Junior Manager - Operational Excellence Europe (d/f/m)

Henkel; Düsseldorf; Hybrid; EUR 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Global growth opportunities

Wellbeing programs

Parental leave

Employee Share Plan

Pension Plan 100% financed by Henkel

MEGA Preventive Health Insurance

CareFlex Supplementary Care Insurance

Mobility offer: My Henkel Bike and Job

Job summary

Henkel is seeking a junior Operational Excellence professional to support European-level OE capabilities and enable strong site-level execution through coaching and advisory activities. You will work on improving OEE, cost, quality, safety and reliability across sites in Europe.

With 1–3 years of experience and a solid Lean/CI background, you will contribute to capability standards, mentor teams, and exchange best practices across the network, traveling up to 50% as needed.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering or related field is required.
• 1–3 years of experience in Operational Excellence or related areas.
• Solid knowledge of Lean, TPM and CI tools; strong coaching ability.

Responsibilities

• Support ownership and development of HPS capabilities at European level.
• Enable site-level execution through coaching, training and advisory activities.
• Act as junior SME, supporting improvement projects and problem solving.
• Contribute to standards, methods and learning concepts with Global HPS and regional stakeholders.
• Promote exchange of best practices across the European network.
• Scout and analyze OE solutions to support performance improvements.
• Support cross-functional OE projects with teams across functions.

Skills

Lean

TPM

Continuous Improvement

Problem Solving

Communication

Coaching

Education

Master's degree in Engineering/SC/Operations/Industrial Management/Business Administration

Tools

Standardized Work

OEE

Autonomous Maintenance

5S

Value Stream Mapping

Problem Solving

Job description

About this Position

What you´ll do

• Support the ownership and further development of one or multiple Operational Excellence (HPS) capabilities (e.g. Continuous Improvement, Performance Management, Autonomous Maintenance) at European level
• Enable strong execution of Operational Excellence (HPS) capabilities at site level by supporting coaching, training, and advisory activities to drive measurable performance improvements (OEE, cost, quality, safety, reliability)
• Act as a junior subject matter expert, providing hands‑on support in capability‑specific improvement projects, structured problem solving, and capability maturity assessments
• Contribute to the definition, alignment, and continuous improvement of Operational Excellence (HPS) standards, methods, and learning concepts in close collaboration with Global HPS and regional stakeholders
• Support site‑to‑site exchange of best practices and lessons learned, ensuring structured documentation and re‑application across the European network
• Continuously scout and analyze internal and external Operational Excellence solutions, methods, and benchmarks to support sustainable performance improvements
• Support global and regional Operational Excellence (HPS) projects in collaboration with cross‑functional teams (e.g. Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, SHEQ)

What makes you a good fit

• Master’s degree, preferably in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, Industrial Management, or Business Administration
• 1–3 years first relevant professional experience in Operational Excellence, Continuous Improvement, Lean, TPM, or Manufacturing / Supply Chain environments
• Solid foundational knowledge of Lean, TPM and Continuous Improvement tools such as: Standardized Work, OEE, Autonomous Maintenance, 5S, Problem Solving, Value Stream Mapping
• Strong communication skills and motivation to coach, train, and influence teams on the shopfloor and at management level
• Fluent English & German skills; additional European language skills (e.g. French, Italian, Russian) are an advantage
• Willingness to travel across Europe (approx. 50%)

Some perks of joining Henkel

• Flexible work scheme with flexible hours, hybrid work model, and work from anywhere policy for up to 30 days per year
• Diverse national and international growth opportunities
• Global wellbeing standards with health and preventive care programs
• Gender-neutral parental leave for a minimum of 8 weeks
• Employee Share Plan with voluntary investment and Henkel matching shares
• Company Pension Plan 100% financed by Henkel
• MEGA Preventive Health Insurance
• CareFlex Supplementary Care Insurance
• Mobility offer: My Henkel Bike and Jobticket

At Henkel, we come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe the uniqueness of all our employees is the power in us. Become part of the team and bring your uniqueness to us! We welcome all applications across different genders, origins, cultures, religions, sexual orientations, generations and disabilities. If there are any specific accommodations or adjustments you require for the interview process or your on‑site appointment, please inform us, and we'll do our best to accommodate your requests.