The Head of Corporate Industrial Design (CID) is responsible for the establishment, leadership, and continuous development of Corporate Industrial Design as a strategic core capability within the Liebherr Group.
The purpose of the role is to create and consistently apply a clear, distinctive, and future‑oriented design language across all relevant product segments. Corporate Industrial Design serves as the link between brand, engineering, and customer requirements, strengthening market differentiation, highlighting product quality and innovation, and enabling standardisation and efficiency gains across group‑wide product development.
In this function, the role acts as the central authority for Corporate Industrial Design within the defined governance framework, ensuring that design is systematically embedded in relevant processes, governance structures, and strategic decision‑making.
The role does not replace the product responsibility of the divisions but ensures their alignment with the corporate Industrial Design framework.
Creating passion: your responsibilities
1. Definition and continuous development of the Corporate Industrial Design vision and the Design Language System of the Liebherr Group
2. Strategic alignment of design direction with product strategies, brand positioning, and relevant technology trends
3. Translation of design ambitions into engineering-compatible principles
4. Establishment, leadership, and ongoing enhancement of the Corporate Industrial Design governance framework
5. Definition and enforcement of design rules, review processes, and decision rights in line with established guidelines, including final responsibility for CID compliance and the handling of deviations
6. Acting as chief design reviewer for major product developments and providing well‑founded design evaluations and recommendations
7. Ensuring consistent application of the design language across divisions while respecting product‑specific requirements and enabling cross-divisional alignment
8. Actively driving the introduction and adoption of Corporate Industrial Design while respecting divisional product responsibility
9. Acting as a strategic sparring partner to business unit management
10. Strategic management of external design agencies including leadership of the Lead Design Agency and ensuring alignment with CID
11. Developing and strengthening internal design capabilities while avoiding redundant structures or resource duplication within the Group
12. Building and developing the core of the Corporate Industrial Design organisation through a lean, demand‑oriented central design function
Contributing your strengths: your qualifications
13. Degree in Industrial Design, Engineering, Business Administration, or a comparable qualification
14. Extensive experience in industrial design, product development, or a design leadership role in an engineering-driven environment
15. Experience working in complex organisations with multiple business units and diverse stakeholder groups
16. Proven track record in leading cross‑functional initiatives and collaborating with experts and senior‑level stakeholders
17. Ability to position design as a business-relevant capabilityy
18. Strong understanding of product strategy, value creation, and cost implications
19. High level of confidence in assessing design quality, consistency, and strategic direction
20. In‑depth understanding of design principles, technical constraints, manufacturing processes, and product architecture
21. Ability to effectively bridge design intent and technical feasibility
22. High level of credibility at senior management level
23. Ability to lead without direct authority in a matrix organisation
24. Excellent communication, alignment, and stakeholder management skills
25. Pragmatic and solution‑oriented mindset
26. Ability to balance long‑term vision with operational and economic realities
27. Strong focus on efficiency, quality, and sustainable impact
28. Good command of German (written and spoken) is required for this role
Our commitment to you: your benefits
29. Flexibility in everyday work through hybrid working models, 30 days of annual leave, and flexible working hours
30. Support during key life events through financial benefits and additional special leave
31. Fair and performance‑based compensation
32. Financial support for commuting, e.g. through a regional job ticket or travel cost subsidy
33. Grow together with our wide‑ranging training and development programmes
34. Achieve great things together with colleagues around the world
35. Strong team spirit combined with room for creativity
36. Recharge with fresh, delicious meals made from regional ingredients in our company restaurant
37. Stay healthy on the move with our bike‑leasing programme
38. For your well‑being and future: occupational health services, discounts on sports and leisure activities, and a company pension scheme