Head of projects high-tech systems

Demcon; Enschede; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

A competitive salary

Hybrid working arrangement

Pension scheme

Training and development via Demcon

Birthday/holiday allowances (8%) and 6

Bike scheme and vitality program

Job summary

Demcon in Enschede seeks a Head of Projects for its high-tech systems division. This lead role oversees the entire project portfolio and leads project managers, ensuring quality, schedule, budget, customer satisfaction, and profitability.

You will also personally drive strategic development projects, coach teams, optimize resource allocation, and advance project management governance. A MSc or equivalent and 10+ years in technical PM are required.

Qualifications

• Completed a technical university degree (MSc or equivalent).
• At least 10 years of project management experience in technical/high-tech.
• Proven experience managing complex, multidisciplinary development projects.
• Experience leading project managers or larger project organizations.
• Ability to switch between strategic portfolio management and operational execution.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and communication skills.
• Commercial awareness and experience in customer relationship management.
• Strong analytical skills and a results-driven mindset.
• Excellent command of Dutch and English.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of project managers and project leads.
• Ensure delivery of projects in terms of quality, planning, budget, and profitability.
• Coach and develop project managers.
• Oversee capacity planning and resource allocation.
• Maintain customer relationships and act as trusted adviser.
• Initiate improvements in project management methodologies, processes, and governance.
• Drive ongoing professionalization of project management within Demcon.

Skills

MSc degree

10+ years PM

Multidisciplinary projects

Leadership experience

Customer relationships

Analytical skills

Dutch & English

Education

MSc or equivalent

Job description

Head of projects high-tech systems is a lead / senior role in Enschede.

• Job function: Project management.
• Location: Enschede.
• Seniority: Lead / senior.

As head of projects, you are responsible for the entire project portfolio within the high-tech systems division. You ensure that projects are delivered successfully in terms of quality, planning, budget, customer satisfaction, and profitability. In this role, you lead project managers and project leads while supporting and stimulating their professional development.

You monitor project progress, anticipate risks, optimize resource allocation, and drive healthy financial performance. As a trusted partner to both customers and management, you translate strategic objectives into tangible results.

In addition to your overall responsibility for the project organization, you also take the lead on a number of strategic and complex development projects yourself. This enables you to stay closely involved in project execution while acting as a role model and coach for the project managers within the organization.

Furthermore, you play a key role in the continued professionalization of project management within Demcon. You initiate improvements in processes, methodologies, and governance, ensuring that project teams collaborate effectively in a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment.

About Demcon

Demcon develops and manufactures advanced technology and complex systems, from concept to series production. Driven by the ambition to solve societal and technological challenges, we combine in-depth engineering expertise with creativity to create solutions that make a real impact. We design prototypes, industrialize and manufacture innovative systems, with a strong focus on mechatronics. By bringing together mechanical, electrical and software engineering with disciplines such as robotics, optics and data science, we support our customers throughout the entire product lifecycle. The Demcon Group consists of more than 50 specialized companies, together forming a one-stop shop for high-tech innovation. With over 1,100 colleagues worldwide, we are shaping the technology of tomorrow.

Within Demcon high-tech systems, multidisciplinary teams work on challenging development projects, ranging from proof-of-concept studies to complete system solutions. Together with our customers, we turn high-tech innovations into reality, taking them from idea to realization.

What are you going to do?

As head of projects, you have overall responsibility for the entire project portfolio within the high-tech systems division and lead a team of project managers and project leaders. You ensure the successful delivery of projects in terms of quality, planning, budget, customer satisfaction, and profitability. In doing so, you coach and develop project managers in their professional growth while contributing to the further professionalization of project management within Demcon.

In addition to your overarching responsibility for the project organization, you personally lead a number of strategic and complex development projects. This allows you to remain closely involved in project execution, actively maintain customer relationships, and act as a trusted advisor to both project teams and management. You oversee capacity planning and resource allocation within the project organization, drive healthy financial performance, and ensure a balanced approach to customer interests, business objectives, and employee satisfaction. Furthermore, you initiate and implement improvements in project management methodologies, processes, and governance, while contributing to the strategic development and continued growth of the organization.

What do you bring to the table?

• Completed a technical university degree (MSc or equivalent);
• At least 10 years of experience in project management within a technical or high-tech environment;
• Proven experience managing complex, multidisciplinary development projects;
• Experience leading project managers or larger project organizations;
• Experience combining a leadership role with hands‑on management of complex projects;
• The ability to switch seamlessly between strategic portfolio management and operational project execution;
• Strong leadership, coaching, and communication skills;
• Commercial awareness and experience in customer relationship management;
• Strong analytical skills and a results-driven mindset;
• Excellent command of both Dutch and English.

What do we offer you?

At Demcon, you work on technology that truly matters. In an informal organization that encourages initiative and fosters close collaboration with driven colleagues, you will help develop solutions for today's and tomorrow's challenges. We genuinely care about you as a person and actively promote job satisfaction and a healthy work-life balance.

In addition, you can count on:

• A competitive salary, depending on your experience;
• 8% holiday allowance, with the option to receive it as a lump-sum payment in May or monthly with your salary;
• 25 vacation days and 6 ADV (reduction of working hours) days based on full-time employment, plus the option to purchase additional leave days;
• A hybrid working arrangement, allowing up to 2 days of remote work per week for full-time employees, always in consultation with your manager;
• Training courses and development programs through the Demcon Academy to support your personal and professional growth;
• An attractive pension scheme through Swiss Life (Zwitserleven);
• A bicycle purchase and lease bike scheme;
• A vitality program including sports clinics, fresh fruit, workshops, and workplace assessments;
• An active staff association offering monthly activities and an annual Demcon weekend event.