Operations Manager (Dyrektor/Dyrektorka Fabryki)

IKEA Industry – part of the Inter IKEA Group – is the world’s largest manufacturer of wooden furniture and a key link in the IKEA value chain. We operate production units in Poland, Slovakia, Portugal, Sweden, Lithuania, China, and Hungary. Our operations include forestry, sawmills, board production, components manufacturing, and finished furniture.

The Zbąszynek unit is the largest furniture production complex in the world – across the factories in Zbąszynek, Zbąszyń and Babimost we employ more than 3,500 people.

Today we are looking for a leader who will take charge of one of our three production areas and guide the organization towards modern, integrated manufacturing of the future.

Your role – more than production management

This role combines business, operational and social responsibility. We are looking for someone who:

• Thinks strategically and in a multi-threaded way – combining cost, quality, technology and people perspectives.
• Navigates easily in the environment of Industry 4.0, digitalization and process automation.
• Treats Lean Manufacturing as a natural way of working and sees a culture of continuous improvement as the foundation of the organization.
• Understands that business results are the outcome of people’s engagement, strong leadership and a clear vision.

The person in this role will be responsible for operations across two production plants, organizational development, and the delivery of ambitious operational and strategic goals.

Key responsibilities

• Co-creating and implementing long- and short-term strategies for the Unit.
• Building a culture of continuous improvement and implementing Lean standards.
• Development and industrialization of new products.
• Modern leadership – talent development, succession planning, and supporting the Diversity & Inclusion agenda.
• Responsibility for quality, cost efficiency and achievement of KPIs.
• Improving safety, ergonomics and compliance with OHS and environmental regulations.
• Sharing best practices with other factories within the international structure.

Who are we looking for?

A leader who:

• Has experience in a manufacturing environment and at least 5 years in team management.
• Has very good knowledge of Lean Manufacturing tools.
• Can manage a budget and make decisions based on data analysis.
• Thinks critically, systemically and in scenarios – and can operate in a dynamic environment.
• Communicates fluently in English and Polish.
• Holds a higher education degree in a technical or economic field.
• Knowledge of wood processing technologies will be an additional advantage.

Why is this role unique?

This is a role for someone who wants to make a real impact on the future of modern manufacturing – in an organization with global reach, strong values and bold ambitions.

It combines:

• responsibility for a multimillion business,
• leadership of hundreds of employees,
• technological transformation in the spirit of Industry 4.0,
• building an organizational culture based on values.

If production is your natural environment, change drives you, and combining business perspective with people development is your key to success – we invite you to apply.

Join IKEA Industry and co-create the future of industrial furniture production.

• 3.5% employer contribution to your retirement account
• 30-minute paid break during work
• Private medical care (Lux Med)
• Daily hot lunch from 1.50 PLN (basic) or 4.20 PLN (meat/vegetarian option)
• Multisport card
• 15% discount in IKEA stores
• Holiday allowance
• Christmas bonus
• Safe and modern workplace
• Attractive group insurance
• Additional accident insurance fully covered by the employer
• Training, co-financing for further education, development opportunities, and more