Project Manager - Strategic Facility & Technology Planning

Carl Zeiss Vision GmbH; Lisboa; On-site; EUR 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

International environment

Innovative ophthalmic projects

Professional development

Quality culture

Job summary

ZEISS in Lisbon/Setúbal, Portugal seeks a Project Manager to coordinate cross‑functional ophthalmics projects. This is a full‑time, 2‑year fixed‑term contract, overseeing planning through implementation to ensure on‑time delivery within scope and budget, while complying with quality and regulatory standards.

The role requires a university degree in Engineering, Natural Sciences or related field, plus 3–7 years of PM experience, strong budgeting, planning and stakeholder management, and excellent

Qualifications

• A university degree in Engineering, Natural Sciences, Business Administration or related field.
• 3–7 years of project management or coordination experience.
• Strong planning, tracking, risk/issue management, and budgeting basics.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities; capable of cross‑functional collaboration.
• Structured, reliable, ownership‑driven approach with ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Proficiency in English.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate cross‑functional projects in ophthalmics from planning to implementation.
• Define scope, milestones, schedules, critical paths and resources; maintain plans.
• Coordinate R&D, Engineering, Production, QA/RA, Supply Chain, IT, Marketing and external partners.
• Identify risks, issues and dependencies; implement countermeasures to meet targets.
• Manage change requests and assess impact on timelines, costs and quality.
• Lead meetings, document decisions, and craft management‑ready status reports.
• Ensure adherence to quality and regulatory requirements in collaboration with QA/RA.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

English

Communication

Budgeting

Risk management

Education

Engineering/Science/Business degree

Tools

MS Project

Excel

PowerPoint

Jira

Confluence

Job description

About ZEISS

ZEISS is technology and innovation. Founded in Germany in 1846, ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the optics and optoelectronics industries across 50 countries. As a company wholly owned by a foundation, ZEISS is committed to responsibility in all its activities. As a pioneer in scientific optics, its employees across the globe continue to push the boundaries of what is possible. With a strong focus on quality and innovation, ZEISS creates value for its customers and helps shape new ways of seeing the world.

Role Summary

We’re looking for a Project Manager to join us in Lisbon or Setúbal, within our Strategic Facility & Technology Planning department. This is a full‑time, 2‑year fixed‑term contract. As Project Manager you will plan and coordinate cross‑functional projects in the field of ophthalmics, from planning through to implementation. You will ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope and budget, and in compliance with applicable quality and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Planning and executing projects in the ophthalmic field, including new products, process improvements and facility or production layout projects.
• Defining project scope, milestones, schedules, critical paths and resource requirements, while maintaining and updating project plans.
• Coordinating interdisciplinary teams across R&D, Engineering, Production, QA/RA, Supply Chain, IT, Marketing and external partners within a matrix organisation.
• Identifying and tracking project risks, issues and dependencies, and defining and following up on countermeasures and corrective actions to achieve project targets.
• Managing change requests and assessing their potential impact on project timelines, costs and quality.
• Preparing and leading project meetings, documenting decisions, actions and progress, and creating and consolidating management‑ready presentations in alignment with project leadership.
• Maintaining high‑level project governance and providing clear, structured status reports and decision proposals to stakeholders and management.
• Ensuring compliance with applicable quality and regulatory requirements in collaboration with QA/RA.

Requirements

A university degree or university of applied sciences degree in Engineering, Natural Sciences, Business Administration or a related field. Approximately 3–7 years of experience in project management or project coordination, ideally within optics, ophthalmics, medical technology or a comparable industrial environment. Solid project management skills, including planning, tracking, risk and issue management, and basic budgeting. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with confidence working collaboratively with both technical and non‑technical partners. A structured, reliable and solution‑oriented approach, with a high level of ownership and the ability to manage multiple priorities. Good command of English.

It would be desirable if you had:

• A basic understanding of, or strong interest in, ophthalmic lenses, eyewear optics and related manufacturing processes.
• Awareness of quality and regulatory requirements for optical or medical products; experience with MDR and/or ISO standards would be an advantage.
• Proficiency with project and collaboration tools such as MS Project or equivalent, Excel, PowerPoint and Microsoft 365; experience with Jira and Confluence would be an advantage.
• Additional language skills.

Benefits

If you join ZEISS, you will have the opportunity to work in an internationally recognised technology company at the forefront of optics and optoelectronics. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and contribute to innovative projects that shape the future of ophthalmic technology. As part of ZEISS, you will benefit from:

• An international and collaborative working environment.
• The opportunity to work on innovative ophthalmic projects spanning technology, manufacturing and product development.
• A culture focused on quality, innovation, professional development and continuous improvement.

Location & Contract

Location: Lisbon or Setúbal, Portugal. Department: Strategic Facility & Technology Planning. Employment Type: Full‑time. Contract: 2‑year fixed‑term contract.

Culture & Diversity

Step out of your comfort zone, excel and redefine the limits of what is possible. That’s just what our employees are doing every single day – in order to set the pace through our innovations and enable outstanding achievements. After all, behind every successful company are many great fascinating people. In a spacious modern setting full of opportunities for further development, ZEISS employees work in a place where expert knowledge and team spirit reign supreme. All of this is supported by a special ownership structure and the long‑term goal of the Carl Zeiss Foundation: to bring science and society into the future together. Join us today. Inspire people tomorrow.

Diversity is a part of ZEISS. We look forward to receiving your application regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, philosophy of life, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity.