Area Manager

Kongsberg Automotive AS; Mullsjö kommun; On-site; SEK 900,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Kongsberg Automotive in Mullsjö seeks an Area Manager to lead a 50‑person production area, balancing hands‑on leadership with strategic development. You will drive safety, quality, delivery, and productivity while building a high‑performing team and pushing continuous improvement across the plant.

You report to the Production Manager and will collaborate with the Value Stream Team to achieve short‑ and long‑term targets, ensuring alignment with customer requirements and ISO/IATF standards.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in manufacturing, preferably automotive.
• Structured, systematic, and results‑oriented.
• Fluency in Swedish and English, written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop employees and Team Leaders.
• Ensure safety, quality, delivery, and productivity targets.
• Drive continuous improvement and Lean initiatives.
• Develop production processes and ensure staff competence.
• Collaborate with Value Stream Team and plant development.
• Manage recruitment, onboarding, and performance management.
• Coordinate with labor unions when required.

Skills

Leadership

People development

Lean Manufacturing

Continuous improvement

Communication skills

Change management

Microsoft Office

Safety awareness

Team engagement

Education

Industrial Engineering & Management

Business Administration

Equivalent education + experience

Tools

MS Office/Excel

ERP systems

Production planning software

Job description

About The Position

Are you a strong and engaging leader with a passion for people, production excellence, and continuous improvement? Do you thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and people development are key success factors?

Are you a strong and engaging leader with a passion for people, production excellence, and continuous improvement? Do you thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and people development are key success factors?

Kongsberg Automotive in Mullsjö is looking for an Area Manager to lead and develop a production area with approximately 50 employees. This is an opportunity for a hands‑on leader who combines operational responsibility with a strategic perspective and wants to make a real impact on business performance, employee engagement, and the long‑term competitiveness of the plant.

As Area Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the performance and results of your production area. You will ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality operations while developing a high-performing team and driving continuous improvement. Together with the Value Stream Team, you will work towards both short‑term operational targets and long‑term development, supported by the resources of the entire plant.

You will report to the Production Manager.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, motivate, and develop employees and Team Leaders.
• Ensure performance and achievement of objectives within safety, quality, delivery, and productivity.
• Ensure a safe, inclusive, and motivating work environment.
• Drive continuous improvement and operational excellence based on Lean principles.
• Develop effective production processes and ensure employees have the right competence, training, and conditions to succeed.
• Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, engagement, and development.
• Actively contribute to plant development and its long‑term competitiveness.
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements and applicable standards, including IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001.
• Ensure effective communication and information flow within the production area and across the organization.
• Manage personnel‑related matters, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, salary reviews, rehabilitation, and employee relations.
• Collaborate and negotiate with labor unions when required.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and applicable legal requirements.

Requirements

We are looking for a structured, systematic, and results-oriented leader with strong people skills and the ability to see the bigger picture while turning strategies into concrete results.

You Have

• Post‑secondary education of at least three years, preferably within Industrial Engineering and Management, Business Administration, or a related field. Equivalent education combined with relevant experience may also be considered.
• Proven leadership experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably within the automotive industry.
• Strong ability to develop, engage, and motivate teams.
• Good understanding of production processes, operational performance, and business drivers.
• Knowledge of workplace health, safety, and environmental requirements.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage people at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to thrive in a changing environment and drive development and improvement.
• Fluency in Swedish and English, written and spoken.

As a person

You are a visible and supportive leader who enjoys being close to the business and your team. You build trust and commitment, create strong relationships, and drive change in a positive and constructive way.

You take initiative, make well‑founded decisions, and remain focused on results while supporting and developing others. You are structured, goal‑oriented, quality‑conscious, and able to balance a strategic perspective with a hands‑on approach.

What We Offer

At Kongsberg Automotive, you will become part of a global organization with a strong focus on innovation, operational excellence, and employee development.

You will have the opportunity to influence the future of our production operations, contribute to the long‑term competitiveness of the plant, and make a real difference by leading and developing a committed, value‑creating team in a dynamic manufacturing environment.