Operations Director

We say HI*

*Human Intelligence – Welcome among Thales Team!

Thales in Belgium is part of an internationally leading technology group in the defence and security, aerospace as well as digital identity and security markets. In a world characterised by uncertainties, we ensure that our customers, partners and employees can pursue new paths with confidence. For a future we can all trust.

Say HI* – to your career as

Operations Director

Mainly at the Tubize/Peutie and Herstal/Soumagne sites

In Tubize, you will join more than 300 colleagues (and around 100 consultants & temporary workers) recognized by domestic and international partners for expertise on products and solutions such as Radio Frequency (RF), Aeronautical Intercom, Crypto Global Solution, vehicles integration and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR).

In Herstal/Soumagne (SEVESO site), you will join more than 170 colleagues (and around 70 consultants & temporary workers) specialized in the design, development, production and supply of 70mm NATO Standard rocket ammunition and weapon systems for use by worldwide customers in the Defense (MoD) and Aerospace & Land OEM sectors. With the Guided Rocket in the portfolio additional market’s segments are now addressed like Ground-to-Ground applications or Counter-UAS.

In the coming years, Thales Belgium plans to increase its footprint in Belgium and abroad.

Today the Group employs more than 1,000 people across Thales and customers sites in Belgium. Discover all Thales activities in Belgium here.

Being part of Thales Group, Thales Belgium closely works with (1) the Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DGDI) supporting the company's commercial strategy and with the Global Business Units (GBU) managing a specific area of business for the Group on a worldwide scale.

Your mission

As the Operations Director, you lead the end-to-end operational performance and transformation of Thales Belgium, ensuring safe, on-time, on-quality and on-cost delivery across industrial operations and support functions. The role steers industrialization and production, supply chain and procurement transformation, IS/IT alignment, Real Estate and Facility Management, Quality and HSE, while driving continuous improvement in alignment with the Strategic Business Plan (SBP) and Multi-Year Budget (MYB).

Key responsibilities

Operational governance and performance :

• Define and execute the country operations strategy aligned with SBP/MYB and DGDI/GBU priorities.
• Set and achieve Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Cash and People objectives; deploy the Operations Performance Plan and competitiveness plans.
• Lead the country transformation roadmap and continuous improvement (Lean/Problem Solving, digital, process excellence).
• Drive the risks management and improve plans

Industrial operations and supply chain:

• Lead industrial policy and execution for electronics and vehicles integration (Tubize, Peutie) and rockets/launchers (Herstal), including make-or-buy choices, industrialization (NPI/NPD) and serial production.
• Drive S&OP, capacity planning, OEE, yield and throughput; ensure configuration management and change control.
• Oversee end-to-end supply chain (internal and external), including supplier performance, dual-sourcing/resilience and on-time delivery.
• Monitor and review workloads and capacity planning; prepare the Mid-Term Industrial Plan.

Procurement:

• Ensure the implementation of the Group Procurement Operating Model in the country with the DGDI CPO; define and execute MTB (procurement strategy).
• Improve procurement performance (QCD, risk, cash, offsets) and supplier relationship management; launch corrective actions where needed.
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier development and risk mitigation; report performance and key actions at DGDI level.

Quality, HSE and customer satisfaction:

• Ensure a robust Quality Management System covering products, systems and supply chain; reduce non-quality and COPQ.
• Drive customer satisfaction, audits and certifications; implement lessons learned and continuous improvement.
• Ensure the safety of personnel and assets; enforce HSE standards and culture across all operations.

Real Estate, Facilities, Security and Environment:

• Own Real Estate strategy for all the sites; optimize footprint, costs and services while supporting business growth.
• Lead the Real Estate evolution program (gated process) to support ramp-up and new activities (e.g., Cyber Security, CAMO, Defense), new sites, balancing run and project costs.
• Ensure physical security of people and property and environmental compliance.
• Serve as the primary responsible and point of reference for all regulatory and operational requirements related to pyrotechnics, ensuring strict compliance with national and international safety standards, and Thales Group policies for the handling, storage, transportation, and use of pyrotechnic materials.

IS/IT alignment and digital enablement:

• With the Country IS/IT Head, align IS/IT with Group strategy and DGDI priorities; ensure performance and cybersecurity.
• Deploy the Group roadmaps and execute remediation plans to reach targeted maturity/performance.

Strategic initiatives:

• Contribute to international industrial strategies (e.g., new supply chains), including supplier risk management for critical materials and programs.
• Support acquisitions, new activity development or portfolio adjustments as relevant to the country strategy.

People leadership and culture:

• Lead, develop and engage a high-performing, safety-first, inclusive operations leadership team.
• Manage HR aspects (organization design, objectives, check-ins, succession, competence development, recruitment).
• Champion Thales values, cultural change and diversity & inclusion.

Finance, investments and compliance:

• Manage budgetary and financial performance of operations; optimize working capital (inventory, cash) and cost base.
• Contribute to the MYB multi-year investment plan and capex roadmap.
• Ensure compliance with Thales Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct, prevention of corruption and influence peddling, export control and data protection requirements.

Stakeholder management and representation:

• Engage, influence and negotiate with internal stakeholders (Country, DGDI, GBU/BLs, Engineering, Finance, HR, etc.) and external interlocutors (customers, partners, suppliers).
• Represent Thales Belgium as delegated with institutional stakeholders and professional bodies; manage divergent priorities and long-term strategic positions.

We are looking forward to :

Profile :

• Education : Master’s degree in Engineering or related field; a business or management degree (e.g., MBA) is a plus.

Experience :

• Extensive senior leadership/Executive experience in operations within complex, high-tech industrial environments; defense, electronics and/or munitions experience strongly valued.
• Proven track record leading multi-site operations, large teams and transformations (Lean, digital, operating model).
• Demonstrated success in industrialization and production, program/bid management, supply chain and procurement.
• Recognized experience in budgetary/financial management and investment planning (MYB/capex).
• Knowledge of change management
• International experience and working in matrixed organizations (DGDI/GBU/BL) with multidisciplinary teams.

Capabilities and leadership :

• Strategically strong, able to shape solutions out of complexity and execute effectively.
• Ambitious and accountable; decisive with a strong drive for results.
• Performs through cooperation; excels at cross-functional leadership and synergy creation.
• Influences key stakeholders (GBU/BLs, Country, Group, Engineering); credible at senior levels.
• Engages and develops teams; strong people leader and coach with change management expertise.

Technical and managerial skills :

• Industrial policy, make-or-buy, S&OP, capacity and load planning.
• Quality management, customer satisfaction, HSE and BCM.
• Procurement and supplier management (including offsets and supply risk).
• Project and risk management (PRA1/PRA2 reviews, YAL), recovery planning.
• ERP/PLM and digital tools (Oracle Core Model, PCM, PALMA); data-driven performance management.

Languages and mobility :

• Fluent in English; French and/or Dutch strongly preferred. Additional languages are a plus.
• Presence required at Tubize and Herstal; ability to travel domestically and occasionally internationally.
• Ability to obtain and maintain any required national/EU/NATO security clearances.

Why join us

• High-impact leadership role at the heart of Thales operations in Belgium.
• Opportunity to shape growth, performance and transformation across diverse, mission-critical businesses.
• Inclusive, safety-first culture committed to innovation, ethics and sustainable performance.

Notes

• Depending on local regulations and company organization, the role may lead or participate in employee representative bodies and HSE committees.
• This description reflects core responsibilities and may evolve with the business.

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. The Group is investing in digital and “deep tech” innovations – Big Data, artificial intelligence, connectivity, cybersecurity and quantum technology – to build a future we can all trust.

For more than 20 years, Thales has pursued a robust corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy based on the highest international standards. The principles behind this policy are now captured in the company’s purpose of “building a future we can all trust”, which was adopted in 2020.

Say HI* – Your journey to us

At times of change our international teams are ready to meet the complexity of today with the industry-leading technologies of tomorrow. Will you be part of it? We are looking forward to your online application. Great journeys start here, apply now!

*Human Intelligence