Senior Manager: Operations Excellence

About AEQUITA

AEQUITA is a privately held equity group based in Munich, recognized as one of Europe's fastest-growing investors. They oversee 12 portfolio companies generating over EUR 12 billion in total revenue. Their investments focus on carve-outs, transformation, and special situations mainly in the automotive, chemicals, machinery, and industrial B2B sectors. The company culture emphasizes high impact with humility.

Role Overview

As a key member of AEQUITA's Operations Team, the Senior Manager for Operational Excellence will foster transformation and enhance performance across portfolio companies. Collaborating closely with both AEQUITA personnel and local management, this position involves identifying operational enhancement opportunities and ensuring their effective execution.

Primary Responsibilities

• Driving initiatives related to transformation, restructuring, and performance enhancement
• Advancing operational excellence across manufacturing, supply chain, and support functions
• Boosting productivity, profitability, and overall operational efficiency
• Designing KPI frameworks, establishing governance structures, and managing performance systems
• Leading operational enhancements directly on the shopfloor
• Supporting Post-Merger Integration (PMI) and buy-and-build projects
• Collaborating with executive management and operational leadership within portfolio companies
• Managing operational workstreams and performance improvement projects on location

Additional Job Duties

• Implementing sustainable operational improvements through practical execution
• Comfortably engaging in both shopfloor environments and management-level discussions
• Applying proven expertise in operational excellence, restructuring, manufacturing improvement, or productivity initiatives
• Leveraging a strong grasp of manufacturing operations, shopfloor management, and drivers of operational performance
• Maintaining a results-driven mindset with focused execution
• Utilizing strong analytical skills combined with a pragmatic, hands-on approach
• Demonstrating self-initiative and being proactive
• Exercising excellent analytical problem-solving abilities
• Exhibiting interpersonal aptitude to interact effectively across all organizational levels and with external stakeholders
• Being a committed team player with accountability and follow-through capabilities
• Employing innovative problem-solving strategies
• Communicating clearly, both verbally and in writing

Qualifications and Experience

• 5 to 7 years of relevant experience in continuous improvement, operational excellence, manufacturing, transformation, or performance enhancement roles
• An entrepreneurial attitude with a practical, hands-on approach
• Excellent communication skills

Educational Requirements

• Mandatory: Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field
• Preferred: Master's degree in a related discipline

Travel Expectations

• Significant travel required initially to support start-up activities, decreasing as progress is made
• Anticipate up to 80% annual travel on average