Manufacturing Excellence Manager

The organisation

Mutares is a listed European-based private equity holding company specialized in restructuring of medium-sized companies and spin-offs. They focus on the acquisition of parts of large corporations (carve-outs) and medium-sized companies with revenues of EUR 100 million to EUR 750 million in transitional situations. By leveraging the development potential of the usually distressed target companies within the framework of an active turnaround process, their teams of operational specialists restructure the businesses, leading them to stable and profitable growth paths.

Known as ‘the equity entrepreneurs,’ Mutares actively supports its portfolio companies with its own consulting teams and through strategic add-on acquisitions. The international holding company is owner-managed, with ca. 37% of the shares held by the management and supervisory board that are therefore significantly involved in the value creation process. The companies in the Mutares portfolio operate in a wide range of industries all over the world, especially Automotive & Mobility, Engineering & Technology, Goods & Services and Retail & Food.

Since opening their first office in Munich in 2008, Mutares has become a global player in the carve-outs and restructurings market. The company now has 27,000 employees across their portfolio companies. Their team of 140 internal operational specialists who handle the entire value creation process are based across 13 European offices, including in the center of Amsterdam. Mutares is focused on expanding their business even further within Europe and globally with plans to also add new locations in China and the US.

The position

Mutares is an international private equity investor focused on medium-sized companies in transitional situations. The Manufacturing Excellence Manager will lead operational transformations on-site at the factories of portfolio companies across The Netherlands and Europe, implementing change to streamline processes and drive profitable growth.

Tasks & responsibilities

The Manufacturing Excellence Manager will lead the restructuring of operational efficiency and drive the overall performance within the manufacturing facilities of Mutares’ portfolio companies. Taking a hands-on role on-site at factories across The Netherlands and Europe, they will analyze existing workflows, identify areas for improvement, and implement strategies to streamline operations and drive profitability.

The role includes working on a wide-variety of organization-wide operating model redesign projects, including plant, department, and process improvements, as well as implementing digital transformation journeys for (shop floor) operations. The Manufacturing Excellence Manager will critically assess each element of the portfolio companies’ manufacturing and warehousing processes, identifying opportunities to enhance production capabilities and reduce costs. They implement change quickly and effectively, introducing best practices, streamlining operations, and improving EBITDA.

The Manufacturing Excellence Manager will implement quality control measures and ensure that the facilities adhere to industry standards and regulatory requirements. They will report to Tobias Horst, Practice Head of Manufacturing and collaborate with cross-functional teams to establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and track the effectiveness of manufacturing processes. Familiar with cutting-edge technologies and innovative methodologies like Lean Management, Toyota Production System, Six Sigma, WCM. They will identify and utilize tools which increase efficiency at the specific manufacturing facilities and use strategic data and insights to identify and prioritize necessary measures for improvement. They will also be responsible for financial analysis and management accounting processes, including P&L analysis.

Understanding that operational excellence is only possible with the right people in place, the Manufacturing Excellence Manager also invests in building relationships with the on-site employees, offering training and guidance, assessing performance, and making strategic hiring decisions. They will play a critical role in motivating the local teams to adapt to change. Creating a culture of continuous improvement, the Manufacturing Excellence Manager fosters innovation, and drives initiatives that lead to increased employee engagement and higher product quality and consistency.

“The Manufacturing Excellence Manager will bring missing expertise to our portfolio companies’ factories. It’s an opportunity to use to improve processes, maximize efficiencies and train people on new skills, making a significant impact on their daily operations and the company’s success” – Tobias Horst, Practice Head of Manufacturing

Mutares offers a dynamic international working environment and prides themselves on fostering exceptional cooperation and teamwork. The Manufacturing Excellence Manager will join their ambitious and diverse team of skilled operational professionals and work up to four days a week on-site at portfolio companies (generally Monday through Thursday) and one day (typically Friday) working from their office in the center of Amsterdam or at home. This role is an ideal fit for an entrepreneurial leader with a background in consulting and experience working in a manufacturing environment.

Candidate profile*

• 5+ years of experience
• In a manufacturing environment
• With a background in consulting
• And experience with Lean Principles
• Pragmatic and analytic
• Entrepreneurial change manager

* Research shows that while male candidates feel confident enough to apply when they meet about 60% of the requirements, female candidates only apply when they tick every box. So if this role has your name on it, but you’re not sure about the criteria, we still want to hear from you.

Interested?

You can apply for this position by using the link below. Mutares is working with Top of Minds to fill this vacancy.