Senior Operations & Program Manager

We are a growing automotive manufacturing company developing and producing advanced material-based products for the global automotive market. The company works directly with leading OEMs, employs nearly 300 people, and operates three production sites worldwide, supporting customers from development through high-volume production.

We are seeking an Operations & Program Manager to lead automotive projects from development through SOP (Start of Production), combining operational excellence with strong project ownership, commercial awareness, and R&D integration.

This role bridges R&D, operations, and manufacturing, ensuring new technologies are successfully industrialized, automated, and aligned with business and cost objectives. The position includes travel to two global production sites to support project launches and operational alignment.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage automotive projects end-to-end, from R&D and development through SOP
• Translate R&D innovations into scalable, production-ready solutions
• Drive process optimization, automation, and operational efficiency
• Support production ramp-up, industrialization, and continuous improvement
• Coordinate cross-functional teams across R&D, engineering, production, supply chain, and commercial teams
• Track KPIs, timelines, and cost targets to ensure business-focused execution

Requirements

• Proven experience in automotive operations and project management, preferably in manufacturing or industrial environments
• Hands-on experience managing projects from development, industrialization, and pre-series to SOP
• Strong background in process improvement, production environments, and operational excellence
• Experience implementing technology and automation solutions in manufacturing or operations
• Ability to quickly learn new production processes, tools, and methodologies
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and planning skills
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing complex project timelines
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Comfortable working independently in a hybrid environment
• Willingness to travel internationally
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, industrial engineering, operations, or business management is preferred