Head of Opex & Smart Factory

Head of Opex & Smart Factory

• Location:
  
  Geel, Belgium
• Job type:
  Permanent – full time

Strategic leadership role responsible for driving operational excellence and digital transformation across the site. This position combines analytical rigor with strategic vision to deliver breakthrough performance improvements through technology, continuous improvement methodologies, and change management. The role serves as the architect of the site's performance roadmap and digitalization strategy, translating business objectives into actionable initiatives while fostering a culture of data-driven decision making and continuous improvement.

We’re an R&D-driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth. Our deep understanding of the immune system – and innovative pipeline – enables us to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world. Together, we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives.

Main responsibilities:

• Strategic Performance Management:
  Develop and maintain the Site Performance Roadmap through strategy cascading, define Critical Business Needs (CBNs), lead internal/external benchmarking to identify performance gaps, and create a prioritized portfolio of initiatives aligned with business objectives and financial targets
• Performance Execution & Transformation:
  Lead focused transformation initiatives for breakthrough performance, drive standardization through SMS 2.0 ecosystem deployments, deploy Smart Factory solutions including AI with associated change management, and own Material & Supplier cost improvement initiatives as business interface for procurement
• Digital Strategy & Governance:
  Develop the Site Digitalization Roadmap in collaboration with Digital and Global Functions, manage Smart Factory budget (Capex/Opex), drive implementation of digitalization projects (iShift, MARS, LIMS, etc.), ensure master data accuracy through Data Stewards, and provide analytical capabilities to site functions
• Performance Monitoring & Reporting:
  Manage operational KPI framework (+QDCI) with cascaded reviews from shopfloor to SLT, drive financial impact tracking of performance actions (3P, Sievo), monitor performance trajectory versus ambition, and represent the site in above-site performance reviews
• Team Leadership & Capability Development:
  Build and lead a high-performing OpEx & Smart Factory team, modernize OpEx capabilities with strong digital profiles (Data Analytics, AI, Connectivity), drive training programs, and foster relationships with global OpEx community for best practice sharing
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  
  Partner with Operations, Finance, Procurement, Quality, Digital, Engineering, and other functions to ensure alignment and value realization across all performance and digital initiatives

Required Qualifications and Experience

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field;
  Master's degree preferred
• Minimum 7+ years of manufacturing operations experience with at least 5 years in leadership roles
• Proven track record in operational excellence and digital transformation initiatives
• Strong project management experience in complex, cross-functional environments
• Experience in data-driven decision making and performance management systems
• Knowledge of Operational Excellence methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, Continuous Improvement)

Preferred:

• Experience with Manufacturing 4.0, AI/GenAI applications in operations
• Understanding of ERP systems and digital solutions in manufacturing
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical or regulated industry processes
• Experience with change management and organizational transformation
• Background in data analytics and visualization tools

Key Competencies

• Strategic Thinking:
  Ability to translate business strategy into operational roadmaps, identify performance gaps through benchmarking, and develop prioritized portfolios that deliver measurable business impact
• Analytical Excellence:
  Strong data analytics capabilities, proficiency in performance monitoring and deep-dive analysis, ability to leverage big data for insights,…