Interim Business Transition & Relocation Manager

Forum Energy Technologies, Inc.; Hamburg; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. is seeking an Interim Business Transition & Relocation Manager to lead the transformation of the German manufacturing footprint, including facility relocation, outsourcing assessment, operating model design, and measurable improvements in cost, efficiency, scalability, and resilience.

You will work with senior leadership to review current operations, processes, organisation, and cost drivers, then drive the future-state operating model while ensuring business

Qualifications

• Experience leading large-scale manufacturing transformations.
• Ability to design operating models and cost-out plans.
• Proven track record in relocation, outsourcing, and supplier transitions.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end facility relocation execution including equipment, inventory, people, and operations.
• Develop relocation plans with schedule, budget, resources, risks, and continuity.
• Coordinate contractors, facility providers, logistics partners and internal stakeholders.
• Maintain customer delivery and business continuity during transition.
• Execute outsourcing and supplier transition plans with onboarding and implementation.
• Monitor supplier performance against targets and escalate risks as needed.
• Lead supply chain and warehouse optimisation to reduce costs and improve service levels.
• Define roles, training needs, and monitor workforce productivity after implementation.
• Run programme reviews and report progress to executive leadership.

Skills

Program management

Change management

Operations leadership

Cost reduction

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Vendor & supplier management

Project execution

Process improvement

Education

Engineering degree

MBA or advanced business qualification

Project Management certification (PMP/PRINCE2)

Job description

Interim Business Transition & Relocation Manager

The role is responsible for leading the transformation of the Company’s German manufacturing footprint, including facility relocation, outsourcing assessment, operating model design, and delivery of measurable improvements in cost, efficiency, scalability, and operational resilience.

Working with senior leadership, the role holder will review current operations, processes, organisation, and cost drivers, then lead implementation of the future-state operating model while maintaining business continuity and delivering measurable operational and financial benefits.

Manufacturing Facility Relocation & Execution

• Lead end-to-end facility relocation execution, including equipment, inventory, people, and operational activities.
• Develop and manage relocation plans covering schedule, budget, resources, risks, and continuity requirements.
• Coordinate contractors, facility providers, logistics partners, and internal stakeholders.
• Maintain customer delivery, business continuity, and milestone delivery throughout transition.

Outsourcing & Supplier Transition Management

• Execute approved outsourcing and supplier transition plans, including supplier onboarding, qualification, and implementation.
• Coordinate transfer of products, processes, documentation, and operational requirements across functions.
• Monitor supplier performance against service, quality, cost, and delivery targets, escalating risks and supporting contract implementation where required.

Supply Chain & Warehouse Optimisation

• Lead supply chain and warehouse improvement initiatives covering inventory accuracy, logistics, material flow, warehouse controls, supplier performance, and procurement effectiveness.
• Deliver measurable reductions in working capital and operational cost while improving service levels and resilience.
• Lead workforce transition planning for relocation and outsourcing activities, working with HR and functional leaders to implement approved organisational changes.
• Define roles, accountability, capability gaps, and training needs, then monitor workforce productivity and operational effectiveness after implementation.
• Maintain the transformation plan, schedule, budget, risk register, action log, and benefits tracker.
• Run programme reviews, report progress to executive leadership, and escalation risks with recommended mitigations.
• Ensure delivery of agreed cost reduction, productivity, and operational efficiency targets.

Key Deliverables / Success Measures:

• Manufacturing transformation completed on time, within budget, and without customer disruption.
• Agreed cost reduction, productivity, working capital, and ROI targets delivered.
• Outsourcing, supply chain, warehouse, and organisational transitions completed with controlled risk.

Education/Qualifications:

• Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or related discipline.
• MBA or advanced business qualification preferred.
• Project Management certification (PMP, PRINCE2 or equivalent) advantageous.
• Operational execution and implementation.
• Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement.
• Change management and stakeholder engagement.
• Project and programme management.
• Supply chain and logistics optimisation.
• Cost reduction and productivity improvement.
• Commercial and supplier management.
• Data analysis and performance reporting.
• Strategic planning and business assessment.