Manager Center of Excellence Molding

Why you should join

This role is accountable for positioning the AUT Molding Department as a technological and operational pillar of competitive advantage, ensuring it delivers long-term, sustainable performance aligned with strategic business objectives.

Your main tasks

•    Technical Leadership & Process Standardization : Drive the optimization and standardization of molding processes—including machines, equipment, tooling, and methods—across the department to establish a robust, scalable, and efficient production system.
•    Project Governance :Oversee project execution by ensuring alignment with plant priorities, right-sizing initiatives to business needs, and applying rigorous monitoring, control, and reporting mechanisms.
•    Innovation & Concept Development :Co-develop innovative molding and production concepts in partnership with Manufacturing Engineering, Tool & Die, and Process Engineering teams to future-proof operations and enable advanced capabilities.
•    Best Practice Deployment : Define, refine, and roll out best-in-class practices and ready-to-deploy initiatives across multiple sites to ensure consistency, excellence, and continuous improvement.
•    Capacity Planning & Operational Support : Contribute to daily operations through proactive capacity balancing while implementing technical solutions that enhance throughput, reliability, and responsiveness.
•    Productivity & Cost Optimization : Lead productivity initiatives that incorporate automation, material efficiency, and cost-reduction levers, reinforcing the plant’s competitive edge.
•    Strategic Alignment & Leadership Coaching : Provide strategic direction to department leaders and coach the operations team to align molding activities with corporate targets, KPIs, and transformation initiatives.
•    Cross-functional Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing : Actively engage in EMIA Center of Excellence meetings and workshops, ensuring consistent knowledge transfer, innovation scaling, and best practice exchange across departments and regions.
•    Operational Excellence & Investment Planning : Support manufacturing leadership in budgeting, capex planning, and equipment allocation strategy to ensure optimal resource deployment aligned with long-term vision.

Your ideal background

• Minimum 7 years of experience in engineering or process development, preferably within an industrial or manufacturing environment
• At least 5 years of hands-on expertise in injection molding, with a strong preference for experience in the automotive sector
• Minimum 3 years of people management experience in a production or industrial settingDeep technical knowledge of molding machines, tooling systems, and production technologies
• Solid understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, and process optimization methodologies
• Demonstrated success in leading projects, implementing process standardization, and driving automation initiativesStrong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders at multiple levels
• Committed to integrity, accountability, inclusion, and a strong team-oriented mindsetWillingness to travel up to 50%, including regional and international locations as neededManaging & Measuring Work
• Building High-Performance Teams
• Driving Engagement & Motivation
• Championing Innovation & Continuous Improvement
• Aligning Operations with Strategic Visio
  
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Competencies