Head of Group Manufacturing Quality (m/f/d)

BIRKENSTOCK; Köln; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

BIRKENSTOCK is seeking a senior Manufacturing Quality Manager to lead the central Quality team and standardize processes across production sites and suppliers.

You will define global quality standards, monitor KPIs, and drive improvement initiatives while traveling regularly to sites and suppliers to ensure consistent product quality across the global manufacturing network.

Qualifications

• University degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Manufacturing, Footwear Technology or a comparable technical field.
• Proven leadership and multi-site manufacturing experience in footwear or complex consumer goods.
• Extensive experience in Manufacturing Quality Management.
• Experience in defining product quality standards, defect classifications and deviation processes.
• Experience with supplier quality management and supplier performance evaluation.
• Fluent English; German and other languages are advantageous.
• Willingness to travel regularly to manufacturing sites and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the central Manufacturing Quality team and ensure effective support of production sites and supplier.
• Establish and govern global Quality standards and processes across the manufacturing network.
• Standardize and manage production change processes.
• Drive the continuous development of Quality Management Systems across all production sites.
• Define and govern Manufacturing Quality KPIs and ensure consistent performance monitoring and reporting.
• Define, establish and continuously improve product quality standards and acceptance criteria across manufacturing sites and ensure consistent decision-making.
• Standardize Quality-related collaboration between manufacturing sites and between sites and suppliers.
• Establish and continuously develop supplier Quality performance evaluation in collaboration with Procurement and Supplier Quality.
• Own and govern Quality requirements for the company's core manufacturing technologies and processes.
• Identify systemic Quality risks and performance gaps across the manufacturing network and drive appropriate improvement initiatives.
• Facilitate best-practice sharing and harmonization between manufacturing sites.
• Act as the central Quality interface for manufacturing-related topics and provide transparency on Quality performance, risks and improvement priorities to senior management

Skills

Leadership

Cross-site collaboration

Quality leadership

KPI management

Problem solving

Travel willingness

Fluent English

Education

University degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Manufacturing, or Footwear Technology

Job description

BIRKENSTOCK is a global brand which embraces all consumers regardless of geography, gender, age and income. The company is deeply footed on a family tradition of shoemaking that can be traced back to 1774. With around 7100 employees worldwide, BIRKENSTOCK is the largest employer in the German footwear industry. To ensure our quality standards, we produce over 95% of our products in Germany and source more than 90% of our materials and components from Europe. The BIRKENSTOCK Group is headquartered in Linz am Rhein and maintains several locations in Germany, as well as sales offices in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia.

YOUR NEW PAIR OF SHOES

• Lead and develop the central Manufacturing Quality team and ensure effective support of production sites and supplier
• Establish and govern global Quality standards and processes across the manufacturing network
• Standardize and manage production change processes
• Drive the continuous development of Quality Management Systems across all production sites
• Define and govern Manufacturing Quality KPIs and ensure consistent performance monitoring and reporting
• Define, establish and continuously improve product quality standards and acceptance criteria across manufacturing sites and ensure consistent decision-making
• Standardize Quality-related collaboration between manufacturing sites and between sites and suppliers
• Establish and continuously develop supplier Quality performance evaluation in collaboration with Procurement and Supplier Quality
• Own and govern Quality requirements for the company's core manufacturing technologies and processes
• Identify systemic Quality risks and performance gaps across the manufacturing network and drive appropriate improvement initiatives
• Facilitate best-practice sharing and harmonization between manufacturing sites
• Act as the central Quality interface for manufacturing-related topics and provide transparency on Quality performance, risks and improvement priorities to senior management

YOUR WALK OF LIFE

• University degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Manufacturing, Footwear Technology or a comparable technical field
• Proven professional experience and strong product expertise in the footwear industry or a comparable consumer goods industry with complex materials and manufacturing processes
• Several years of professional experience in Manufacturing Quality Management
• Proven leadership experience, including the development and management of professional teams
• Experience in working across multiple manufacturing sites and establishing common Quality standards and processes
• Experience in defining and implementing product quality standards, acceptance criteria, defect classifications and deviation processes
• Experience in Supplier Quality Management and supplier performance evaluation
• Experience with Quality KPIs and performance management
• Fluent English; German and additional languages are an advantage
• Willingness to travel regularly to manufacturing sites and suppliers

WE OFFER

BIRKENSTOCK offers you all the advantages of a successful, fast growing, global company: dynamic work environment, considerable design freedom, authentic and open corporate culture and excellent development opportunities. Sounds exciting? It is.

If you have any further questions, please contact our Talent Acquisition Manager Ada Bralewska.