Operations Manager (Equipment Manufacturing – Oil&Gas)

Operations Manager (Equipment Manufacturing – Middle East)

Location: Saudi Arabia – Industrial Site

Salary: 30,000 SAR/month net (housing, car) + Bonus

Start date: ASAP

Language: Fluent English (mandatory)

About the Company

Our client is an international industrial group specialized in the design and manufacturing of high-pressure equipment for major Oil & Gas operators in the Middle East. The Saudi site is undergoing a major capacity expansion, doubling its production footprint to meet multi-year delivery commitments for strategic projects.

This position plays a key role in transforming the local operations from a "project mode" to a structured, high-volume industrial manufacturing model.

Role Summary

Title: Operations Manager

Reporting to: General Manager (on site)

Scope:

• ~20 office-based staff (planning, procurement, projects)
• ~200 operators on the shopfloor (expected within 3 months)

The Operations Manager will lead all day-to-day activities across three main areas:

• Production & workshop performance
• Procurement and logistics coordination
• Project execution and planning oversight

You will be responsible for delivering 50 units/month within strict timelines and ensuring industrial efficiency as the plant scales up.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee production operations, workshop performance and delivery output
• Ensure coordination between production, procurement, project and planning functions
• Manage and mentor mid-level managers (team leads, planners, supervisors)
• Implement KPIs and performance routines aligned with corporate standards
• Drive process improvement, cost control and team efficiency
• Collaborate closely with head office (France) and global engineering teams
• Lead change management in a fast-scaling environment
• Support and guide factory growth in terms of both structure and discipline
• Ensure adherence to quality, HSE, and client (e.g. Aramco) expectations

Required Profile

Mandatory:

• 10+ years of experience in industrial operations management
• Proven track record in an equipment manufacturing company (pressure vessels, rotating equipment, valves, etc.)
• Experience managing production environments (workshops, fabrication units)
• Strong command of planning, procurement, quality and production workflows
• Fluent English (spoken and written)
• Experience in high-pressure environments, tight deadlines, and delivery commitments

Nice to have:

• Experience with clients such as Aramco, ADNOC, Total, etc.
• Prior experience in the Middle East
• Exposure to productivity benchmarking (LEAN, KPI optimization)
• Background in oil & gas equipment is a strong asset

Exclusions – Please Read Carefully

This is not a role for profiles from the Oilfield Services sector only (e.g. Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes) with no experience in manufacturing or workshop-based operations.

Candidates without direct exposure to industrial equipment manufacturing will not be considered.