Join Us as Operations Manager – Element Breda

At Element Breda, we’re not just testing materials, we’re helping shape the world’s most critical industries. From energy and chemicals to steel and aerospace, our laboratories ensure that the materials powering pipelines, protecting aircraft, and building our future meet the highest standards of safety, performance, and reliability. That’s why our motto is simple yet powerful: “Making Tomorrow Safer Than Today"

We’re looking for a dynamic and driven Operations Manager to lead our Breda site. In this pivotal role, you’ll guide a talented team to deliver timely, accurate, and high-quality test results, driving operational excellence and ensuring compliance with the highest safety and quality standards.

If you’re a proven leader with a passion for precision, innovation, and people plus you thrive in an environment where no two days are the same, we’d love to have you help us make certain of what truly matters.

Leadership & Operational Responsibilities

• Ensures full compliance with company safety, quality, and people programs, maintaining ISO and QA standards across all operations
• Directs, coordinates, and monitors daily activities of lab operations managers and supervisors under the guidance of the General Manager
• Leads and promotes a strong safety-first culture, driving safety performance, awareness initiatives, and adherence to SQDCP and 5S routines
• Champions continuous improvement, fostering a culture that prioritises incremental process enhancements to improve quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness
• Sets direction to ensure production goals and customer expectations are consistently met in a timely and cost-effective manner
• Develops and mentors staff to build an engaged, capable, and high-performing team aligned with organisational goals
• Provides effective coaching, communication, and inspiration to direct and indirect reports to ensure workforce readiness and accountability

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Fully accountable for direct reports and departmental leadership decisions, including hiring, performance management, and scheduling
• Oversees workload balancing, overtime approval, and timekeeping to maintain operational efficiency
• Cultivates a respectful, inclusive, and compliant workplace culture that supports collaboration, problem-solving, and adherence to conduct standards

• BSc (or equivalent) in Engineering or a related technical discipline; or minimum 7 years’ management experience, ideally in operations within a fast-growth organisation
• Strong working knowledge of laboratory safety and quality systems (ISO 45001, ISO 17025, or equivalent)
• Experienced in Continuous Improvement methodologies (Six Sigma, Kaizen, Lean Manufacturing, 5S)
• Strong computer literacy and project management skills
• Proven technical leadership and operational management experience within laboratory or technical environments

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Bij Element zijn we er altijd trots op onze mensen op de eerste plaats te zetten. Wij zijn een werkgever die gelijke kansen biedt en diversiteit en inclusie beschouwt als fundamenteel voor onze visie om "the world's most trusted testing partner" te worden.

Alle geschikte kandidaten worden in aanmerking genomen voor een dienstverband op basis van objectieve werkgerelateerde criteria en zonder rekening te houden met de volgende kenmerken: leeftijd, handicap, etnische afkomst, geslacht, burgerlijke staat, ras, religie, verantwoordelijkheid voor afhankelijke personen, seksuele geaardheid, of genderidentiteit of andere kenmerken in overeenstemming met de toepasselijke wetgeving.