Chief Operating Officer

For our client, an international automotive supplier and part of a German plastics technology group, we are looking for an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead and further develop production operations in Poland.

Lower Silesia, Poland

ASAP

unlimited

Responsibilities:

• Overall responsibility for managing and developing a network of production plants in Poland, including P&L, budget, resources, and performance across the full value chain.
• Implementation of the local site strategy and achievement of targets related to quality, cost, timing, delivery performance, and productivity.
• Development and execution of target visions for the Polish operations in close cooperation with group management and central functions.
• Leadership and further development of all subordinate functions across the value chain.
• Ensuring stable, efficient, and scalable series production in key technologies, including plastic injection moulding, painting, and assembly.
• Responsibility for successful industrialisation, new product launches, and ramp-up phases, while meeting quality, cost, and timing targets.
• Continuous improvement of production and business processes, technologies, and organisational structures to increase efficiency, reliability, and competitiveness.
• Active leadership of change and transformation initiatives to further improve technology, quality, and performance standards.
• Consistent implementation of a LEAN culture, with a strong focus on operational excellence, shop floor management, KPI-based leadership, and sustainable process improvement.
• Further development and implementation of the group production system.
• Ensuring high standards in quality, environment, occupational health and safety, and compliance, including further development of certified management systems according to IATF 16949 and ISO 14001.
• Leadership, coaching, and development of the local management team, creating a performance-oriented, trust-based, and attractive leadership culture.
• Close cooperation with customers, central group functions, and international locations to ensure effective cross-site and cross-functional collaboration.
• Contribution to corporate strategy by supporting the development of future-oriented business models and strategic business areas together with Sales and Business Development.

Requirements:

• University degree in production technology, plastics technology, industrial engineering, or a similar field.
• 8–10 years of management experience in the automotive supplier industry, including at least 5 years in a comparable senior leadership role with full operational and financial responsibility.
• Proven experience in managing a production plant or a network of sites in series production, including P&L responsibility.
• Strong technical background in plastic injection moulding, painting, and assembly, ideally related to advanced plastic components with high functional and surface-quality requirements.
• Several years of experience in new product launches, industrialisation projects, and ramp-ups in series production.
• Strong expertise in operational excellence, LEAN management, shop floor management, and KPI-based performance management.
• Experience in the sustainable development of production systems, organisational structures, and change management processes.
• Excellent knowledge of automotive quality and management systems, especially IATF 16949, ISO 14001, and relevant customer requirements.
• Confident, results-oriented leadership style with strong analytical skills, high implementation capability, and a hands-on mentality.
• Strategic and entrepreneurial mindset combined with pragmatic, solution-oriented action.Experience in international corporate structures and strong intercultural competence.
• Fluent Polish and English; German language is an advantage.

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