The posting
Job Description Summary
We are seeking a strategic and influential Director, of Operations, with a growth mindset, to provide overall leadership for manufacturing operations at our Cork site, delivering both strategic and operational objectives while bringing to life “A World where Healthcare has no limits.” This role is pivotal in ensuring the Cork site consistently delivers for our patients and customers, with accountability for operational performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and People. The Operations Director will balance the day-to-day requirements of manufacturing with the medium and longer-term strategic direction and capability of the site. As a key member of the Site Leadership Team, you will report directly to the Site Leader and play a full and active role in the overall leadership of the Cork site. You will contribute to setting and executing site strategy and take collective accountability for overall site performance, culture and delivery. You will provide strategic and operational leadership across the end-to-end manufacturing value stream, ensuring patient supply objectives are consistently achieved in a safe, compliant, efficient, and sustainable manner. Working closely with Quality, EHS, Engineering, Supply Chain, Lean, Productivity, Finance, HR and other support functions, you will create strong cross-functional alignment around operational priorities and ensure effective resolution of risks, constraints and dependencies. You will also play a critical role in shaping the future of manufacturing at Cork, developing the organisation, capability, technology and operational systems required to support capacity growth and the factory of the future.
Job Description
Responsibilities
- The Director of Operations is accountable for translating business and site objectives into operational plans and creating the organisational capability, operating discipline and performance culture necessary to deliver them.
- Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for manufacturing Operations across the Cork site.
- Own operational performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and People, ensuring clear objectives, measures and accountability throughout the organisation.
- Ensure that Safety and Quality remain non-negotiable, with Operations maintaining compliance with cGMP, site Quality systems, regulatory requirements and GE HealthCare policies.
- Lead the end-to-end manufacturing value stream to ensure patient supply, production commitments and customer requirements are consistently achieved.
- Lead through people leaders, setting clear expectations, providing continuous performance feedback and building strong accountability throughout the Operations organisation.
- Develop organisational capability through coaching, talent development, succession planning and the identification and development of future Operations leaders.
- Foster an empowered, inclusive and high-performance culture where employees understand site priorities, contribute ideas and take ownership for performance and improvement.
- Build strong cross-functional relationships with Quality, EHS, Engineering, Supply Chain, Finance, HR, Lean, Productivity and other site functions to ensure aligned decision-making and execution.
- Lead labour, equipment and capacity planning to ensure the site has the resources and capability required to meet current production requirements and future manufacturing demand.
- Define, manage and deliver monthly and annual Operations budgets, partnering closely with Finance to ensure delivery of cost and productivity commitments.
- Identify and deliver opportunities to improve productivity, capacity and operational efficiency through Lean manufacturing, structured problem solving, automation, digital solutions and appropriate capital investment.
- Strengthen the application of Daily Management, Standard Work, Problem Solving, 5S and Kaizen across the Operations organisation.
- Create an operating culture where problems are identified and escalated early, root causes are understood and sustainable countermeasures are implemented.
- Partner with Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Engineering on product and process development, New Product Introduction, trials and operational readiness.
- Lead the Operations contribution to significant site transformation, capacity expansion and organisational change programmes.
- Work with the Site Leadership Team and wider GE HealthCare organisation to develop and execute strategies that position Cork successfully within Pharmaceutical Diagnostics and the broader business.
- Contribute to development of the factory of the future, ensuring new technologies, automation, digital capability and manufacturing processes are effectively integrated into Operations.
- Act as a visible member of the Site Leadership Team, taking an enterprise view of decisions and supporting cross-functional priorities beyond the boundaries of the Operations organisation.
- Prepare and communicate operational plans, performance, risks and priorities clearly to senior site and business stakeholders.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Business or a related discipline. A master’s degree or equivalent Level 9 qualification is preferred.
- Substantial progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operations, supply chain or related leadership roles, preferably within the pharmaceutical, healthcare or life sciences industry.
- Significant experience leading large and complex manufacturing organisations through senior leaders and people managers.
- Deep understanding of manufacturing operations and processes within a highly regulated environment, preferably pharmaceutical or life sciences manufacturing.
- Strategic & Operational Leadership: Proven ability to operate effectively at both strategic and operational levels, translating long-term objectives into executable plans while maintaining strong day-to-day performance.
- Operational Performance: Demonstrated accountability for performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and People, with experience improving performance through disciplined management systems.
- People Leadership: Strong track record of building high-performing teams, developing leaders, managing performance and creating effective succession and capability plans.
- Coaching: Demonstrated coaching capability, using coaching skills and techniques as an important part of leadership and people development. A recognised coaching qualification is desirable.
- Lean & Continuous Improvement: Strong understanding and practical application of Lean, Kaizen, 5S, Daily Management, Standard Work and structured Problem Solving.
- Financial & Business Acumen: Experience managing operational budgets, productivity, labour utilisation, capacity and cost performance.
- Capacity & Resource Planning: Demonstrated ability to plan and optimise people, equipment and manufacturing capacity against short, medium and long-term business requirements.
- Change Management: Proven experience leading significant operational and organisational change in a complex, regulated environment.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build relationships, influence decisions and create alignment at all levels of a matrixed organisation.
- Decision Making: Confident and effective decision maker with the ability to analyse complex information, manage competing priorities and make timely decisions in a fast-paced operational environment.
Desired Characteristics
- Strategic and Operational: Able to move seamlessly between long-term strategy and immediate operational requirements, maintaining focus on current performance and future capability.
- Leadership Composure: Maintains calm, focus and clear judgement under pressure, navigating complex challenges with confidence and guiding the organisation through uncertainty and change.
- Resilient and Adaptable: Thrives in a fast-paced, complex manufacturing environment and adapts effectively as business, customer and operational priorities evolve.
- Collaborative: Builds strong partnerships across the site and wider organisation, creating alignment and shared accountability for outcomes.
- Results-Oriented: Sets ambitious standards, creates clear accountability and maintains relentless focus on delivering measurable and sustainable business results.
- Lean and Continuous Improvement Mindset: Challenges complexity and encourages leaders and employees to identify problems, eliminate waste and continually improve how work is performed.
- People and Capability Focused: Creates an environment where leaders and employees are coached, developed, empowered and expected to perform at their best.
- Enterprise Mindset: Takes decisions in the best interests of the Cork site and GE HealthCare overall, rather than optimising individual functions or areas.
- Empathetic Leader: Understands the human impact of operational and organisational change and supports employees while maintaining clear accountability for business outcomes.
Inclusion and Diversity
GE HealthCare is an Equal Opportunity Employer where inclusion matters. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.
Behaviors
We expect all employees to live and breathe our behaviors: to act with humility and build trust; lead with transparency; deliver with focus, and drive ownership – always with unyielding integrity.
Total Rewards
Our total rewards are designed to unlock your ambition by giving you the boost and flexibility you need to turn your ideas into world-changing realities. Our salary and benefits are everything you’d expect from an organization with global strength and scale, and you’ll be surrounded by career opportunities in a culture that fosters care, collaboration and support.
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Additional Information
Relocation Assistance Provided: No
