A leading global industrial organisation specialised in industrial gases is seeking an experienced Head of Operations – APAC to lead and optimise its operations across the Asia-Pacific region.

This is a senior regional leadership role with responsibility for a diverse operational footprint spanning manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, warehousing and distribution. The successful candidate will drive operational performance across multiple countries while ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, compliance and customer service.

The role offers significant autonomy and the opportunity to shape the operational strategy of a growing international business.

Key Responsibilities

- Provide strategic leadership and direction for operations across multiple APAC countries and sites.
- Develop and execute the regional operations strategy in alignment with broader business objectives.
- Drive operational excellence across safety, quality, productivity, cost, service and continuous improvement.
- Oversee manufacturing, supply chain, warehousing, logistics and distribution activities across the region.
- Establish and manage regional operational KPIs, budgets and performance improvement initiatives.
- Lead, develop and empower country and site operations teams, building a robust and accountable leadership culture.
- Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, capacity, processes and organisational effectiveness.
- Lead transformation, change management and continuous improvement initiatives across the regional footprint.
- Ensure compliance with relevant HSE, environmental, quality and regulatory requirements.
- Partner closely with commercial, engineering, finance and executive leadership teams to support growth and customer requirements.




- Support regional investment and operational development initiatives as the business continues to expand.

Requirements

- Significant senior operations leadership experience within industrial manufacturing, process industries, industrial gases, chemicals, environmental services, engineered products or other safety-critical industrial environments.
- Proven experience leading multi-site and multi-country operations, ideally across the Asia-Pacific region.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing, supply chain, logistics and operational excellence.
- Demonstrated success improving operational performance across safety, quality, productivity, cost and service.
- Experience leading organisational change, transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience managing operational budgets and KPIs.
- Proven ability to lead geographically dispersed teams and influence senior stakeholders across different functions and cultures.
- Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business or a related discipline.
- Experience within industrial gases, chemicals, refrigerants, environmental services or regulated process industries would be advantageous.

What's on Offer

- Senior regional leadership position with a well-established global organisation.
- Responsibility for a diverse operational footprint across APAC.
- Opportunity to shape regional operations strategy and drive meaningful transformation.
- High level of autonomy, visibility and interaction with senior global leadership.
- Opportunity to join an organisation operating in an increasingly important sustainability and environmental sector.
- Competitive executive compensation package.

📌 Head of Operations, APAC (Industrial Gases) (Laverton North)
🏢 SM2 Consulting
📍 Laverton North