Operations Manager Felling Powder Coatings

About AkzoNobel

Since 1792, we’ve been supplying the innovative paints and coatings that help to color people’s lives and protect what matters most. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and use our expertise to sustain and enhance the fabric of everyday life. Because we believe every surface is an opportunity. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering and long-established paints company that’s dedicated to providing sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we have today – while creating an even better tomorrow. Let’s paint the future together.

Operations Manager Manufacturing

Powder Coatings

AkzoNobel – Felling, Gateshead

At AkzoNobel, we’re committed to Paint the future.
For more than 200 years, we’ve been supplying the innovative paints and coatings that help colour people’s lives and protect what matters most. Our trusted brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – are used by customers in more than 150 countries.

We believe everyone can grow, perform and contribute. If you have the experience and motivation to succeed in this role, we encourage you to apply – even if you don’t meet every requirement.

Your Role

As Powder Coatings Operations Manager, you will have end‑to‑end accountability for the Powders value stream at our Felling site. You’ll lead Production, Engineering and Quality, creating a workplace where safety comes first, people are engaged and developed, and performance is delivered in line with customer and business expectations.

This is a highly influential leadership role where you’ll set direction, empower teams and drive operational excellence, whilst contributing directly to AkzoNobel’s sustainability and continuous‑improvement ambitions.

What You’ll Do

• Lead safely, always – role‑model a proactive safety culture and ensure full compliance with HSE standards, policies and legislation.
• Deliver operational performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and People, aligned to site and business priorities.
• Translate customer demand into effective production execution, protecting OTIF and service performance.
• Drive efficiency through optimisation of capacity, labour, assets and processes.
• Lead engineering and asset‑care strategy to maximise reliability and OEE.
• Ensure robust quality standards, encouraging a Right First Time mindset.
• Develop and inspire people, building capability, accountability and engagement across the operations team.
• Own and manage operational budgets, balancing delivery performance with cost control.
• Champion Lean thinking, structured problem solving and continuous improvement.
• Support digitalisation and future‑fit operational ways of working.

What You Bring

Essential

• Strong manufacturing operations leadership experience.
• Proven capability leading multi‑disciplinary teams (Production, Engineering, Quality).
• Deep understanding of health, safety and compliance in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing operational cost and budget performance.
• Track record of driving continuous improvement and change.

Desirable

• Experience within powder coatings or chemical manufacturing.
• Lean / Six Sigma qualifications.
• Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing or a related discipline.

What Makes You a Great Fit

• You lead with care, courage and accountability.
• You engage people through clear direction, trust and empowerment.
• You balance short‑term delivery with long‑term sustainable performance.
• You’re curious, improvement‑focused and data‑driven.
• You value collaboration, inclusion and shared success.

What We Offer You

At AkzoNobel, you’ll find a workplace where you can grow, perform and belong. We offer:

• Competitive salary and annual bonus opportunity
• 25 days’ holiday (excluding bank holidays)
• Company pension, life assurance and income protection
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Product and staff discounts
• Flexible benefits including Gymflex, dental cover and retail discounts
• Opportunities to learn, develop and progress within a global organisation

At AkzoNobel, we’re shaping a more sustainable future – together.
If you’re ready to lead with purpose and make an impact, apply today.

For more information please visit www.akzonobel.com 

© 2024 Akzo Nobel N.V. All rights reserved.

At AkzoNobel we are highly committed to ensuring an inclusive and respectful workplace where all employees can be their best self. We strive to embrace diversity in a context of tolerance. Our talent acquisition process plays an integral part in this journey, as setting the foundations for a diverse environment. For this reason we train and educate on the implications of our Unconscious Bias in order for our TA and hiring managers to be mindful of them and take corrective actions when applicable. In our organization, all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age or disability.

Requisition ID: 53233