Director of Operations - Pharmaceutical Facility

This is a 6‑month contract based in Normandy, with a strong possibility of extension or permanent hire depending on performance and site needs. The role oversees the full delivery of an Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) contract for a major pharmaceutical production site. Candidates must already live in France or be willing to relocate and establish residency before starting. Sponsorship is not available, so full work eligibility in France is required.

The Director of Operations is responsible for operational excellence, contractual compliance, financial performance, and high‑quality service delivery across all hard and soft FM services. The position carries responsibility for a significant annual budget and requires close collaboration with site leadership, central support teams, and suppliers.

Responsibilities

Operational & Service Delivery

• Lead the implementation and performance of the IFM contract, ensuring services meet SLAs and KPIs.
  ("Lead the implementation and ongoing performance of the IFM contract…" )
• Maintain strong communication with site users and stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with all legislative, HSE, environmental, and quality requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement and best‑practice sharing.
• Coordinate with project managers to align FM and project activities.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Build strong, trust‑based relationships with key client stakeholders.
• Promote collaborative working across on‑site teams, central support, and suppliers.
• Represent the organisation professionally in all interactions.

Governance & Reporting

• Lead weekly and monthly governance routines.
• Prepare operational, technical, and commercial reporting.
• Support monthly client reports and participate in review meetings.

Team Leadership

• Manage and develop a multidisciplinary team (technical, soft services, administrative).
  ("Manage and develop a multidisciplinary team…" )
• Conduct performance reviews and evaluations.
• Plan team activities and resource allocation.
• Foster a culture of engagement, well‑being, and low turnover.

Health, Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Conduct regular HSE and quality inspections, audits, and site walks.
• Ensure incidents, hazards, and risks are reported and managed appropriately.
• Oversee deviations, investigations, and corrective actions with Quality teams.
• Ensure risk assessments, method statements, permits, and emergency plans are in place.
• Lead or support incident investigations and business continuity planning.

Financial Management

• Manage annual objectives and €10-15M budget responsibilities.
  ("The position carries responsibility for a significant annual budget (approx. €10‑15M)" )
• Prepare and track change requests.
• Maintain PO trackers and financial monitoring tools.
• Coordinate monthly financial close, accruals, overdue items, and billing.
• Produce monthly forecasts and contribute to contractual financial reporting.

Systems, Tools & Procedures

• Ensure full adoption of FM systems and digital tools (CMMS, dashboards, reporting).
• Maintain up‑to‑date SOPs, emergency procedures, and operational manuals.
• Ensure teams and suppliers follow established procedures consistently.

Requirements

Experience

• 5-7 years managing teams of 10+ people.
• 5-7 years managing large‑scale sites with budgets above €10M.
• Mandatory experience in pharmaceutical or food manufacturing environments.
  ("Mandatory experience in pharmaceutical or food manufacturing environments." )

Technical & Professional Skills

• Proven leadership of multidisciplinary teams in regulated environments.
• Strong financial acumen and experience with complex operational budgets.
• Solid understanding of site infrastructures (HVAC, electrical, utilities).
• Strong knowledge of soft services and supplier management.
• High proficiency with digital tools and CMMS platforms.
• Excellent communication and conflict‑management skills.
• French‑speaking with fluent English (B2-C1).

Additional Requirements

• Must be resident in France or willing to relocate to Normandy.
• Must have full work eligibility in France; sponsorship is not available.
• Able to balance operational efficiency, team leadership, and client satisfaction