Area Delivery Operations – Major Projects – (location flexible)

KONE; Espoo; Hybrid; EUR 180,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

KONE is seeking a senior leader to run Delivery Operations for Major Projects across Europe, based in Espoo, Finland or other European locations. You will lead an international team of four Major Projects professionals and drive portfolio performance, governance, and risk management.

The role requires a master's degree and 10+ years in delivery leadership, with English fluency and strong stakeholder management.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of leadership experience in Delivery Operations, Major Projects, construction, infrastructure, or other complex project-driven environments.
• Proven track record in driving performance, developing talent, fostering collaboration, and leading with integrity.
• Strong Project and Portfolio Management expertise, including governance, forecasting, risk management, and project execution.
• Fluency in English is required; additional European languages are an asset.

Responsibilities

• Lead and optimize the delivery performance of the Major Projects portfolio across Europe.
• Own project portfolio governance, planning, forecasting, risk management, and performance reporting across Europe.
• Drive continuous improvement and execution excellence through standardized ways of working and governance frameworks.
• Champion a culture of safety, quality, and customer excellence, ensuring compliance with policies and governance.
• Delivery Operations partners with Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, Engineering, and Legal teams for successful delivery across the full lifecycle.
• Provide leadership in critical project reviews, escalations, and recovery initiatives.
• Contribute to strategic planning and executive decision-making to support long-term development of Major Projects in Europe.
• Develop organizational capabilities, talent, and future leadership within Major Projects.

Skills

Leadership

Delivery Operations

Major Projects

Portfolio Governance

Risk Management

Strategic Thinking

Cross-functional Collaboration

Communication

English Fluency

Financial Acumen

Education

Master's degree in engineering, business, construction economics, or related field

Job description

KONE is a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry: our job is to make the world’s cities better places to live. At KONE, our mission is to improve the flow of urban life. KONE provides elevators and escalators for maintenance and modernization that add value throughout the lifecycle of buildings.

KONE is looking for a senior leader who combines deep expertise in Delivery Operations with a proven track record in managing Major Projects. You bring strong strategic thinking and the ability to translate business objectives into operational excellence, sustainable growth, and measurable results.

In this role, you will lead Delivery Operations for Major Projects across Europe, working in strong collaboration with Front Line Major Projects teams to drive portfolio performance, project governance, operational excellence, and risk management across a diverse portfolio of strategic and complex projects.

You will also lead an international team of four Major Projects professionals. By developing capabilities, fostering collaboration, and promoting consistent execution standards, you will strengthen delivery performance and drive successful project outcomes across the region.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and optimize the delivery performance of the Major Projects portfolio, ensuring excellence in safety, quality, customer satisfaction, profitability, cash flow, and schedule adherence.
• Own project portfolio governance, planning, forecasting, risk management, and performance reporting across Europe.
• Drive continuous improvement and execution excellence through standardized ways of working, KONE Project Framework, best-practice sharing, and capability development.
• Champion a culture of safety, quality, and customer excellence, ensuring compliance with relevant policies, standards, and governance requirements.
• Delivery Operations partners with Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, Engineering, and Legal teams to ensure successful project delivery throughout the full lifecycle.
• Provide leadership in critical project reviews, escalations, and recovery initiatives.
• Contribute to strategic planning and executive decision-making to support the long-term development and competitiveness of the Major Projects business across Europe.
• Develop organizational capabilities, talent, and future leadership within Major Projects

What We Are Looking For

• A master’s degree in engineering, business, construction economics, or a related field, with relevant professional experience.
• Minimum 10 years of leadership experience in Delivery Operations, Major Projects, construction, infrastructure, or other complex project-driven environments.
• Demonstrated leadership capability with a strong track record of driving performance, developing talent, fostering collaboration, and leading with integrity.
• Strong Project and Portfolio Management expertise, including governance, forecasting, risk management, and project execution.
• Strategic mindset combined with the ability to operate at high clock speed and drive execution in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong customer focus and the ability to build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience managing profitability, business performance, and operational improvement.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and influencing skills, with a track record of developing high-performing teams and driving change.
• Fluency in English is required. Additional European languages are considered an asset, but Finnish is not required.

Why Join KONE?

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of KONE’s Major Projects business and play a critical role in delivering some of Europe’s most complex and high-profile projects. You will work at the intersection of strategy and execution, driving business performance while developing the capabilities that will support our continued growth and success.

Location:

The position can be based in Espoo, Finland, or in one of KONE’s major European locations, subject to business needs.

Travel:

The role includes occasional travel across Europe, depending on business needs and project requirements.

For additional information about the role, please contact Samu Salmelin, Hiring Manager and Head of Major Projects, Europe, at [e-mail].

At KONE, we are focused on creating an innovative and collaborative working culture where we value the contribution of each individual. Employee engagement is a key focus area for us and we encourage participation and the sharing of information and ideas. Sustainability is an integral part of our culture and the daily practice. We follow ethical business practices and we seek to develop a culture of working together where co-workers trust and respect each other and good performance is recognized. In being a great place to work, we are proud to offer a range of experiences and opportunities that will help you to achieve your career and personal goals and enable you to live a healthy and balanced life.

Read more on https://kone.com/global/en/careers.html