Jobbeschreibung
Your mission We are looking for a Department Lead of Operations and Production to bring the senior level operational and leadership experience our startup needs to scale successfully. As we grow from first-of-a-kind systems to repeatable, high-throughput production, we need an experienced operator who has seen the common pitfalls, built scalable systems, and can drive operational excellence while ensuring daily execution.
This role will not only stabilize and optimize our current factory operations but also help chart the course toward our "plant of the future." You will bring the foresight, structure, and technical know-how to ensure we scale with confidence, efficiency, and professionalism. Reporting directly to the Cofounders, you will collaborate cross functionally with engineering, R&D, Sales, quality, and business functions to shape the trajectory of our production platform.
Your responsibilities
* Production delivery: Assure accountability for daily production operations and guarantee the reliable, consistent, and traceable delivery of high-quality products that meet quality and performance standards.
* Production Strategy: Build and implement production strategy that bridges long term optimization of volume and costs with technical realities and day-to-day execution.
* Team Development & Leadership: Mentor, develop, and lead the plant operational team; through structured training, knowledge-sharing, and hands-on guidance drawn from your experience.
* Systems Architect: Drive short-term plant optimizations and enhancements and develop the blueprint for the “plant of the future”.
* Bottleneck Identification & Foresight: Proactively anticipate operational bottlenecks and structural weaknesses. Guide the team in troubleshooting frameworks, risk management, and resolution strategies.
* Continuous Improvement: Establish the tools and systems (e.g. MES, ERP, MRP) and mindset for continuous improvement, including through real-time data capture, KPI tracking, workflow automation, plant process control, lean production principles, and systemic performance management.
* Financial Controlling: Own and manage the operational budget. Evaluate investment vs. return for resourcing, capital projects and CAPEX sourcing, and system upgrades. Provide financial discipline and cost awareness.
* Cross-Functional Integration: Align operational needs with those of engineering, R&D, product, business and finance. Translate technical, commercial, and innovation roadmaps into operational readiness including where plant upgrades and commissioning are required.
* Quality and HSE: Partner with Quality to ensure alignment with quality and HSE standards and requirements and to ensure continuous readiness for certification and plant audits. Contribute to the quality strategy and systems and provide input as required.
* External Representation: Act as the face of Production in strategic settings — from investor updates to customer tours. Ensure the operational story is clearly articulated, reliable, and inspiring.
Voraussetzungen
Your profile
* 7+ years in operations or manufacturing with at least 5+ years in leadership roles, ideally in early-stage or growth-phase environments
* Degree in mechanical/process engineering or related technical discipline
* Demonstrated success scaling industrial production from pilot to full commercial execution
* Strong grasp of systems thinking, lean operations, and process engineering
* Proven mentorship and leadership development capability within operational teams
* Track record of budget responsibility and cost optimization in production environments
* Highly proficient in KPI design, dashboarding, and operational analytics
* Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership skills
* Fluent in English; German a strong plus
* Passion for climate innovation and sustainable industry
Nice to haves
* Experience in bio-based materials, construction products, or the building materials industry
* Familiarity with commissioning and ramping industrial systems
* Knowledge of ERP/MES implementation and digital operations infrastructure
* Process control systems engineering and experience with integrating systems PLCs
* Certifications or experience in Lean, Six Sigma, or TPM frameworks
Wir bieten Ihnen
* Join an international team - work with passionate experts from 16+ countries and learn & grow every day.
* Flat hierarchies – your ideas matter here – make a real impact.
* Feedback & growth – regular constructive Feedback & individual development budget to sharpen your skills.
* Share options – benefit from our collective success with share options.
* Central office – enjoy a vibrant workspace with rooftop terrace and accessible with public transport.
* Choice of laptop – we have you covered with top gear.
* Unlimited transport – free pass for metro trains, trams, and busses within Germany (Deutschlandticket).
* Fun team events – from outings to celebrations, enjoy bonding with the team several times throughout the year.
* Flexible working hours – work according to your productivity cycles.