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**Job Function: **
Supply Chain Manufacturing
**Job Sub Function: **
Plant Management
Job Category:
People Leader
All Job Posting Locations:
Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Job Description:
JOB SUMMARY
The Director of Europe Production is a key leadership role responsible for driving operational excellence across all Europe-based manufacturing facilities. This position advises on organizational standards within a matrix environment, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The Director will manage plant business plans, develop processes that support business goals, and oversee production output, quality, and on-time delivery. Additionally, this role plays a critical part in scaling production capabilities to meet future growth demands while supporting new product introductions and maintaining strong partnerships with engineering and product development teams.
Reporting directly to the Global Manufacturing and Planning Leader, the Director will lead strategic initiatives, facilitate supply chain roadmaps, and serve as the primary point of contact for internal stakeholders. Success in this role requires exceptional communication skills, operational expertise, and the ability to influence and develop high-performing teams.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Act as the primary point of contact for all Europe production needs, leading and overseeing operations to ensure efficiency, quality, and on-time delivery.
- Drive production objectives related to cost, quality, and delivery while meeting planned budgets and maintaining employee engagement.
- Lead significant product line, lean and scale-up initiatives, to support long-term growth and capacity planning.
- Partner with cross-functional teams on major scale-up projects, aligning capacity, new product development, and organizational needs with a 5+ year outlook.
- Optimize factory capacity, efficiency gains, and space requirements in collaboration with Operational Excellence, Production Engineering, Engineering Programs team, and Value Stream Leaders.
- Establish and maintain quality performance metrics in compliance with company standards.
- Recruit, manage, and develop staff while fostering a trusting and collaborative work environment.
- Drive continuous improvement across all departments, monitor progress through consistent metrics, and recognize significant accomplishments.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Ensure compliance with all health, safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements at federal, state, and local levels.
Escalate business-related issues and opportunities to senior management as appropriate.
Maintain strategic communication to provide visibility into initiatives, activities, and achievements that deliver positive outcomes.
Provide hands-on leadership, working directly with operators to guide, influence, and learn from the team.
Being active part of European leadership team to drive and ensure the European business strategy
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field required
- 10+ years’ experience in a technical manufacturing operations position, with 5+ years’ experience in a leadership position.
- Experience in Continuous Improvement/ Lean Manufacturing methodologies
- Demonstrated track record of delivering results in a complex environment
- Demonstrated ability to lead cultural excellence within a multi-level team
- Experienced in Cleanroom production environments desired
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- Fluent in both English and German language
- Strong knowledge of lean manufacturing principles, operational excellence, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Familiarity with supply chain planning, capacity modeling, and production engineering.
- Demonstrated track record of delivering results in a complex, multi-site environment
- Exceptional ability to lead and develop high-performing teams in a fast-paced, matrix environment.
- Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Experienced in Cleanroom production environments
- Extremely proficient in MS Word, MS Excel, MS Project, and PowerPoint with strong presentation skills.
- Knowledge of Statistical Process Control Tools (Statistics) and ability to evaluate process limits (Accuracy / Repeatability) a plus
The anticipated base pay range for this position is 106.100 EUR to 182.390 EUR.
In addition to base pay, we offer the following benefits*: an annual bonus with set target (% of pay) depending on pay grade / location, where the actual amount is based on the employees’ and companies’ performance of the previous calendar year, or sales commissions. Moreover, we offer vacation days, parental leave for a minimum of 12 weeks, bereavement leave, caregiver leave, volunteer leave, well-being reimbursement, and programs for financial, physical and mental health. We also offer service anniversary and recognition awards, and subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees - and in some location’s eligible dependents - can participate in several insurance plans. For more information, visit Employee benefits | Supporting well-being & career growth | Johnson & Johnson Careers. *This is for informative purposes only. Amounts and actual benefits may vary by location and are subject to change.
**Required Skills: **
Preferred Skills:
Agile Manufacturing, Business Planning, Developing Others, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Inclusive Leadership, Leadership, Manufacturing Compliance, Manufacturing Safety, Organizational Project Management, Organizing, Plant Operations, Process Improvements, Strategic Supply Chain Management, Tactical Planning