Global Head of Operational Excellence Crystal

Want to join a fast-moving company, work among convivial teams, and take part in the global growth strategy of one of the most prestigious and comprehensive portfolios in the wine & spirits industry? We are looking for a Global Head of Crystal and Operational Excellence! You will be based at The Island, our office in central Paris.

This role is responsible for championing the development and implementation of standards, capabilities, and efficiency consolidation within the Brands Units. This role also includes fucntionnal management of Operational Excellence Managers and overseeing start-up management activities to ensure a vertical start-up of new projects and innovations. Additionally, the role encompasses regional execution on the shop floor with the manufacturing teams.

Your key missions are:

This role is responsible at Crystal BU Level to :

• Lead a network of Regional Operational Excellence Managers and start-up resources

• Champion the development and implementation of operational excellence and lean manufacturing standards Consolidate efficiencies and best practices to ensure consistent application across all regions.

• Provide guidance, support, and mentorship to ensure effective implementation of operational excellence initiatives. Act as a coach to factory managers and Operational Excellence Managers,

• Oversee start-up management activities and resources to ensure a vertical start-up of new projects and innovations.

• Provide regular updates to the Brands Units Director on progress, achievements, and areas for improvement.

• Together with the VP Manufacturing owning and driving the Crystal operations reviews in the Crystal governance structure

• Supports key projects and programmes in the Crystal BU related to the manufacturing and operations, like footprint, integrations etc.

This role is responsible for at Regional Level for :

• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth and efficient project launches.

• Work closely with local manufacturing teams to identify and address operational challenges.

• Ensure the implementation of best practices and continuous improvement initiatives at the local level.

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence within the region.

• Mentor and coach local manufacturing teams to enhance their skills and knowledge in lean manufacturing principles.

• Own the definition of the Manufacturing Strategic plans and targets in collaboration with the Manufacturing Director and VPs. Ensure alignment of strategic plans with overall business objectives.

• Loss and Waste Management: Conduct an annual loss and waste exercise to identify new efficiency projects.

• Implement initiatives to deliver 3-5% year-over-year productivity improvements.

• Monitor, track and report the performance of operational excellence initiatives

If you recognized yourself in the description below, don't wait to apply !

12+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, with a proven track record in:

• Lean / Continuous Improvement — deep expertise in lean manufacturing principles (TPM, Six Sigma, Kaizen) and the ability to deploy standards consistently across multiple sites and regions

• Start-up Management — experience leading vertical start-ups of new production lines, innovations, or plant integrations from concept to steady-state

• Strategic Planning — ability to own and co-build Manufacturing Strategic Plans aligned with broader business objectives

• Loss & Waste Management — hands-on experience running annual loss/waste diagnostics and delivering 3–5% YoY COGS productivity improvements

• Multi-site / Cross-functional Leadership — comfortable managing a network of OpEx Managers across regions and influencing factory managers, VPs, R&D, and Group Engineering without direct authority

• Coaching & Mentorship — a natural coach who elevates the capability of local manufacturing teams and OpEx managers alike

Background:

• Engineering degree (Industrial, Mechanical, Chemical or similar)

• Ideally complemented by a business/management qualification

• FMCG, luxury goods, glass/packaging, or process manufacturing experience is a strong asset

• Fluent in English; another European language is a plus given the EU scope

Soft Skills that matter:

• Executive presence — you'll be presenting directly to the Crystal CEO, VP Manufacturing, and Group-level stakeholders

• Structured thinker who can translate complexity into clear priorities and roadmaps

• Energized by a matrix environment with ambiguity and scale

Wait, there’s more…

We offer you an outstanding and collaborative workplace that embodies our sharing & conviviality culture, the possibility to work remotely (up to 2 days a week), a very complete mutual insurance, an attractive compensation including profit-sharing, the possibility to train daily, employee events…

Pernod Ricard is committed to offering equal opportunities to all talents. Our recruitment methods focus on skills and competencies.

Job Posting End Date:

Target Hire Date:

2026-09-01

Target End Date: