Head of Manufacturing

The Company

Our client, a leading Food & Beverages company in Oman, renowned for its high-quality products and commitment to sustainability is seeking an experienced Plant Manager to oversee operations at its state-of-the-art production facility. This role offers an opportunity to lead a dynamic team, implement innovative solutions, and contribute to the company's growth in a highly competitive market—candidates with strong leadership skills and expertise in the food & beverages manufacturing industry.

The Role

The Head of Production/Manufacturing will lead and oversee all operations and maintenance across diverse production units of Dairy, edible oil filling, Feed Mill, Poultry Slaughter plant and plastic packaging plant ensuring efficiency, quality, compliance, and innovation. This role is pivotal in aligning manufacturing processes with organizational goals, ensuring asset reliability, and driving continuous improvement to achieve operational excellence and profitability.

• Develop and implement operational strategies to maximize efficiency, minimize waste, and meet production targets across all units.
• Standardize processes and best practices to ensure uniformity in quality and compliance across facilities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives like lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Industry 4.0 solutions.
• Establish and oversee a comprehensive maintenance strategy, combining preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance to ensure optimal equipment reliability and uptime.
• Implement a centralized maintenance management system (e.g., CMMS) for tracking and analyzing maintenance activities.
• Monitor key maintenance metrics such as Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) and Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) to optimize equipment performance.
• Collaborate with procurement to ensure the availability of critical spare parts while controlling maintenance inventory costs.
• Build and lead a high-performing production and maintenance team, fostering a culture of accountability, safety, and collaboration.
• Provide training and cross-skilling for both production and maintenance teams to ensure versatility and preparedness.
• Align departmental goals with broader organizational objectives and market demands.
• Ensure all facilities adhere to regulatory and food safety standards such as ISO, HACCP, and local regulations.
• Maintain rigorous quality control systems to deliver consistent product quality and compliance.
• Ensure maintenance activities align with safety and statutory requirements, including fire safety, electrical safety, and environmental regulations.
• Manage operational and maintenance budgets, focusing on cost control, resource allocation, and overall productivity.
• Analyze KPIs for both production and maintenance to identify inefficiencies and implement corrective actions.
• Optimize procurement, inventory management, and maintenance schedules to reduce costs and improve margins.
• Develop and execute sustainability initiatives, focusing on waste reduction, energy efficiency, and water management.
• Support product and process innovation by collaborating with R&D and marketing.
• Implement robust risk management practices, including contingency planning for equipment failures, supply chain disruptions, or production delays.
• Ensure facilities are prepared for emergencies, minimizing downtime and maintaining operational continuity.

The Ideal Candidate

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, food technology, or a related field; MBA is an added advantage.
• 15+ years of experience managing diverse production units and maintenance functions, preferably in FMCG or food industries.
• Expertise in lean manufacturing, quality management, and modern maintenance practices.
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks and international food safety and maintenance standards.