Operations Transformation and Portfolio Management Director
20 hours ago
City of London
About WE Soda WE Soda is the world’s largest producer of natural soda ash, a critical raw material used in a wide range of industrial applications, including glass, detergents, and chemicals. Our company takes great pride in producing over 9.5 million tonnes of natural soda ash annually, an exceptional milestone that reinforces our leadership in the global market. With our headquarters in the United Kingdom and production facilities in Türkiye and the United States, we operate across a broad international footprint. Our products are in high demand worldwide, and we currently export premium natural soda ash to more than 80 countries, reflecting our commitment to operational excellence and our ability to meet the diverse needs of a global customer base. Role Purpose: The Operations Transformation & Portfolio Management Director is responsible for establishing and leading the Operations transformation portfolio, ensuring operational improvement initiatives, capital projects and strategic programmes are prioritised, governed and delivered in alignment with the Company's operational strategy. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the role will establish portfolio governance, project management standards and delivery disciplines across Operations, Engineering, Sustainability, Maintenance, Technical Services and Research & Development. Acting as a key partner to the executive leadership team, the role will oversee the successful delivery of the Operations portfolio, driving operational excellence, productivity, cost optimisation and long-term value creation while working collaboratively with IT, Finance, Commercial and other business functions. While the initial focus of the role is on Operations, the successful establishment of this function is expected to provide the foundation for a future enterprise-wide transformation and portfolio management capability as the Company continues to grow and mature. Key Responsibilities: Operations Portfolio Management & Governance • Establish and progressively develop the Operations Transformation & Portfolio Management function, defining the organisational structure, governance, capabilities and operating model required to support the Company's transformation agenda., • Lead the Operations portfolio management framework., • Develop governance processes for project prioritisation, approval, resource allocation and decision-making., • Recommend portfolio priorities to the Chief Operating Officer and support executive decision-making., • Lead regular portfolio reviews, providing clear reporting on progress, risks, budgets and business outcomes., • Monitor portfolio performance to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and achieve agreed objectives., • Optimise the allocation of resources across the Operations portfolio to maximise business value., • Regularly assess organisational capability requirements and recommend the evolution of the function in line with the Company's growth strategy and increasing operational complexity. Project Management Capability • Develop and maintain project management standards, methodologies, tools and templates., • Establish project governance, stage-gate processes and delivery frameworks., • Provide functional leadership, coaching and guidance to project managers and programme leads., • Promote best practice, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement in project delivery., • Develop project reporting standards and performance metrics to support effective governance., • Strengthen project management capability and maturity across the Operations function. Operational Transformation • Lead operational transformation initiatives across manufacturing, engineering, maintenance, technical services and R&D., • Drive continuous improvement and operational excellence programmes., • Improve productivity, operational performance and cost efficiency., • Support the implementation of best practices and standardised operating processes. Capital Projects • Provide portfolio oversight of capital investment projects delivered by Operations., • Monitor progress against approved business cases., • Ensure appropriate governance and reporting. Operational Excellence • Lead Lean and continuous improvement programmes., • Drive improvements in productivity, asset reliability and operational efficiency., • Improve production planning, maintenance effectiveness and resource utilisation., • Deliver measurable cost savings and operational performance improvements. Sustainability & Resource Optimisation • Lead programmes supporting sustainability, energy efficiency, water stewardship and resource optimisation., • Support delivery of corporate sustainability commitments. Innovation, Research & Development • Oversee the portfolio of innovation and R&D initiatives., • Support the development and implementation of new technologies and operational improvements., • Facilitate collaboration between Operations, Engineering, R&D and Commercial teams. Cross-functional Collaboration • Partner with IT on technology-enabled operational improvement initiatives., • Collaborate with Finance on investment planning and business cases., • Coordinate with Supply Chain, Procurement and Commercial on cross-functional operational initiatives., • Collaborate with the CIO organisation on enterprise-wide transformation initiatives where operational programmes have broader business or technology implications Performance & Success Measures (KPIs) Performance in this role is measured through a balanced set of strategic, operational and delivery indicators, including: • Successful establishment and continuous improvement of the Operations Transformation & Portfolio Management framework and governance model., • Successful delivery of the Operations portfolio against agreed business objectives., • Executive stakeholder satisfaction with portfolio governance, prioritisation and decision-making., • Delivery of strategic projects that achieve approved business case objectives and planned benefits., • Achievement of capital project budget, schedule and quality commitments., • Percentage of projects delivered on time, within budget and to agreed scope., • Measurable improvements in operational productivity, efficiency, asset reliability and cost optimisation., • Achievement of operational excellence, continuous improvement and value creation targets., • Achievement of sustainability, energy efficiency and resource optimisation objectives., • Improvement in project governance, portfolio management capability and organisational project management maturity. Knowledge, Skills & Experience: • Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, business or a related discipline, • Advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred, • Typically, 15+ years of experience in manufacturing, chemicals, mining, industrial processing, energy or similarly complex industries, • Proven experience leading strategic projects, capital programmes and transformation initiatives, • Experience leading operational excellence, manufacturing improvement or capital investment programmes., • Experience establishing, transforming, scaling or leading a Project Management Office (PMO), Enterprise PMO (EPMO) or similar portfolio management capability is highly desirable., • Strong commercial and financial acumen, • International experience across multiple geographies and stakeholder groups, • Fluency in English is essential; Turkish language capability is highly desirable Personal Attributes: • Strategic, commercially astute and results-oriented leader with the ability to translate operational strategy into successful programme delivery and measurable business outcomes., • Strong leadership and organisational influence, with the credibility to engage, challenge and build effective relationships with senior executives and cross-functional stakeholders., • Excellent communication, stakeholder management and collaboration skills, with the ability to lead and influence across a complex international organisation., • Highly analytical with sound judgement, strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make informed decisions in a fast-paced environment., • Proven ability to lead organisational change, build project management capability and drive a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement., • Resilient, adaptable and comfortable operating in a dynamic, evolving business environment, maintaining composure under pressure., • High levels of integrity, professionalism and personal accountability, with a commitment to delivering sustainable business value and operational excellence.