Director of Engineering & Project Management

GEA Group; Beinette; In loco; EUR 120.000 - 160.000; Tempo pieno

Vantaggi offerti da questo lavoro

Company car

Annual bonus

Health and wellbeing programmes

International environment

Descrizione del lavoro

GEA Group in Italy seeks a Director of Engineering & Project Management to lead the Cheese Processing engineering and project execution across global orders. You will oversee R&D, Engineering-to-Order, and five teams, driving design-to-cost and process technology validation.

The role requires 15+ years in dairy processing, strong leadership, and fluency in Italian and English. You will collaborate with sales, supply chain, and regional units in a multinational environment.

Competenze

• Master's degree in Engineering or equivalent.
• 15+ years of experience in food processing machinery.
• Experience in international matrix organisations.
• Fluent in Italian and English.

Mansioni

• Lead the global Engineering and R&D activities for Cheese Processing equipment and lines, covering mechanical, electrical, automation/software engineering and process technology validation.
• Ensure the successful engineering execution of customer orders, delivering proven and effective technical solutions while managing a high level of product customization.
• Drive Design-to-Cost initiatives to improve product cost competitiveness with Production and Supply Chain.
• Lead product improvement and new product development activities.
• Monitor and drive KPIs such as engineering hours, project costs, lead times and warranty costs.
• Oversee global project execution, including installation and commissioning at customer sites.

Conoscenze

Leadership

Strategic planning

Project management

Cross-functional coordination

Formazione

Master's degree in Engineering

Descrizione del lavoro

Responsibilities / Tasks

Join GEA and lead the global growth of our Cheese Processing business

GEA is looking for a Directorof Engineering & Project Management to lead the Engineering (R&D and Engineering-to-Order) and Project Management functions for the Cheese Processing equipment portfolio.

This role is responsible for the development of technical solutions for new products as well all design functions to fullfill customer orders and after-sales upgrades, while ensuring the successful execution of projects from order intake through installation and commissioning. The position supports orders and installations associated with an annual sales volume of approximately €15-20 million and leads five specialized teams covering Automation, Mechanical Engineering, New Product Development, Project Execution Management and Process Technology.

Your Responsibilities

• Lead the global Engineering and R&D activities for Cheese Processing equipment and lines, covering mechanical, electrical, automation/software engineering and process technology validation.


• Ensure the successful engineering execution of customer orders, delivering proven and effective technical solutions while managing a high level of product customization.


• Drive Design-to-Cost initiatives to continuously improve product cost competitiveness in collaboration with Production and Supply Chain.


• Lead product improvement and new product development activities.


• Monitor and drive key performance indicators, including engineering hours, project costs, lead times, warranty costs and equipment performance.


• Ensure machine safety compliance across the portfolio.


• Lead critical troubleshooting activities and provide technical support to internal and external stakeholders.


• Oversee global project execution, including installation and commissioning activities at customer sites.


• Collaborate with customers directly or through GEA's worldwide execution network, depending on the region.


• Contribute to the business development strategy of the Cheese Processing Cluster together with Sales, NPE Regional Business Units and GEA Business Line Dairy.


• Drive the product development pipeline and contribute to defining R&D investment priorities and business cases.


• Manage the department's cost center and personnel costs.

Your Profile / Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering or equivalent technical education.


• Additional knowledge in finance, project management and leadership.


• 15+ years of experience in food processing machinery and processing line design.


• Experience in dairy and cheese-making technologies is considered an advantage.


• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary teams of engineers and project managers.


• Experience working in international matrix organizations.


• Strong customer orientation and relationship-building skills with internal and external stakeholders.


• Open-minded, solution-oriented approach and strong problem-solving capabilities.


• Fluent Italian and English language skills.

As a key leader within the Cheese Processing business, you will connect multiple functions, translate strategic priorities into operational execution, drive product innovation and continuous improvement, and contribute directly to business growth, profitability and project excellence.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation package.


• Company car.


• Annual bonus linked to company performance.


• Health and wellbeing programmes.


• Opportunity to work in an international environment with global responsibility and exposure.

GEA is proudly certified as a Top Employer, reflecting our commitment to employee wellbeing, development and empowerment.