Operations Manager

Every day, we get opportunities to make a positive impact – on our colleagues, partners, customers and society. Together, we’re pioneering the solutions of the future and unlocking the full potential of precious resources. Trusted to act on initiative, we challenge conventional thinking to develop world-leading technologies that inspire progress in vital areas, including energy, food, water and shipping.

As we push forward, the innovative, open spirit that fuels our 140-year-old start-up culture and rapid growth also drives our personal growth. So, as we shape a more resourceful, less wasteful world, we build our careers too.

About the job
Our company: Alfa Laval Switzerland AG, located at Allschwil, is part of the world leaders in the design and manufacture of cryogenic pumps for the liquefied gas industry.

To support us in our growth journey, we are now looking for an experienced Operations Manager to take full end-to-end responsibility for the execution of customer orders, from engineering release and assembly through to final test and shipment.

You will have a team of app 35 people, with 4 direct reports.

You will report directly to the Managing Director of Alfa Laval Switzerland AG and be part of the leadership team.

You will play a key role in shaping the site's operational strategy, strengthening performance, and driving a culture of accountability, customer focus, and continuous improvement.

This role suits a results-driven industrial operations leader who thrives on cross-functional coordination, is comfortable on the shop floor as well as with strategic plannings and has a track record of improving safety, throughput, quality, and delivery performance in a discrete or process manufacturing environment ideally within rotating equipment, or a related mechanical/fluid-handling industry.

Your responsibilities

• Lead and develop the organization through direct-report managers, driving business performance, leadership excellence, and organizational development.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration and remove organizational or process barriers that impact operational performance and efficiency
• Establish clear vision, plans (short-term and long-term), priorities and KPI to ensure the reliable delivery of products and services at cost, on time, and with quality, in line with customer expectations, code construction requirement and business objectives.
• Assess, prioritize and budget capital investment, technologies, digitalization needs
• Secure effective and standardized work & SOP (Standard Operating Procedures).
• Anticipate operational risks and bottlenecks and take proactive action to secure delivery performance and customer satisfaction. (effective capacity planning, resource allocation, and prioritization across the different operational functions)

• Ensure a strong customer-centric mindset throughout the operations organization & act as a senior escalation point for critical operational issues affecting customers, ensuring timely resolution and clear communication.

• Strengthening the link between customer requirements, quality requirements, engineering execution and production until delivery to optimize design for manufacturability, standardization, modularization, and overall product lifecycle performance.
• Lead and embed a culture of continuous improvement across the organization and implement ALPS methodology (Alfa Laval Performance System) by leveraging Lean, Six Sigma, and other operational excellence methodologies to deliver measurable and sustainable improvements.

• Promote structured problem-solving and root-cause analysis to eliminate recurring issues and prevent rework.

• Build a high-performing organization with clear accountability, strong collaboration, and a shared commitment to customer success by fostering an environment where employees are empowered to take ownership, identify improvement opportunities, and contribute to better ways of working.
• Develop leadership capabilities and ensure the right competencies and organizational structure are in place to support current and future business needs.
• Partner with other departments as needed to support the development of the Alfa Laval Switzerland AG site (e.g.: Improve and sustain the Safety and Quality Culture together with QSHE Department, be involved in new product development and give input to existing product development to R&D and Product Management team…)
• Ensure full compliance with all applicable legal, code, and certification requirements, as well as Alfa Laval Group policies and procedures.

Who you are

You are a strategic and transformational leader who builds organizations through people. You create direction, empower managers, and foster a culture where accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement drive both individual and business performance. Developing leaders, building trust, and enabling others to succeed are at the core of your leadership style.

You thrive in complex industrial environments where balancing competing priorities is part of everyday business. You combine strategic thinking with a hands-on approach while keeping both customer value and long-term business success in focus.

What you know

To succeed in this role, you have extensive leadership experience together with strong industrial experience in engineering and manufacturing

We believe our ideal candidate has:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, or a related technical field.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in operations, manufacturing, industrial engineering, or a comparable environment, with significant leadership responsibility.
• Proven experience leading multi-functional operations in an industrial or engineered-to-order manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing teams and leaders across multiple functions, with a proven track record of driving successful organizational transformation and change initiatives.
• Proven track record of delivering measurable improvements in productivity, quality, delivery performance, and cost efficiency.
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, or other continuous improvement methodologies is highly valued. A Lean Six Sigma certification (e.g., Green Belt or Black Belt) is an advantage, but proven practical experience in driving continuous improvement and operational performance will also be considered.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Strong results-oriented mindset, with experience with KPI management, structured problem-solving, root-cause analysis, and process standardization.
• Ability to balance strategic priorities with hands-on operational execution.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to understand the link between operational performance, customer satisfaction, and financial results.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluency in French and in English both written and spoken.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools; experience with ERP and other digital operational management tools is an advantage.
• “Yes, We Can” Mindset: Approach challenges with positivity and determination.
• Customer Orientation: Always put the customer first and strive to exceed expectations.
• Alignment with Alfa Laval Values: You embrace innovation, teamwork, customer focus, sustainability, and a strong commitment to making a positive impact.

What’s in it for you?

With us, you will have the opportunity to make a real difference in a global industrial company and in a business where operational excellence has a direct impact on our customers and our reputation.

You will join an open, collaborative, and supportive environment where initiative is encouraged, continuous improvement is part of our culture, and your leadership can have a tangible impact on our future success.

Alfa Laval is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, or business need.

Workplace: Allschwil (expected travel activity: approximately 15%)

We look forward to receiving your resume and cover letter. We are conducting a continuous review of the applications received. We do not accept applications via email, due to Swiss data protection laws (nLPD).

We look forward to hearing from you soon!