Manager – Engineering & Operational Excellence EMEA (f/m/d)

Overview:

The Manager – Engineering & Operational Excellence will lead the Engineering department to deliver best-in-class operational efficiency across all EMEA sites. This role will focus on driving continuous improvement initiatives, overseeing time studies, and delivering measurable cost savings (hard and soft) through process optimization and engineering excellence. The successful candidate will partner closely with Operations, Finance, and Project teams to ensure process standards, innovation, and operational discipline align with company strategic goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop the Engineering & Operational Excellence team to deliver sustainable performance improvements across the EMEA network 
• Manage time study programs to establish labour standards, identify inefficiencies, and drive productivity improvements
• Design and implement continuous improvement roadmaps, ensuring alignment with strategic operational goals and customer expectations
• Monitor and report on cost-saving initiatives (hard and soft), ensuring validated results and financial tracking 
• Oversee process mapping and workflow analysis to identify optimization opportunities in warehouse and production operations 
• Drive Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to eliminate waste, standardize operations, and embed a culture of continuous improvement 
• Collaborate with operations management to deliver engineering support for new process rollouts and operational transitions 
• Provide coaching and training on operational excellence principles across the organization
• Support capital investment and layout design initiatives to improve efficiency, safety, and productivity 
• Partner with Finance to validate business cases and ensure ROI on improvement projects
• Champion innovation, automation, and digitalization opportunities across EMEA operations

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Logistics, or related field
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in engineering, process improvement, or operational excellence within a logistics or manufacturing environment
• Proven experience leading teams and managing improvement programs across multiple sites 
• Strong knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, and Continuous Improvement methodologies (Green Belt or higher preferred)
• Demonstrated experience in conducting time studies and labor standard development
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with ability to track and communicate cost savings
• Excellent communication, influencing, and presentation skills across all organizational levels 
• Proficient in process mapping tools, data analytics, and performance management systems
• Proactive, structured, and results-oriented with a focus on execution and accountability