Job Description

Factory Operations Manager – Joinery Manufacturing

Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

We are currently supporting a leading interior fit-out business in the UAE with the appointment of an experienced Factory Operations Manager to lead their joinery manufacturing operations.

Reporting directly to the Managing Director, this is a senior operational leadership role with responsibility for end-to-end factory performance, including production, cost efficiency, quality, workforce management and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the overall operations of the joinery manufacturing facility, ensuring efficient and high-quality production aligned with project delivery requirements.

• Develop and implement operational strategies, resource plans and optimised manufacturing workflows to maximise productivity and minimise waste.

• Drive continuous improvement across production processes, quality standards and factory performance.

• Manage factory budgets, cost control and productivity performance to support commercial targets and project profitability.

• Maintain a strong health and safety culture and proactively manage operational risks across the facility.

• Lead, develop and motivate a high-performing factory workforce, with a focus on capability development, succession planning and employee engagement.

• Work closely with project, commercial and technical teams to ensure factory output is aligned with project programmes and delivery expectations.

• Support tendering and business development activities through factory capability presentations, technical input and client engagement.

• Identify opportunities to enhance factory capacity, introduce new technologies and improve production systems.

Candidate Requirements

• Minimum 10+ years experience within manufacturing or factory operations.

• Strong experience within joinery manufacturing, interior fit-out or a closely related manufacturing environment.

• Proven experience managing complex, high-volume and fast-paced factory operations.

• Strong knowledge of production planning, manufacturing workflows, resource allocation and operational performance management.

• Commercially astute, with experience managing budgets, productivity, cost control and profitability.

• Demonstrated success implementing process improvements and increasing production efficiency.

• Strong leadership experience managing multidisciplinary factory teams.

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills across operational, commercial and senior leadership teams.

Desirable Experience

• Lean manufacturing and DFMA principles.

• Digital production planning or factory tracking systems.

• FSC, ISO or other manufacturing sustainability standards.

• Value engineering and factory improvement programmes.

• Factory expansion, upgrades or multi-site operational leadership.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced manufacturing leader to take ownership of a major joinery operation and play a key role in supporting the delivery of complex interior fit-out projects across the region.