DE / SK

Chief Operating Officer

For our client, an international automotive supplier and part of a German plastics technology group, we are looking for an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead and further develop production operations in Poland.
Permanent employment
Lower Silesia, Poland
ASAP
unlimited

Responsibilities:

  • Overall responsibility for managing and developing a network of production plants in Poland, including P&L, budget, resources, and performance across the full value chain.
  • Implementation of the local site strategy and achievement of targets related to quality, cost, timing, delivery performance, and productivity.
  • Development and execution of target visions for the Polish operations in close cooperation with group management and central functions.
  • Leadership and further development of all subordinate functions across the value chain.
  • Ensuring stable, efficient, and scalable series production in key technologies, including plastic injection moulding, painting, and assembly.
  • Responsibility for successful industrialisation, new product launches, and ramp-up phases, while meeting quality, cost, and timing targets.
  • Continuous improvement of production and business processes, technologies, and organisational structures to increase efficiency, reliability, and competitiveness.
  • Active leadership of change and transformation initiatives to further improve technology, quality, and performance standards.
  • Consistent implementation of a LEAN culture, with a strong focus on operational excellence, shop floor management, KPI-based leadership, and sustainable process improvement.
  • Further development and implementation of the group production system.
  • Ensuring high standards in quality, environment, occupational health and safety, and compliance, including further development of certified management systems according to IATF 16949 and ISO 14001.
  • Leadership, coaching, and development of the local management team, creating a performance-oriented, trust-based, and attractive leadership culture.
  • Close cooperation with customers, central group functions, and international locations to ensure effective cross-site and cross-functional collaboration.
  • Contribution to corporate strategy by supporting the development of future-oriented business models and strategic business areas together with Sales and Business Development.

Requirements:

  • University degree in production technology, plastics technology, industrial engineering, or a similar field.
  • 8–10 years of management experience in the automotive supplier industry, including at least 5 years in a comparable senior leadership role with full operational and financial responsibility.
  • Proven experience in managing a production plant or a network of sites in series production, including P&L responsibility.
  • Strong technical background in plastic injection moulding, painting, and assembly, ideally related to advanced plastic components with high functional and surface-quality requirements.
  • Several years of experience in new product launches, industrialisation projects, and ramp-ups in series production.
  • Strong expertise in operational excellence, LEAN management, shop floor management, and KPI-based performance management.
  • Experience in the sustainable development of production systems, organisational structures, and change management processes.
  • Excellent knowledge of automotive quality and management systems, especially IATF 16949, ISO 14001, and relevant customer requirements.
  • Confident, results-oriented leadership style with strong analytical skills, high implementation capability, and a hands-on mentality.
  • Strategic and entrepreneurial mindset combined with pragmatic, solution-oriented action.
  • Experience in international corporate structures and strong intercultural competence.
  • Fluent Polish and English; German language is an advantage.

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