Job Description

Our client is a global manufacturer of plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (PHAR) fittings and valves, with a manufacturing footprint across multiple European sites and a long-standing reputation for engineering excellence and reliability.

This role is accountable for the operational, financial, and strategic performance of all European manufacturing facilities, with additional responsibility for coordinating effectively with the group's Asian manufacturing partners. You will report directly to the Group CEO, and your primary objective will be to achieve or exceed budgeted performance across every facility while maintaining safe, efficient, cost-competitive, and customer-focused operations.

This is a senior operational leadership role suited to someone with a strong engineering and manufacturing background and proven multi-site leadership experience. The role demands the energy and organizational capability to lead a demanding international manufacturing operation, with frequent business reviews and regular international travel across Europe and Asia.

Responsibilities:

• Ensuring every manufacturing facility achieves its budgeted operational, quality, and safety targets
• Owning manufacturing costs across all sites and driving continuous improvement in cost competitiveness
• Ensuring products consistently meet customer and regulatory quality requirements
• Working closely with the Supply Chain Director to deliver customer service commitments and execute the approved production plan
• Preparing, justifying, executing, and monitoring capital investment projects across the manufacturing footprint
• Ensuring alignment, performance, and supply reliability from Asian manufacturing operations, including regular supplier performance reviews
• Maintaining a safe working environment and full regulatory and environmental compliance across all sites
• Leading and developing the manufacturing leadership team, including succession planning and employee engagement
• Collaborating closely with Commercial, Sales, Supply Chain, and the Executive Leadership team on cross-functional improvement projects
• Delivering monthly performance reporting to the CEO, escalating significant risks promptly, and maintaining a rolling 12-month manufacturing improvement plan
  

This role can be based in Wetzlar or Attendorn, Germany, Cordoba, Spain, or Poznan, Poland, and involves extensive international travel across Europe and Asia.

Requirements

• Proven international, multi-site manufacturing leadership across Europe, with responsibility for operational, financial, and strategic performance

• An engineering degree (Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or equivalent) is required; an MBA, postgraduate business qualification, or Lean Six Sigma Black Belt is a plus
• A demonstrable track record of improving productivity, cost, quality, safety, and profitability through Lean manufacturing, operational excellence, and continuous improvement
• Experience managing large operational budgets and manufacturing P&L
• Experience managing capital investment projects, including justification, execution, and post-investment review
• A commercially astute leader capable of influencing executive stakeholders and leading cross-functional collaboration across Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Sales, and Finance
• Experience coordinating with manufacturing partners or suppliers outside your home region, ideally including experience with Asian manufacturing operations
• Experience presenting operational and financial performance to CEO or Board-level stakeholders
• Excellent communication skills, with fluent spoken and written English
• Strong leadership and people development skills, including experience building succession plans for key roles
• Willingness and ability to undertake extensive international travel across Europe and Asia
• Experience within the plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (PHAR) sector, valves, fluid control, or related industrial or automotive Tier 1 manufacturing is helpful but not required

Benefits

• Base salary range €110,000 to €135,000.
• Annual bonus scheme, incremental up to a maximum of 40% of base salary, based on budget being reached and above
• Paid leave ranges from 21 to 30 days annually depending on location

Keller is a recruitment agency that provides services to clients ranging from startups and non profits to multinational corporations. Keller emphasizes ethical search processes, attentive candidate care, and leadership placements that support long-term client outcomes.

To learn more about the firm and about our candidate services - please visit
https://www.kellerexecutivesearch.com/executive-recruitment-headhunters-spain-madrid-and-barcelona/

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy (Spain)

Equal Opportunity Statement: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed Equal Opportunity Employers. For all positions, whether with Keller Executive Search or our clients, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected under Spanish law, including the Workers' Statute (Estatuto de los Trabajadores) and Law 15/2022 on equal treatment and non-discrimination.

Commitment to Diversity: Keller Executive Search and its clients are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where all individuals are valued and respected.

Reasonable Adjustments: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates and employees with disabilities, in accordance with Spain's General Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Real Decreto Legislativo 1/2013). We engage in an interactive process with candidates to identify effective, reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Compensation Information: For client positions, compensation information is available in the job post where possible. Where a salary range is not published, it will be discussed during the interview process. Actual salary will depend on skills, experience, and internal benchmarking for comparable roles at the client organisation, and may vary by role and location.

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Compliance with Spanish Employment Law: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients comply with applicable Spanish employment legislation, including the Workers' Statute (Estatuto de los Trabajadores), Law 15/2022 on equal treatment and non-discrimination, and other relevant statutory requirements. This applies to all stages of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, and termination.

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Pay Equity: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to pay equity and comply with Spain's pay transparency and equal pay obligations, including the pay register (registro retributivo) requirements under Royal Decree 902/2020.

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Use of AI in Recruitment: Keller Executive Search and our clients may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the recruitment and candidate evaluation process. These tools are used exclusively to support human decision-making by helping to review and assess candidate qualifications and materials. AI is never used to automatically reject, disqualify, or make final hiring decisions about candidates. All AI-assisted evaluations are reviewed by experienced recruitment professionals, and all hiring decisions are made by qualified human recruiters, in line with our obligations under Spanish and EU data protection law regarding automated decision-making.

Note: This job posting may be for a position with Keller Executive Search or one of our clients. The specific employer will be identified during the application and interview process. Employment laws and requirements may vary depending on the employer and location.