Synthomer is a specialist chemical company that produces high-performance, highly specialised chemical products and solutions that bind the modern world together through the broadest range of everyday applications.

Headquartered and listed in London, UK, Synthomer has revenues of £2 billion, and 4,200 employees across Europe, North America and Asia. With 36 manufacturing sites, Synthomer is structured around three global divisions with a clear alignment on end markets to better serve their customers: Coatings & Construction Solutions; Adhesive Solutions; and Health and Protection and Performance Materials.

Synthomer’s adhesive solutions bond and modify surfaces and components. Typical end markets include tapes and labels, packaging, hygiene, tyres and plastic modification, and they are a top one or two supplier across these markets in EMEA and the Americas. As well as bonding dissimilar surfaces together, their customisable products can help improve permeability, strength, elasticity, damping, dispersion and grip.

Synthomer are seeking a new Site Manager to lead the Adhesive Solutions division’s site in Middelburg – located in south-western Netherlands. This plant has benefited from significant CAPEX investment, making it one of Synthomer’s most up-to-date manufacturing plants, and a key strategic manufacturing asset for the business, with future investment projects being planned.

The Middelburg site produces c75KT of polymers and resins per annum, which it supplies to customers in the tyre and rubber, and adhesives sectors, across Europe. With c215 employees, and annual CAPEX spend of £15m, the plant has an experienced and stable management team.

The Site Manager position is responsible for leading daily production operations to ensure the required business objectives are met in a safe and environmentally compliant manner. The position provides vision, leadership and day-to-day guidance for the production facilities serving a multitude of markets.

This is a role for an experienced and hands-on manufacturing operations leader from the Chemicals and Process Industries sector, with a track record of leading a manufacturing plant of scale. You will be someone who thrives in an autonomous environment and will be experienced in achieving manufacturing best practice through collaboration with your peers, and your own personal driven leadership style.

A true people developer with a strong character, you will have successfully led a programme of transformation and investment to improve a site’s safety, reliability, production and commercial performance. Driving safety and OEE performance will be a particular feature of the role and will require a strong appreciation of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement processes.

Key Requirements include:

• Fluent in both Dutch and English.
• Master’s/bachelor’s degree in technical sciences, preferably in the field of Chemical Engineering.
• Experience in a multicultural/multi country environment.
• Knowledge of specialty chemicals, polymer or resin manufacturing desired.
• Solid knowledge of Process Safety Management and Environmental regulations in a specialty chemical operation.
• Experience working with Works Council & CLA environment.
• Lean Six Sigma knowledge desired.

The role will be based in Middelburg, a city and municipality in south-western Netherlands, and the capital of Zeeland. A historic city, Middelburg is located in a very attractive part of The Netherlands, offering a high quality of life.

Should you wish to speak about the role confidentially before applying, please contact Jonathan Burke, Partner & Practice Head, Berwick Partners – on 0044 113 3868525.

If you are unable to apply online please email your application to response.manager@berwickpartners.co.uk  

All applications will receive an automated response.

All candidates are also requested to complete an online Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form which will be found at the end of the application process.