Senior Manager Lean Production (m/f/x) – Germany

Mutares SE & Co.; Germany (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flat hierarchies

Professional development opportunities

Regular team events

Job summary

Mutares SE & Co. in Ohio seeks a Production Operations Manager to lead lean production streams in restructuring projects. The ideal candidate has at least 6 years of operational management experience and strong fluency in German and English.

Offering an exciting work environment with varied challenges, this role supports significant operational improvements while working with a committed international team. Travel up to 4 days a week is expected.

Qualifications

• At least 6 years of experience in production or operations management, ideally with a consulting background.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Business fluency in German and English.

Responsibilities

• Lead lean production stream in restructuring and turnaround projects.
• Deploy turnaround lean approach for production and optimize processes.
• Engage local teams and monitor action plans execution.

Skills

Lean management

Six Sigma

Process standardisation

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Education

Degree in mechanical/industrial engineering or similar

Job description

Mutares SE & Co. KGaA, Munich (www.mutares.com), as a listed private equity holding company, acquires medium‑size companies in special situations, which show significant operational improvement potential and are sold again after undergoing a repositioning and stabilization process. Mutares actively supports its portfolio companies with its own investment and operations teams and through strategic add‑on acquisitions. The focus is on companies with revenues ranging from EUR 100 million to EUR 750 million, across various industries. The aim is to achieve a clear value increase with a focus on sustainable, long‑term growth of the portfolio company.

Your Tasks

• Lead lean production stream in restructuring and turnaround projects: Provide focused leadership with strategic directions and expertise to enable lean operations and continuous improvement
• Deploy turnaround lean approach for production, define roadmaps, optimize processes, organization, and systems to improve performance in both direct and indirect areas of production (value‑added, efficiency, productivity, cost ratio, etc.)
• Engage local teams, timeously monitor action plans execution, lead breakthrough initiatives and workshops, provide guidance and training
• Identify benchmarks, enforce basics, deploy best practices, and enable synergies
• Support the M&A‑team in due diligence through expert assessment, analysis, and recommendations

Your Profile

• Successfully completed a degree in mechanical/industrial engineering or a similar field with outstanding results
• At least 6 years of experience in production or operations management, ideally with a consulting background or a mix of consulting and operational roles in manufacturing or services
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, combined with an entrepreneurial mindset and hands‑on approach
• Subject matter expertise in one or more key areas of production management: lean management, six sigma, process standardisation, maintenance, engineering, program management, etc.
• Business fluency in German and English, with the ability to communicate in a well‑structured and concise manner
• Willingness to travel up to 4 days per week (typically Monday – Thursday) and to work in an international environment

What Mutares offers

• Work in a highly motivated, international, committed, and agile team that enjoys working together
• Exciting work environment with varied challenges, strategic influence, and tasks for continuous personal and professional development
• Flat hierarchies, fast decision‑making processes, and room for your own ideas
• Regular team events and offsites