About the organization

Kuwait Steel, the largest steel producer in Kuwait with over 900 employees, is been undergoing a Digital Transformation for the last 4 years. 

Kuwait Steel (United Steel Industrial Company) is a private Kuwaiti Closed Shareholding Industrial and Commercial Company that was established in the year 1996 through Kuwaiti investors.

In the four years that followed Kwtsteel in collaboration with Voestalpine of Austria erected the first fully automated Rolling Mill in Kuwait. This Rolling Mill, which is built on a 40,000 square meter land has an annual capacity of 750,000 tons of reinforcing steel bars with sizes ranging from 8mm to 40 mm in diameter. 

Since 2003, Kuwait Steel was able to cater major portions of local market demands for this vital product, since the manufacturing process is entirely capable of meeting recognized stringent international standards such as ASTM, DIN, BS, SASO and other standards required by the market. The company’s production usually exceeds its yearly target, thus exporting its products to neighboring countries which has constantly been part of its business. 

The Steel Plant is designed according to the latest technology in the field of steel plant machinery equipment specifically. The technological solution is characterized by the choice of high quality and productivity facilities, by which it is possible to achieve extremely efficient operating results with low man-power and specific energy consumption thereby making the plant highly competitive. 

Upon commissioning in 2010 and after finishing the Guarantee Performance Test during the first quarter of 2011, the Steel Plant is in operation and producing to its full capacity. During the same year 2010, Kuwait Steel achieved yet another milestone by acquiring another Rolling Mill Plant in Kuwait that used to have an annual production capacity of 250,000 tons/year which has been completely revamped and upgraded by M/s. Siderimpes (S.R.L) of Italy, to increase its annual capacity to produce 650,000 tons of rebar that is fully operational and running at full capacity and utilization rates. 

Both rolling mill plants have a combined annual production capacity of 1.4 million metric tons. 

Kuwait Steel is fully committed to minimize, if not eliminate the effects of its overall operations in the production of steel reinforcing bars and steel billets to the environment. It is the company’s goal to enhance and continually improve its environmental protection performance through effective implements of Environmental management Systems (EMS). 

Thus, it is worthwhile to mention that United Steel Industrial Company is the sole producer of steel rebar in the state of Kuwait. Last but not least, all of Kuwait Steel’s products are Kuwaiti, ISO and UK CARES certified.

Kuwait Steel is now looking for a Head of Steel Plant, familiar with rebar in coils or bars or wire rod and of course, EAF plus LF operating based on scrap, DRI & HBI, to drive continuous improvement and optimization of all processes.

About the role

The primary purpose of this position is to drive efficiency and cost consciousness in a very modern steel making facility in order to support the targeted growth of tripling the business in the next 3-5 years.

 

The Head of Steel Plant oversees all daily operations of the plant (1.3 million tons/annum) from production and manufacturing to ensuring policies and procedures are followed. He/she develops processes that will maximize stewardship, safety, quality and productivity.

 

Providing direct leadership to 3 direct reports (Head of steel making operations, Head of maintenance and Head of continuous improvement), the Head of Steel Plant oversees a team of 260 employees working in steel making, maintenance, workshops, water treatment plant and utilities and refractories. 

 

The steel plant itself is rather new (10 years, built by Danieli with a SMS caster) with a high level of process automation, allowing the Head of Steel Plant to fully focus on increasing the level of labor productivity, the reduction of fixed costs and improvement on the variable costs.

 

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, direct and run optimum day-to-day operations to exceed our customers’ expectations

• Increase production, assets capacity and flexibility while minimizing unnecessary costs and maintaining current quality standards

• Be responsible for production output, product quality and on-time shipping

• Allocate resources effectively and fully utilize assets to produce optimal results

• Implement strategies in alignment with strategic initiatives and provide a clear sense of direction and focus

• Monitor operations and trigger corrective actions

• Share a trusting relationship with workgroup and recruit, manage and develop plant staff

• Collect and analyze data to find places of waste or overtime

• Commit to plant safety procedures

• Develop systems and processes that track and optimize productivity and standards, metrics and performance targets to ensure effective return on assets

• Address employees’ issues or grievances and administer collective bargaining agreements

• Influence and learn from below

• Stay up to date with latest production management best practices and concepts

About you

You combine significant (15+ years) business leadership experience in a multinational steel making/manufacturing organization with a (technical) master’s degree. 

You have a sound background in Metallurgy and your focus on continuous improvement is backed by professional designations such as Six Sigma Black Belt / PMP / ITSM / Operations Excellence. 

You have adequate knowledge of business and management principles (budgeting, strategic planning, resource allocation and human resources).

You have a strong and demonstrable operational management background with a hands-on experience of developing and leading successful cost reduction/-optimization programs and overall improvement of consumption norms. You are an experienced user of factory automation, preferably familiar with SAP.

You are knowledgeable of safety, quality, productivity, demand creation, inventory and stewardship processes.

You have the ability to create accountability, to lead by example and are naturally strong in team building, decision-making and people management skill, with a strong experience in organizing multi-skill development and cross departmental responsibilities. 

Interested?

Our customer has asked HARMEN for our expertise support, finding the right candidates for this crucial role. Hence, we value talking to candidates only and have no time to talk to third parties. Candidates that will be invited for an interview will receive an extensive search profile. 

A very attractive (tax-free) compensation package is on offer, including a bonus subject to individual and company performance. The posting is a two years full time contract at Kuwait with regular 30 days annual leave plus of course public holidays. The contract will include allowances for accommodation, transport and phone, as well as one business class ticket per annum for the candidate plus each dependent younger than 18 years accompanying the expat.

Kuwait offers a “liberally conservative”, modern, inexpensive, and extremely safe lifestyle. Women are allowed to drive and are active in business and Parliament.

Do you wish to express your interest? Please send me an email and we will discuss further!

I wish you enough!

Harmen Stakenburg

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