The Role

We are seeking a high-impact leader to drive the start-up and ramp-up of new manufacturing assets, ensuring the facility reaches design performance safely, reliably, and in the shortest possible time. This role will lead the operational start-up engine across people, processes, systems, and equipment, acting as the bridge between project execution and stable production.

You will be accountable for commissioning integration, readiness, capability building, and performance ramp-up, ensuring smooth handover to operations and building strong confidence with senior stakeholders.

Location: Netherlands

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the full start-up and ramp-up strategy, including readiness planning, commissioning integration, trials, and early production phases
• Establish clear performance milestones and ramp-up curves aligned with operational and financial objectives
• Lead recovery planning and corrective actions where performance gaps or delays arise
• Act as the operational anchor during commissioning, ensuring alignment across engineering, quality, and production readiness
• Build and lead a cross-functional start-up team and ensure readiness across operators, technicians, engineers, and support functions
• Own training and qualification plans, including certification pathways, standard work, and technical upskilling
• Coach teams on structured problem solving, performance routines, and continuous improvement
• Ensure operational roles are staffed and trained ahead of start-up to avoid ramp-up constraints
• Drive rapid achievement of design capacity and performance through disciplined performance management routine
• Own key start-up KPIs including OEE, yield, waste, quality, safety, downtime and reliability
• Identify and eliminate early-stage losses through root cause analysis and cross-functional corrective action
• Monitor and manage trade-offs between speed, stability, quality, and cost, ensuring decisions are escalated appropriately when needed
• Ensure readiness of critical plant systems including utilities, automation, maintenance systems, and quality controls
• Drive the integration and adoption of digital manufacturing tools such as MES, SCADA, CMMS, and real-time performance tracking
• Ensure structured handover processes and documentation are completed to support stable long-term operations
• Lead smooth transition to operations, ensuring predictable, repeatable performance and clear ownership post-start-up

Qualifications and Experience

• 10+ years in FMCG manufacturing with strong commissioning / start-up exposure
• Solid knowledge of utilities, process & packaging equipment, automation, and quality systems
• Experience leading ramp-ups for large capital projects
• Familiarity with digital manufacturing tools
• Good understanding of plant economics and key performance drivers
• High-energy leader who thrives in fast-paced start-up environments
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Proven ability to build capability, coach teams, and drive cross-functional alignment

The Role
This role anchors project governance, controls, and transparency for major manufacturing capital project. Acting as a central PMO and project controls leader, the role ensures consistent execution discipline, early risk detection, and decision-ready visibility for senior project and site leadership.

The position balances analytical rigour with pragmatic, site-aware execution.

Location: Netherlands

Key Responsibilities 

• Design and operate project governance frameworks covering cost, schedule, scope, risk, and benefits
• Establish reporting cadence, dashboards, and performance reviews to track delivery against approved baselines
• Ensure consistent application of project controls standards, templates, and KPIs
• Drive readiness for commissioning and transition to operations, working closely with operational leaders
• Translate project data into clear, actionable insights for senior leaders
• Identify early warning signals and facilitate timely escalation of risks and deviations
• Support structured decision-making through scenario analysis and forward-looking projections
• Partner closely with Project Directors and site teams to reinforce execution discipline
• Act as the interface between site-level delivery and broader portfolio or enterprise standards
• Support capability building in project management and controls practices

Qualifications and Experience

• 10+ years in PMO, project controls, or capital governance roles
• Strong experience in manufacturing environments (FMCG, food, pharma, chemicals)
• Solid command of cost control, scheduling, risk management, and reporting tools
• Pragmatic, delivery-oriented mindset with the confidence to challenge constructively
• Comfortable working with senior engineering and operational stakeholders
• Clear, reliable visibility of project performance at all times
• Reduced delivery surprises through early risk identification
• Strong governance discipline and improved delivery predictability