Who we are
J. de Jonge Group is a leading player in the industrial energy transition, with locations in Vlaardingen (NL), Belgium, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. We are a Dutch family-owned company with multiple specialized divisions in engineering, manufacturing, and maintenance.
For our business unit JLA Loading Technology, we are looking for an Operations Manager. JLA specializes in customer-specific loading and unloading systems for ships, trucks, and trains. We design and manufacture these complex installations entirely in-house. They are installed worldwide by our own teams, always with a strong focus on quality, safety, and customer value.
What will you do?
As Operations Manager, you will lead our technical production environment, with a focus on the fabrication, assembly, transport, and commissioning of high-quality loading arms.
You will hold end-to-end responsibility for daily operations, ensuring that people, resources, and processes function at their best. You’ll be working in a fast-growing environment with short lines of communication, direct feedback, and plenty of room for improvement and initiative.
Your leadership style is collaborative, your approach is hands-on, and you are solution-oriented. You will work closely with the Business Unit Manager, to whom you report directly.
Your tasks and responsibilities:
- Lead, optimize, and standardize production processes
- Design and implement the layout, logistics, and capacity of our new facility
- Manage production supervisors and indirectly lead operational teams
- Foster a culture of safety, ownership, and craftsmanship
- Monitor planning, progress, quality, costs, and key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Collaborate closely with engineering, procurement, and project management
- Contribute to cost estimations for quotations and maintain customer relationships
- Act as deputy for the Business Unit Manager during their absence
Requirements
You are an entrepreneurial self-starter with experience in a hands-on technical production environment, for example, in an offshore-related company, metal manufacturing, or a family-owned business. You feel at home in a high-paced industrial setting.
You switch easily between strategy and execution, steer effectively on both results and people, and maintain oversight, even when things get hectic. You are direct, decisive, and people-oriented.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Logistics, or a related field
- At least 5 years of experience in a leadership role within the technical manufacturing industry
- Proven affinity with welding, fitting, and metalworking
- A strong people manager who easily navigates between the shop floor and executive level
- Experience in optimizing processes and setting up efficient production lines
- Excellent command of Dutch and English (German is a plus)
- Decisive, collaborative, and highly analytical
- Passionate about continuous improvement and skilled at building strong teams
What we offer
As Operations Manager at JLA, you’ll have the opportunity to make a real impact. You’ll join an informal, entrepreneurial organization where collaboration, initiative, and craftsmanship are at the core of everything we do.
- A key role in a growing, technically challenging company
- Plenty of room for initiative, influence, and ownership
- Direct impact on the setup and management of our new production facility
- A competitive salary aligned with your experience and impact
- A company car, laptop, and mobile phone
- 25 vacation days plus 13 additional leave days (ADV) to support a healthy work-life balance
