Quality and OPEX Director

Role Overview

The Quality & Operational Excellence Director is responsible for defining and leading Netafim's global Quality and Operational Excellence strategy across all manufacturing plants, supply chain operations, and relevant business units worldwide.

The role ensures the implementation of a world-class culture of Quality, Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing, and Six Sigma principles, driving superior customer satisfaction, operational performance, product quality, and sustainable business results.

The position provides strategic leadership for Global Quality, Supplier Quality, Operational Excellence, Quality Management Systems (QMS), and Manufacturing Quality Performance while leading a global network of Quality and OpEx professionals across Netafim’s production and supply chain footprint.

Key Responsibilities

1. Global Quality Strategy & Governance

• Define and deploy the global Quality strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Establish company-wide quality standards, policies and governance processes.
• Drive continuous improvement of Netafim’s End-to-End Quality Management System.
• Ensure compliance with applicable quality standards, regulatory requirements and customer expectations.
• Lead quality maturity improvement initiatives across all manufacturing facilities.
• Monitor and improve key quality metrics, including COPQ, customer complaints, product defects and quality audit performance.
• Lead the implementation of digitalized tools for quality management.
• lead the implementation of Six-Sigma culture to increase process capability and quality

2. Operational Excellence Leadership

• Define and execute the Global Operational Excellence roadmap.
• Promote Lean Manufacturing culture to become the way we work by implementing Kaizen, TPM, SMED, Visual Management and Idea generation across the organization.
• Drive productivity, waste reduction, process optimization and standardization initiatives.
• Develop and sustain Operational Excellence capabilities and culture across operations and supply chain functions.
• Lead global OpEx programs and monitor implementation effectiveness through performance reviews and maturity assessments.

3. Quality Performance Management

• Establish and monitor global quality KPIs and targets.
• Lead monthly operational reviews and management reporting.
• Analyze quality trends and identify systemic improvement opportunities.
• Ensure corrective and preventive actions are effectively implemented and sustained.
• Benchmark performance across regions and plants to drive best-practice sharing.

4. Supplier Quality Management

• Lead the Global Supplier Quality organization.
• Ensure robust supplier qualification, auditing and performance management processes.
• Drive supplier quality improvement initiatives to reduce defects and business risk.
• Develop strategic partnerships with key suppliers to improve quality and reliability.
• Oversee supplier complaint management and root-cause resolution processes.

5. Manufacturing & Site Quality Leadership

• Provide functional leadership to Regional Quality Managers, Site Quality Managers and Quality & OpEx leaders globally.
• Ensure consistent deployment of quality standards and operational excellence methodologies across all sites.
• Support manufacturing operations in improving process capability, product quality and operational performance.
• Lead strategic quality improvement projects and plant transformation initiatives.

6. Culture, Capability Building & Change Management

• Foster a culture of quality ownership and continuous improvement.
• Develop global training, certification and capability-building programs in Quality and OpEx disciplines.
• Coach business leaders, plant managers and operational teams on Lean, Six Sigma and Quality Management principles.
• Lead organizational change initiatives supporting operational transformation.

7. Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Act as a strategic partner to Global Operations Leadership.
• Collaborate closely with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, Procurement, R&D and Commercial functions.
• Present performance reviews, business risks and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
• Lead a global, multicultural team through direct and matrix reporting structures.

Education & Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management or related field.
• Master's degree (MBA or Engineering) preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in Quality, Operational Excellence, Manufacturing or Supply Chain.
• Proven experience managing global, multi-site operations.
• Strong background in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and Continuous Improvement.
• Experience leading organizational transformation initiatives in a complex manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success in building and leading global teams.

Preferred Certifications

• Certified Manager of Quality and Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt / Master Black Belt

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Results Orientation
• Change Leadership
• Global Mindset
• Influencing & Stakeholder Management
• Problem Solving & Analytical Excellence
• People Development
• Collaboration & Team Leadership