Manager - Materials Specialist Lab - Husqvarna Group

Husqvarna AB; Huskvarna; Hybrid; SEK 1,000,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Professional development

Job summary

Husqvarna Group seeks a proven leader to steer the Materials Specialists Lab within Shared R&D. The role shapes strategy for materials, drives collaboration with product development, and ensures high-quality, timely deliveries across divisions.

Responsibilities include building and leading a 12-person team, prioritizing work, and managing budgets while strengthening material expertise across Husqvarna. Hybrid onsite/remote work with majority presence on site.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of leadership experience in engineering or related fields.
• 8–10 years from technology-intensive environments (R&D, product development, or labs).
• University degree in materials, mechanical, or chemical engineering, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Define the department vision and objectives with Shared R&D leadership.
• Translate strategy into concrete plans and drive execution.
• Lead and develop a 12-person team, prioritizing and allocating work.
• Build relationships across Husqvarna to involve material specialists in development.
• Drive cross-functional R&D initiatives and set investment priorities for the lab.
• Manage team leadership, performance, and budget responsibility.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic mindset

Communication skills

Customer focus

Change management

Education

Master's degree in materials/ mechanical/ chemical engineering

Job description

Lead Husqvarna Group's Center of Excellence in Materials

Are you a confident leader who wants to shape how a global engineering company understands, selects, and masters its materials? The Materials Specialists Lab is more than a laboratory, it is our Center of Excellence for materials, a strategic capability that impacts product innovation, sustainability, sourcing, compliance, and quality across all divisions. We are now looking for a manager to lead the department within Shared R&D and play a key role in shaping the future of materials at Husqvarna Group.

Shared R&D is Husqvarna Group’s centralized engineering function with around 100 specialists across multiple disciplines. Within this, the Materials Specialists Lab supports all product categories with advanced analysis, characterization, and investigation across metals, polymers, and material-related technologies. The team is a key contributor to our global Material Management process, ensuring high‑quality data, strong knowledge, and reuse of materials to drive innovation speed, cost efficiency, and sustainable product development.

About the role:

In this role, you will be responsible for driving the department’s strategy and goals within product, technology, and business development, while ensuring an efficient day‑to‑day operation of the lab and its deliveries. A key part of the role is to continuously strengthen how and when the team contributes to product development, increasing early involvement and impact across the organization.

Key responsibilities include:

• Collaborating with the Shared R&D leadership team to define the vision and objectives for the department
• Translating strategy into concrete plans and leading their successful execution
• Leading and developing a team of 12 specialists, including prioritizing and allocating incoming assignments and ensuring high‑quality deliveries
• Building strong relationships across Husqvarna to ensure best involvement of material specialists in product development projects
• Leading selected cross‑functional R&D initiatives and external research collaborations, as well as driving investment planning and prioritization for the lab
• Managing team leadership, performance, and budget responsibility

About you:

You are a proactive and motivating leader who builds trust and collaborates effectively. With a strategic mindset and strong customer focus, you drive change and deliver results with structure and persistence. You are self‑aware and continuously develop through feedback and reflection.

• 5–7 years of proven leadership experience within engineering, with responsibility for leading and developing teams
• Solid experience (8–10 years) from technology‑intensive environments, preferably within R&D, product development, or laboratory operations
• University degree in materials engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, or a related field
• Fluency in Swedish and English, both written and spoken

You also bring a background or genuine interest in the following:

• A clear, confident, and grounded leadership style, with knowledge of team and organizational development
• A structured approach, with the ability to balance agile and traditional development methodologies while maintaining a solution‑oriented mindset
• A solid understanding of laboratory and development operations
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build effective networks across the organization

Location

This position will be placed in our of our main sites in Huskvarna.

But, with our hybrid working environment, you’ll have the flexibility to work both onsite and remotely, promoting work‑life balance for all team members, but as laboratory function the majority of the time is spent onsite. We meet in the office at least 4 days a week (80%).

For more information about the position please contact Hiring Per Orestig at [e-mail]. For questions regarding the recruitment process please contact, Talent Acquisition Partner Gorjana Dubovina at [e-mail].

Due to the holiday period, we will not be conducting interviews at this time. The recruitment process will resume in mid-August.

Winning Through Culture

At Husqvarna Group, we believe that business is ultimately about people, as a team, we win and grow together. Our culture is built on bold ideas, strong commitment, and a shared purpose, creating an environment where innovation thrives, people grow, and every contribution matters.

Our culture is built on three core themes:

• Bold: We push boundaries, embrace challenges, and explore new possibilities.
• Dedicated: We put in the hard work, bring passion and resilience to every challenge we take on.
• Care: We support each other, consider the impact of our actions, and strive to make a lasting difference.

Whether you’re starting your career or looking for the next big step, we offer a place where passion and purpose come together. Join us in shaping the future!

Learn more about our culture here: Our Culture | Husqvarna Group