Plant Manager in Dresden

We are looking for an experienced and highly engaging Plant Leader to take full operational responsibility for two manufacturing sites in the Dresden area, with approximately 100 and 70 employees respectively.

Operating across automotive, defence and industrial environments, the sites combine operational complexity with significant transformation ahead.

The successful candidate will lead both operations while preparing and executing their consolidation into a single, optimised footprint over the next 2–3 years. This is a highly visible leadership role requiring a strong combination of operational excellence, transformation expertise and people leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Take full operational leadership of both manufacturing sites, with accountability for Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and People.

• Ensure stable day-to-day operations while driving improvements in productivity, efficiency, quality and delivery performance.

• Define, plan and execute the consolidation of the two sites into one unified operation over the next 2–3 years.

• Lead the operational and organisational transformation associated with the consolidation, ensuring business continuity throughout the transition.

• Drive a strong Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement culture, identifying opportunities to eliminate waste, improve processes and increase operational efficiency.

• Optimise production capacity, resources, workflows and cross-site coordination.

• Lead, develop and engage the management teams and wider workforce across both locations.

• Act as a highly visible leader on the shop floor, building trust and maintaining employee engagement throughout a significant period of change.

• Ensure compliance with applicable quality, safety and regulatory requirements, particularly within automotive, defence and industrial manufacturing environments.

• Monitor operational KPIs and implement corrective actions where required.

• Work closely with senior leadership and relevant functions to translate strategic priorities into measurable operational results.

• Manage key stakeholders throughout the transformation and consolidation process.

Candidate Profile

• Significant leadership experience as a Plant Manager, Plant Director, Site Leader, Operations Director or in a comparable senior manufacturing position.

• Proven experience managing a manufacturing plant; multi-site leadership experience is highly desirable.

• Demonstrated track record in plant transformation, restructuring, footprint optimisation, relocation or site consolidation.

• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement methodologies.

• Solid understanding of manufacturing operations, production planning, quality, supply chain and resource optimisation.

• Experience within automotive, defence, industrial manufacturing or similarly demanding production environments is highly valued.

• Strong commercial and operational mindset with the ability to balance short-term performance with long-term transformation objectives.

• Hands-on, pragmatic and execution-focused leadership approach.

• Strong change-management capabilities and the ability to lead teams through uncertainty and organisational transformation.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.

• Fluent German and English are required.