De Beers Operations Transformation Director

About De Beers

Founded in 1888, De Beers is a leading international diamond group whose expertise spans diamond discovery, sourcing, grading and luxury jewellery. With deep roots in southern Africa and a global presence, the group brings together scientific knowledge, technical precision and creative craftsmanship. As an employer, De Beers offers career paths across mining, engineering, gemmology, jewellery design, retail and corporate functions. Its multidisciplinary environment connects the origins of natural diamonds with their transformation into exceptional creations. Professionals join a business where heritage meets innovation, and where provenance, responsible practices and evolving consumer expectations are central to the future of the diamond industry.

Role & Responsibilities

• Lead the transformation of De Beers London’s end-to-end operations and supply chain, creating an integrated, data-led, cost-effective and client-focused operating model.
• Stabilise delivery while accelerating sustainable change across manufacturing and quality, raw materials planning, inventory, logistics, customs compliance and aftersales.
• Partner closely with IT to translate operational priorities into clear technology, data and process requirements; embed best-practice working methods and lead cultural change to establish operational discipline, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Execute the operations transformation roadmap aligned with strategy, client experience and financial priorities, with defined outcomes, sequencing, governance and benefits tracking.
• Balance immediate operational stabilisation with implementation of scalable, sustainable solutions during the interim period.
• Drive cultural change across global teams, fostering ownership, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Lead integrated manufacturing planning across internal and external production, translating demand and product priorities into capacity, resource and delivery plans.
• Establish disciplined raw-material planning and controls covering availability, allocation, consumption, traceability, risk and working-capital management.
• Optimise manufacturing capacity, supplier capability, lead times and production flow to improve delivery reliability, profitability, quality and responsiveness.
• Lead end-to-end supply chain performance across third-party logistics contract management, inventory, fulfilment, warehousing and distribution.
• Optimise service levels, operational processes, stock accuracy, security, controls and reporting across the global network.
• Embed best-practice forecasting and inventory disciplines.
• Use data and performance insight to improve forecast accuracy, inventory productivity, working capital, throughput and on-time delivery.
• Establish operational KPIs, dashboards and governance routines to support timely decisions and sustained performance improvement.
• Oversee customs compliance, import and export controls, documentation and classification; work with internal specialists and external advisers to optimise duty efficiency.
• Own the performance and commercial management of freight, carriage and related service contracts, ensuring service quality, resilience, compliance and value for money.
• Ensure appropriate contingency plans and controls for high-value goods, critical materials and market disruption.
• Place client excellence at the centre of operations, ensuring planning, fulfilment, aftersales and special-order processes support a seamless luxury experience.
• Partner with Retail, Client Development and Commercial teams to define service standards and reporting, and resolve recurring issues affecting the luxury client experience.
• Use client and operational data to identify service opportunities, monitor performance and prioritise improvements.
• Take accountability for stabilising and transforming end-to-end operations, making balanced decisions that protect clients, quality and profitability.
• Set clear transformation priorities, outcomes, accountabilities and measures, and communicate decisions and trade-offs transparently.
• Build team capability and confidence, enabling teams to solve problems, use data and continuously improve performance.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships to support cohesive and successful execution of initiatives.
• Challenge legacy practices constructively and introduce pragmatic, best-practice and cost-effective solutions.

Qualifications

• Extensive senior operational leadership experience across integrated operations, manufacturing and supply chain, ideally in luxury, jewellery, high-value goods or another quality-led retail environment.
• Proven transformation experience within a legacy business.
• Client-first approach and ability to connect operational decisions to luxury service standards.
• Data-led and commercially astute, with experience using metrics, analytics and benefits tracking to improve cost, cash, service and quality.
• Demonstrated success driving cultural change, influencing senior stakeholders and mobilising cross-functional teams through ambiguity and at pace.
• Pragmatic and solutions-focused.

Skills

Experience

Extensive senior operational leadership experience; proven transformation experience within a legacy business.

Benefits

27 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell leave; pension with a minimum 4% employee contribution and 11% company contribution; company-funded core Private Medical Insurance (Bupa), with options to upgrade or extend cover; 24/7 confidential Employee Assistance Programme; access to a Mental Health First Aider network and wellbeing resources; flexible benefits options including holiday trading, travel insurance, dental cover, critical illness protection and retail vouchers; opportunities to participate in Anglo American share plans, including Free Shares, SIP and SAYE; employee discounts and staff discount options; onsite benefits where available, such as gym and restaurant facilities. Benefits are subject to scheme terms and eligibility.

Culture

De Beers’ workplace culture combines the technical expertise of the diamond industry with the craftsmanship and client focus of luxury jewellery, bringing together diverse disciplines across an international business. Its professional environment emphasises collaboration, safety and responsible sourcing, with a shared commitment to protecting the integrity of natural diamonds from origin to finished creation.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.