-to-end operations experience across manufacturing, supply chain execution, inventory, logistics, warehousing, and distribution.

• Demonstrated success driving footprint transformation, network redesign, Lean / operating-system deployment, productivity improvement, and cost reduction.

• Strong people leader with success in building high-performing teams, developing talent, strengthening succession, and leading cultural transformation.

• Relevant sector experience may include diversified industrials, building products, HVAC, consumer durables, appliances, engineered products, or other complex manufacturing environments.

Role: Associate Director, Quality Assurance – Pharma

Location: El Paso, Texas

Alcott Global has been retained by a leading global organization in the pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing sector. This leadership role is responsible for providing strategic direction and oversight for Quality Assurance across pharmaceutical manufacturing operations, while ensuring compliance with FDA regulations (21 CFR Parts 210, 211, and 820), EU GMP, ISO 13485, and other global quality standards. As a key member of the site Quality Leadership Team, the Associate Director will drive quality strategy, regulatory readiness, risk-based decision-making, and continuous improvement initiatives aligned with both global and site objectives.

The role will lead Quality Assurance oversight across pharmaceutical manufacturing processes including formulation, filling, Triton, and Cascade Water Sterilization (CWS), ensuring robust quality systems, contamination control, product disposition, sustainable compliance, and operational excellence. The individual will also work closely with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, Regulatory Affairs, EHS, R&D, and other cross-functional teams to support compliant pharmaceutical manufacturing operations, strengthen quality culture, and enable business objectives.

What we are looking for:

The ideal candidates will bring strong experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, with a proven track record in Quality Assurance, Sterile Manufacturing, Formulation, Filling Operations, Contamination Control, cGMP Compliance, Regulatory Inspections, Risk Management, CAPA, Deviations, Change Control, Root Cause Investigations, Product Disposition, and Quality Systems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end Quality Assurance oversight across pharmaceutical manufacturing operations, including formulation, filling, Triton, and Cascade Water Sterilization (CWS), ensuring manufacturing activities are adequately supported, operationally efficient, and fully compliant with cGMP (21 CFR Parts 210/211), QSR (21 CFR Part 820), ISO 13485, EU GMP, and global quality standards.
• Serve as the site Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Quality, providing strategic oversight of production quality, in-process controls, batch record review, product disposition, contamination control strategies, and risk-based decision-making while ensuring manufacturing operations remain inspection-ready.
• Provide strategic oversight of Quality Systems, ensuring effective management of deviations, CAPAs, change controls, complaints, investigations, verification of effectiveness (VoE), and sustainable corrective actions while driving continuous improvement across pharmaceutical manufacturing operations.
• Lead Quality Compliance and Regulatory Readiness by ensuring compliance with FDA, EU GMP, ISO 13485, and global quality requirements, acting as the site QA lead during FDA inspections, regulatory audits, customer audits, and regulatory responses, including support for 483 observations and Warning Letter remediation activities.
• Drive Quality Risk Management and Operational Excellence by leveraging data-driven analysis, root cause investigations, quality metrics, trend analysis, and quality risk management principles to identify systemic issues, strengthen quality systems, and improve manufacturing performance.
• Build and develop a high-performing Quality Assurance organization by providing leadership, coaching, and technical mentorship, fostering a culture of accountability, ownership, urgency, execution, continuous learning, and a strong quality mindset while ensuring appropriate capability across pharmaceutical operations and quality systems.
• Drive strategic quality initiatives through effective collaboration with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, Regulatory Affairs, EHS, R&D, and cross-functional stakeholders to support business continuity, validated manufacturing processes, contamination control, supply reliability, and operational excellence.

Candidate Profile:

• 10+ years of relevant experience in Quality Assurance within pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing Quality teams, pharmaceutical manufacturing quality functions, or site-level quality operations.
• Strong knowledge of FDA regulations (21 CFR Parts 210/211/820), EU GMP, ISO 13485, cGMP, sterile manufacturing, contamination control, Quality Systems, Risk Management, and regulatory inspection requirements.
• Experience supporting regulatory inspections and interactions, including FDA inspections, 483 observations, Warning Letters, customer audits, and regulatory remediation activities.
• Strong ability to lead cross-functional teams, drive accountability, strengthen compliance culture, and support operational excellence.
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing experience is mandatory, with experience supporting sterile manufacturing and aseptic operations strongly preferred.
• Experience with Lean/Six Sigma methodologies, SAP, Microsoft Office, and enterprise Quality Management Systems is preferred.

Role: Associate Director, Quality Assurance – Surgery

Location: El Paso, Texas

Alcott Global has been retained by a leading global organization in the pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing sector. This leadership role is responsible for providing strategic direction and oversight for Quality Assurance across Surgery manufacturing operations, while ensuring compliance with FDA regulations (21 CFR Parts 210, 211, and 820), EU GMP, ISO 13485, and other global quality standards. As a key member of the site Quality Leadership Team, the Associate Director will drive quality strategy, regulatory readiness, risk-based decision-making, and continuous improvement initiatives aligned with both global and site objectives.

Role: Associate Director, Quality Assurance – Vascular

Location: El Paso, Texas

Alcott Global has been retained by a leading global organization in the pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing sector. This leadership role is responsible for providing strategic direction and oversight for Quality Assurance across Vascular manufacturing operations, while ensuring compliance with FDA regulations (21 CFR Parts 210, 211, and 820), EU GMP, ISO 13485, and other global quality standards. As a key member of the site Quality Leadership Team, the Associate Director will drive quality strategy, regulatory readiness, risk-based decision making, and continuous improvement initiatives aligned with both global and site objectives.