Group Operational Excellence Director

Group Operational Excellence Director

Location: Belgium/Poland/UK/France

Department: Operations

Pull up a chair – there’s a place for you at our table.

At What’s Cooking?, we believe excellence isn’t a destination — it’s a daily habit. We’re constantly improving how we work, create, and grow together.

We’re looking for a Group Operational Excellence Director who will help shape that journey — someone who’s ready to embed a culture of continuous improvement across our European network and lead the way in performance excellence.

If you’re passionate about driving measurable results through people, processes, and purpose, we’d love to meet you.

What will you do as a Group Operational Excellence Director at What’s Cooking?

As our Group Operational Excellence Director, you’ll be the architect of performance transformation across the group. Your mission? To implement and sustain the SQCDME framework (Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Morale, Environment) as our common language for operational success.

You’ll drive improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, profitability, and competitiveness — while empowering our teams to take ownership of their performance and growth. Working closely with our COO, plant managers, and functional leaders, you’ll align operations with long-term strategic goals and help shape the future of our factories.

More specifically, you will:

• Embed SQCDME as the standard performance and improvement framework across all sites.
• Align operational excellence initiatives with group-level strategic priorities and KPIs.
• Deliver tangible impact on profitability, growth, and operational efficiency through continuous improvement.
• Standardize processes and best practices across factories, enabling consistency and scalability.
• Support the development of autonomous, empowered teams that take ownership of their results.
• Strengthen daily management systems and ensure robust visual performance tracking across all operations.
• Coach, train, and develop leaders and teams, fostering a culture of learning and improvement.
• Build strategic roadmaps connecting operational and financial performance.
• Partner with COO, Finance, and Plant Management to ensure alignment and sustainable progress.

Your Profile: What Do You Bring?

• You hold a master’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
• You have 10–15 years of experience in operational excellence, lean manufacturing, or industrial performance roles.
• You’re fluent in Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• You have a proven record of driving measurable impact across multi-site operations.
• You’re a strategic thinker who connects factory-level execution with business strategy.
• You’re a natural coach and communicator, capable of inspiring teams and influencing across functions.
• You’re fluent in English (knowledge of French or Dutch is a plus).
• You’re open to regular travel across our European production network.

What’s in It for You?

Join a company where curiosity, craftsmanship, and collaboration come together to shape the future of food.

• Welcoming team & open culture: We value authenticity, teamwork, and shared success.
• Growth & development: You’ll have the space to shape your own impact and grow as a leader in a forward-thinking environment.
• Attractive package: A competitive salary complemented by benefits including:
• Meal vouchers
• Group & Health insurance
• Pension plan
• Company car
• Regular remote working
• 32 days of annual leave