Job Description
At Arethia, we fuse our long-standing reputation with a continual push for progress. A rapidly expanding player in the flavour industry, Arethia specialises in delivering innovative taste solutions and co-creating products that consumers love. For more than 70 years, Arethia has been known for its close collaboration with customers and the highest quality standards. With over 250 employees spread across Germany, Switzerland, Dubai, and Indonesia, we aim to shape the future of flavours with a culture that values agility, transparency, and talent.
Role description
We are looking for a Head of Manufacturing Operations to ensure that manufacturing processes deliver the highest standards of quality, efficiency, safety, and sustainability while supporting business growth and innovation. The ideal candidate combines strategic vision with hands-on operational excellence and has a proven track record in scaling manufacturing capabilities in a dynamic environment.
Head of Manufacturing Operations (m/w/d)
Festanstellung, Vollzeit · Reinbek
Leadership & People
- Lead, coach, and develop the operational production team (production planning, manufacturing, manufacturing logistics, warehousing).
- Build a high-performance culture centered on safety, quality, and accountability.
- Ensure effective communication and collaboration across shifts and departments.
Operations Management
- Lead Production Planning & Execution in close collaboration with Supply Chain, ensuring on-time delivery and optimal resource utilization.
- Maintain a strong presence on the shopfloor, ensuring issues are identified and solved quickly.
- Implement lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to boost efficiency and reduce waste.
Quality, Safety & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
- Foster a strong EHS (Environment, Health & Safety) culture throughout the factory.
- Partner with Quality to maintain product integrity, batch traceability, and GMP standards.
Financial & Business Impact
- Manage factory budgets and deliver on cost efficiency targets.
- Provide performance reporting and insights to senior management.
- Support strategic initiatives such as new product industrialization, capacity expansions, or technology upgrades.
- Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related discipline.
- 7+ years of leadership experience in manufacturing (food, flavor, chemical, or process industry preferred).
- Proven track record in running factory operations, including production, maintenance, and EHS.
- Strong knowledge of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and change management.
- Experience with GMP, food safety, allergen control, and batch traceability is a plus.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Fluent in English and [local language, e.g., German].
- Exciting tasks in an internationally operating, growing family business with flat hierarchies
- Flexible working hours and home office options
- 4 weeks remote work from other EU countries
- 30 days paid vacation per year
- Salary bands for a fair corporate culture
- Monthly allowance of €50 for your BAV
- Annual 360° feedback loops with clear promotion criteria and an individual career path
- Responsibility from day one in a company that encourages personal responsibility and growth
- Relocation costs can be reimbursed on a pro rata basis
- Regular company events such as summer party, Christmas party
- Paid team dinners or activities for each team twice a year
- Free parking right outside the door
- Perks and benefits: JobRad, subsidized lunch, subsidy for the Deutschlandticket, free language courses and discounted memberships at several gyms and for the Wellpass
- Fresh fruit, free drinks and snacks in the office