Production Manager, Leeuwarden, Friesland

The Company
Our client is an international dairy cooperative, established by farmers in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. With a diverse portfolio that includes milk, yogurts, cheese, butter, and infant nutrition, the company serves global markets through multiple locations in the Netherlands.

Role Description
As Production Manager (5-shift system), you are fully responsible for managing and controlling the production process during your shift. This is a hands-on leadership role with strong ownership of safety, quality, performance, and people development in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities
 - Lead and manage all production activities during the assigned shift
 - Take end-to-end responsibility for safety, quality, output, and costs
 - Lead, coach, and develop a team of approximately 35 FTE
 - Resolve production issues and breakdowns, escalating when required
 - Ensure the right staffing, skills, and resources are available
 - Identify bottlenecks and drive process, quality, and efficiency improvements
 - Lead Lean / WCOM-related improvement initiatives
 - Collaborate closely with Operators, Technical Services, QA, CI, Planning, HR, and SHE
 - Hold unit responsibility for technical projects, autonomous maintenance, and training

Requirements
 - HBO (Bachelor’s) degree or equivalent working and thinking level
 - 7–10 years of experience in a production or manufacturing environment
 - Proven leadership and people management experience
 - Strong decision-making skills with clear ownership mindset
 - Experience with Lean, WCOM, or similar continuous improvement programs
 - Ability to manage diverse teams in a shift-based environment
 - Dutch language is required

Other Information
This is an on-site, temporary role within a high-volume and technically complex production environment, offering strong visibility, real ownership, and the opportunity to lead impactful improvements on the shop floor.

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