Operations Director(engineering to order)

A leading industrial machinery manufacturer based in Madrid is seeking an Operations Director to oversee and optimise their engineered-to-order (ETO) manufacturing operations. This pivotal role offers you the opportunity to shape the future of a well-established, growth-oriented organisation that specialises in custom solutions for unique industry needs.

As Operations Director, you will be at the heart of driving operational excellence, aligning cross-functional teams, and preparing the business for a strategic shift towards a configured-to-order (CTO) model.

The company values transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement, providing a supportive environment where your expertise in ETO environments and ERP systems will be highly valued. With a focus on digital transformation and scalability, this position is ideal for someone who thrives on complex challenges and enjoys working collaboratively across engineering, supply chain, sourcing, and production functions.

You will benefit from generous incentives, including bonus opportunities, car allowance, and eligibility for equity participation, all within a culture that encourages professional development and recognises high performance.

• Play a central role in shaping operational strategy for a respected industrial machinery manufacturer with a strong reputation for quality and innovation.
• Lead cross-functional teams through digital transformation initiatives while preparing the business for future growth via CTO workflows.
• Enjoy attractive benefits including performance-based incentives, car allowance, equity participation, and opportunities for career advancement in a collaborative environment.

What you'll do:

As Operations Director – Engineering to Order Manufacturing, you will play an instrumental role in orchestrating seamless integration between engineering concepts and final product delivery. Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve close collaboration with multiple departments to ensure that every custom project meets exacting standards from initial design through sourcing and production execution.

You will champion digital transformation by optimising ERP systems tailored to ETO workflows while implementing robust governance around engineering changes and material data. By establishing clear KPIs and mentoring diverse teams across locations, you will drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance profitability and customer satisfaction.

Additionally, you will guide the organisation through its evolution towards more scalable CTO models—ensuring readiness for future market demands while maintaining compliance with regulatory standards.

• Oversee the execution of operations strategy across Spain with a particular emphasis on integrating design engineering, procurement, and production within engineered-to-order manufacturing workflows.
• Drive the end-to-end ETO process by ensuring that customer requirements are accurately translated into bills of materials (BOMs), routings, and detailed manufacturing plans.
• Act as the business process owner for ERP systems supporting ETO production processes—configuring platforms to ensure flexibility and alignment with custom engineering requirements.
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Sales, Supply Chain, and IT teams to develop seamless cross-functional processes that reduce lead times and improve delivery accuracy.
• Implement structured methods for engineering change management, material master governance, and variant management to guarantee high-quality outcomes in ETO environments.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track operational success such as engineering release accuracy, cycle time reduction, production throughput improvements, cost-to-serve metrics, and delivery performance.
• Build and mentor geographically dispersed operations teams by fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement.
• Act as a strategic change agent by guiding the transition from fully ETO to hybrid or CTO workflows—developing product structures and configuration logic to enable modularity and scalability.
• Ensure compliance with local and international regulations while promoting operational excellence and adherence to industry best practices.

What you bring:

To excel as Operations Director – Engineering to Order Manufacturing, your background should reflect significant experience leading operations within complex manufacturing settings where custom solutions are paramount. Your proven track record includes successfully managing large-scale projects involving cross-functional teams spread across different locations. You bring deep familiarity with ERP systems tailored for ETO environments—enabling you to streamline processes from design through production. Your analytical mindset allows you to interpret operational data effectively while your interpersonal skills foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders.

Experience guiding organisations through transitions toward CTO models is highly desirable as is your ability to manage change sensitively yet decisively. Fluency in English is essential given the international scope of operations; Spanish language skills further enhance your ability to connect with local teams.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing or related technical discipline; Master’s degree or MBA preferred for advanced leadership perspective.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in operations leadership within complex manufacturing environments—ideally within engineered-to-order or custom industrial equipment sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional and geographically dispersed teams with empathy and effective communication skills.
• Expertise in ERP system architecture and configuration (such as SAP, Oracle, Infor or Epicor) specifically supporting ETO production processes including BOM generation and item configuration.
• Proven experience designing and implementing transitions from ETO to CTO environments including product platforming strategies.
• Strong analytical skills with a data-driven approach to decision-making using operational metrics for continuous improvement initiatives.
• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in Spanish is strongly preferred to facilitate effective collaboration across teams.
• Comprehensive understanding of design-to-production lifecycle management within technical manufacturing domains.
• Experience managing change initiatives that support business transformation while nurturing team engagement.

What sets this company apart:

This organisation stands out as a leader in the industrial machinery sector due to its unwavering commitment to delivering bespoke solutions tailored precisely to each client’s needs. With decades of expertise behind them—and backed by substantial resources—they offer stability alongside exciting prospects for growth. Employees benefit from a culture rooted in transparency where open communication is encouraged at all levels.

The company invests heavily in digital infrastructure upgrades ensuring staff have access to cutting-edge tools needed for success. Professional development is prioritised through ongoing training opportunities while recognition programmes reward outstanding contributions. The inclusive atmosphere fosters teamwork across disciplines making it an ideal environment if you value shared achievement over individual accolades. Generous incentive schemes—including bonuses tied directly to performance—reflect their belief in rewarding dedication fairly. For those passionate about operational excellence within technically demanding contexts this company provides both challenge and support necessary for long-term career fulfilment.

What's next:

If you are ready to make a meaningful impact at the forefront of engineered-to-order manufacturing operations we encourage you to take the next step today!

Apply today by clicking on the link provided—your journey towards shaping the future of custom industrial machinery starts here.