Director of Operations (Concord)

ABOUT HEIQ HeiQ is a Swiss deeptech materials innovator, founded in 2005 as a spin-off of ETH Zurich. We turn breakthrough science into scalable, market-ready material technologies and serve more than 300 brands in over 60 countries. Our Advanced Materials business unit (AMX) develops, produces and commercializes high-performance chemistries for the textile, flooring and industrial sectors – with production in North Carolina, Georgia and Switzerland. THE OPPORTUNITY This is not a caretaker position. AMX is entering a new phase under new leadership, with a clear focus on innovation, customer service and operational excellence. We are looking for an ambitious operations leader who wants to take real ownership: run three plants, modernize how they work, and see the impact of every decision on margin, cash and customers. You will join an international leadership team where your voice counts, decisions are fast and performance is visible. For the right person, this is a career-defining step: full P lead continuous improvement on the shop floor. Plan and execute maintenance, capital investment and facility projects. Ensure products consistently meet quality standards and customer specifications. Digital operations negotiate with and manage key suppliers. Strengthen supply resilience and logistics efficiency, and minimize disruptions. Safety, environment contribute to annual planning and forecasting. People build succession and grow the next generation of leaders. Drive change with energy and clarity – bringing experienced teams along while raising the bar. Work closely with the EVP and your peers VP Innovation, VP Sales, VP Marketing, VP Finance on new product scale-up, commercialization and market expansion. DECISION AUTHORITY You will have autonomy over day-to-day operational execution within approved business priorities, budgets, policies and delegated authority. Structural changes, new investments, strategic outsourcing and changes to headcount or employment arrangements require the applicable approvals. Product release and approval of quality deviations remain with Regulatory raw material (RMC) and total production cost (TPC) per unit; plant utilization Customer (OTIF) On-time-in-full delivery; product quality and complaint rate; customer quality satisfaction Cash Inventory turns; net working capital; expired / slow-moving inventory reduction Safety audit and regulatory findings closed on time Execution Yield and scrap; supply chain reliability; capital projects delivered on time and on budget Digital Share of operational processes mapped, standardized and run in the ERP (Odoo); planning automation and data quality WHAT YOU BRING Must-have Bachelor or Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering or Chemistry. Minimum 8 years of progressive operations or manufacturing experience in chemical or process industries, including at least 3 years leading teams. Hands-on track record in at least two of: production, supply chain/planning, procurement, EHS – and the drive to own all of them. Strong ERP experience and a genuine passion for process mapping, automation and data-driven management (Odoo strongly preferred). Proven results in cost reduction, inventory/working-capital improvement or Lean / Six Sigma projects. Solid understanding of US regulatory requirements (OSHA, EPA, DOT) in a manufacturing environment. Authorization to work in the United States; willingness to travel between sites and occasionally to Europe. Nice-to-have MBA or equivalent business education. Multi-site or international operations exposure. Experience with BI and analytics tools (e.g., Power BI), automation or AI applications in operations. Lean / Six Sigma certification. Who you are Owner. You take responsibility for results and do not wait to be asked. Digital by default. You see a spreadsheet workaround as a process waiting to be fixed. Hands-on leader. Equally credible on the shop floor and in the boardroom. Financially sharp. You understand how every operational decision hits margin and cash. Change driver. Energetic, structured and resilient – you build momentum and bring people with you. Clear communicator. Concise with executives, supportive with teams, firm with suppliers. WHAT WE OFFER A visible leadership role with direct access to the EVP and Group leadership of a Swiss deeptech company. Real ownership and the freedom to modernize a multi-site operations network. An international, entrepreneurial environment working with innovative technologies and global brands. Room to grow into broader executive responsibility as the business develops. Competitive compensation package with performance-based incentive. INTERESTED? Apply through LinkedIn with your CV. Include a short note describing an operational improvement you led, your contribution and the measurable results. HeiQ is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic.