Chief Operating Officer, Board Member

For our client, mid sized international manufacturing company with annual sales of 30 – 40 mln EUR we are looking for The Chief Operating Officer who will be responsible for leading and optimizing all operational, manufacturing as well as supporting commercial activities of the company to ensure sustainable growth, profitability, and operational excellence.

The role combines operational leadership with strong commercial and financial acumen, ensuring the company achieves its strategic objectives, productivity targets, and financial results.

Responsibilities:

• lead and optimize all manufacturing operations, production planning, supply chain, logistics, maintenance and quality functions,
• ensure operational efficiency, productivity, and cost control across all departments,
• implement lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and performance optimization initiatives,
• ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory standards,
• oversee capacity planning and capital investment projects,
• drive revenue growth, margin improvement, and overall profitability,
• partner with sales and commercial teams to align production capacity with market demand,
• analyze market trends, pricing strategies, and cost structures to enhance competitiveness,
• monitor and improve contribution margins and cost efficiency,
• lead budgeting, forecasting, and operational financial planning,
• identify new business opportunities and operational improvements that enhance EBITDA,
• own operational P&L performance,
• establish and monitor KPIs across production, quality, cost, delivery, and safety,
• ensure working capital optimization (inventory, receivables, payables),
• lead, mentor, and develop senior operational managers.
• foster a high-performance, results-driven culture,
• ensure effective workforce management across blue-collar and white-collar teams,
• promote accountability, transparency, and strong communication,
• translate corporate strategy into operational action plans.

Requirements:

• master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or related field (MBA preferred),
• minimum 10–15 years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing,
• experience managing operations in companies with 100+ employees,
• strong commercial and financial acumen with direct P&L responsibility,
• proven track record of improving profitability and operational performance,
• knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or equivalent methodologies,
• strong analytical, negotiation, and decision-making skills,
• leadership, team development and change management skills.

The offer:

• board-level strategic position with direct impact on company direction and growth,
• competitive compensation package,
• social benefits package,
• company car.