Global Business Services Director

Azelis Group NV; Antwerpen; Remoto; EUR 150.000 - 210.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

Azelis Holding S.A. seeks a senior leader to transform its Shared Services Centre into a Global Business Services organisation.

You will design the future operating model, lead a multi-country team, and partner with the CFO and Executive Committee to deliver measurable value through standardisation, automation, and data-driven decisions. The role requires extensive international leadership experience, strength in stakeholder management, and fluency in business English.

Competenze

• 15+ years of leadership experience across multi-country organisations.
• Experience in building and scaling a GBS or shared services.
• International experience across diverse countries.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Business English proficiency.

Mansioni

• Lead a global GBS leadership team and organisation.
• Partner with CFO and Executive Committee on GBS strategy.
• Drive standardisation, automation, and data-driven decision making.
• Manage talent development and succession planning.
• Collaborate with regional leadership and external partners.

Conoscenze

Strategic leadership

Change management

Stakeholder management

Global/Regional leadership

Financial acumen

Formazione

Bachelor's degree in business/finance/related field

Master's degree (MBA/Finance) preferred

Strumenti

ERP platforms

Lean Six Sigma

Data analytics tools

Descrizione del lavoro

Mission

To build on the existing Shared Services Centre (SSC) organisation, transforming it into a Global Business Services (GBS) organisation, and to ensure Azelis is ready for it - evolving the organisation, operating model and capabilities, and preparing the business for the change. Once this foundation is in place, to drive standardisation, automation and data-driven decision making that create measurable business value, positioning GBS as a strategic partner to the Executive Committee rather than only a back-office service function.

Main accountabilities Strategy & transformation

• Phased roadmap - Build and execute a multi-year, phased GBS roadmap, translated into clear near-term priorities and milestones.
• Design phase - Prepare and onboard the project team; design the future state and organisational structure; drive stakeholder alignment; develop the transition roadmap and talent strategy; and design site enablement.
• Prepare phase - Establish the governance and leadership structure; prepare the operational infrastructure and site launch; develop change management strategies; and finalise the talent strategy and training plan.
• Deliver phase - Implement GBS governance and KPI tracking; track and realise value; onboard and train associates; stand up the site; and execute the transformation and go-live.
• Beyond - Expand - Extend GBS to other functions and processes, based on clear business cases and organisational readiness.
• Transformation mindset - Champion continuous improvement, simplification and innovation across GBS, rather than steady‑state operations.

Operating model & governance

Design the future‑state GBS operating model, including end‑to‑end process maps and the location strategy. Establish the Global Process Owner roles and the GBS governance structure, with clear ownership, decision rights and accountability for each end‑to‑end process. Drive end‑to‑end process standardisation, balancing global consistency with local and business‑specific needs. Own GBS business planning, budget and resources. Monitor benefits, risks and mitigating actions; resolve issues escalated from GBS or regional level.

Service excellence & customer experience

Ensure consistent, reliable service delivery to local and regional teams across more than 60 countries, managing the complexity of standardising processes across different regulatory, fiscal and cultural contexts. Own service quality as a key requirement - setting clear standards, monitoring user satisfaction and performance, and acting promptly where delivery falls short. Define and evolve the service catalogue, SLAs and performance framework. Govern service change requests so changes are assessed, approved and implemented without affecting delivery quality. Build a customer‑centric, continuous improvement culture where service excellence is the standard.

Digitalisation & automation

Define and deliver the GBS digital and automation roadmap with the Group Information Services Director, making automation and simplification a core lever of the transformation. Simplify and standardise processes before automating, then scale intelligent automation and AI‑enabled service delivery across countries. Build reliable data and reporting that enable data‑driven decision making for the Executive Committee and the business. Drive the adoption of new digital tools and ways of working across local, regional and Group teams.

Enterprise value creation

Own the GBS value case, delivering measurable cost, productivity and quality improvements through standardisation, automation and process redesign. Track value realised against the business case through clear KPIs, and report progress transparently to the CFO and Executive Committee. Build a scalable GBS platform that supports Azelis’ growth, including the fast integration of acquired companies. Free up capacity in local and regional teams so they can focus on customers, principals and growth.

Stakeholder leadership

Act as a strategic partner to the CFO and Executive Committee, aligning GBS priorities with Group objectives and growth ambitions. Build strong partnerships with regional leadership teams and function heads (Finance, HR, SHEQ, IT, Supply Chain etc.), securing their sponsorship and commitment at each phase of the transition. Balance global standardisation with local needs, building consensus and taking clear decisions when trade‑offs are required. Manage key external partners, including technology and service providers, in support of GBS priorities.

Organisation & talent

Lead the reshaping and strengthening of the GBS organisation with the Regional CFO, regional HR Directors and Group Information Services Director, including recruiting key leadership and staff positions. Guide them through workload rebalancing during the transition and stabilisation phases. Partner with HR on the GBS talent strategy, developing and deploying talent where it is needed most. Build a diverse, collaborative organisation, with associate engagement as a leadership priority.

Living our values

Leads by example in embedding Azelis’ values, fostering a culture that is innovative and resourceful, agile and empowered, collaborative and respectful, and transparent and results oriented.

People management responsibilities

• Team leadership - Leads a geographically dispersed GBS leadership team and organisation, largely remotely and across time zones. Sets a clear direction and shared purpose, builds a sense of belonging and keeps teams connected, engaged and accountable wherever they are based.
• Inspiring & engaging - Inspires and mobilises people around the GBS vision and the transformation journey; acts as a visible role model; communicates openly and regularly, recognises contributions and sustains energy and engagement through periods of change.
• Coaching - Acts as a coach to direct reports and the wider GBS leadership team; holds regular, meaningful conversations, gives honest and constructive feedback, and empowers leaders to take ownership and make decisions.
• Facilitation & collaboration - Brings people together, virtually and in person, to solve problems, share best practice and align on priorities across teams, regions and cultures; creates an inclusive environment built on trust, where different views are heard.
• Talent development - Identifies, grows and retains talent; builds succession for key GBS roles; creates development opportunities, including mobility across regions and functions, to build the capabilities the organisation will need.
• Performance management - Sets clear objectives and expectations aligned with GBS priorities; reviews performance regularly, recognises achievements and addresses underperformance promptly and fairly.

Skills Leadership & core skills

• Strategic Enterprise Leadership (Advanced) - Strong enterprise mindset and strategic thinking; able to see the bigger picture, connect operational choices to long‑term value, and make sound decisions on complex and ambiguous issues.
• Executive Influence & Stakeholder Management (Advanced) - Credible and trusted presence at the most senior levels; strong influencing, negotiation and communication skills; able to build consensus across functions, regions and competing interests.
• Leading Global Teams & Talent (Advanced) - Inclusive leadership style, at ease leading diverse teams remotely and across cultures; a natural coach and facilitator, able to inspire people, build trust and bring out the best in others.
• Change, Innovation & Continuous Improvement (Advanced) - Strong change leadership capability; resilient and comfortable with ambiguity; curious and open to new ideas, with the courage to challenge the status quo and a continuous improvement mindset.

Technical skills

• GBS Strategy & Operating Model Design (Advanced) - Deep knowledge of GBS and shared services operating models, sourcing options (in‑house, hybrid, outsourced) and location strategy; expertise in service management, governance, internal controls and risk frameworks.
• Enterprise Process Transformation (Advanced) - Expert in end‑to‑end process design and standardisation; strong command of Lean Six Sigma and continuous improvement methods, Global Process Owner models and KPI‑based performance management.
• Digital, Automation & AI Leadership (Advanced - mandatory) - Strong understanding of ERP platforms, intelligent automation/RPA and AI applications in service delivery; data literate, able to judge where technology adds most value and to use analytics to guide decisions.
• Financial & Value Management (Advanced) - Strong financial acumen in business case modelling, budgeting, cost‑to‑serve and productivity analysis, ROI and value tracking, and chargeback and cost‑allocation models.

Education & Experience

Education

• bachelor's degree in finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Information Systems or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience); a master's degree (e.g. MBA, Finance) is preferred. Relevant professional certifications (e.g. Lean Six Sigma, process excellence, change management, ACCA/CPA) are a plus.

Experience

• Minimum 15 years of leadership experience in industry, within a complex, multi‑country with organisation.
• Experience in the chemical sector or an equivalent industry is a plus.
• International experience - Required. Has lived and worked in different countries, with a strong understanding of cultural differences and local specificities, and the ability to lead effectively across them.
• Transformation leadership - Proven transformation leader with a track record of leading large‑scale change across functions and countries. Must have experience in building and scaling a GBS or shared services organisation, from set‑up through to a mature operating model.
• Strategic & financial acumen (preferred) - Ability to develop and execute short- and long‑term strategy; comfortable with financial analysis, including reviewing cost data and building business cases; sound understanding of the risks affecting global service delivery.
• Leadership & influence - Demonstrated decision‑making authority; strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate others and build consensus across competing points of view.
• Stakeholder & communication skills - Strong stakeholder management and communication skills; builds trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, including the CFO, Executive Committee and regional leadership teams; strong negotiation and conflict management skills; communicates clearly, orally and in writing, and influences through one‑to‑one conversations, formal presentations and group discussions, backed by relevant metrics.
• Organisational discipline - Strong planning, focus, and organisational skills, with a customer‑oriented mindset in identifying and prioritising improvement opportunities.
• Language Skills - Excellent command of Business English, with the ability to communicate clearly, professionally, and effectively, both verbally and in writing, across diverse audiences and stakeholder groups in a global business environment.

Azelis is a leading global innovation service provider in the specialty chemical and food ingredients industry, present in 63 countries across the globe with over 3,800 employees. Our knowledgeable teams of industry, market and technical experts are each dedicated to a specific market within Life Sciences and Industrial Chemicals. We offer a lateral value chain of complementary products to more than 59,000 customers, supported by +2,700 principal relationships, creating a turnover of €4.1 billion (2022). Azelis Group NV is listed on Euronext Brussels under ticker AZE. Across our extensive network of more than 60 application laboratories, our award‑winning staff help develop formulations and provide technical guidance throughout the customers’ product development process. We combine a global market reach with a local footprint to offer a reliable, integrated, and unique digital service to local customers and attractive -business opportunities to principals. Top industry‑rated by Sustainalytics, Azelis is a leader in sustainability. We believe in building and nurturing solid, honest and transparent relationships with our people and partners. Impact through ideas. Innovation through formulation.

Azelis Americas is an equal opportunity workplace. Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to age, ancestry, color, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, protected family care or medical leave status, race, religion (including beliefs and practices or the absence thereof), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. You can view the EEOC Know Your Rights poster here. Azelis Americas’ U.S. entities participate in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Azelis is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. Azelis Americas is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans during our application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at [e-mail].