Chief Operating Officer (COO) (M/F/D)
As Chief Operating Officer, you will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, partnering closely with the CEO to drive operational performance, manufacturing excellence, organisational development, and sustainable growth.
This role requires an experienced industrial leader who can move seamlessly between the boardroom and the shop floor-someone who understands manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, and operational strategy whilst building high-performing leadership teams capable of delivering world-class results.
Responsibilities
- Lead global manufacturing, operations, supply chain, procurement, quality, engineering operations, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Drive operational excellence through a strong focus on safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost performance.
- Develop and coach plant leadership teams, creating a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.
- Establish and drive KPI-based performance management systems across manufacturing sites and operational functions.
- Lead multi-site manufacturing operations, ensuring operational consistency and best-practice sharing across locations.
- Drive industrial transformation initiatives including automation, digitalisation, footprint optimisation, and capacity expansion.
- Ensure operational readiness for new products, technologies, and business growth initiatives.
- Identify opportunities to improve profitability, cash generation, and operational efficiency.
- Support strategic business planning, investment decisions, acquisitions, and organisational transformation programmes.
- Act as a trusted partner to the CEO, leadership team, shareholders, customers, and key stakeholders.
Ideal Candidate
- Significant executive leadership experience within industrial manufacturing, engineering, automation, machinery, mechatronics, automotive, or related sectors.
- Proven track record leading complex multi-site manufacturing operations with full operational accountability.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, engineering, supply chain, operational excellence, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Demonstrated ability to build, develop, and lead high-performing leadership teams.
- Experience managing large operational budgets and delivering measurable improvements in productivity, quality, and profitability.
- Hands-on leadership style with the credibility to engage equally with executive stakeholders and operational teams.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, including P&L responsibility.
- Experience leading organisations through growth, transformation, turnaround, or scaling environments.
- Degree qualified in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Business, or a related discipline. An MBA is advantageous but not essential.
- Fluent English required; additional European languages are beneficial.
FAQs
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