- Disciplinary lead the local team in Grevenmacher, plus functionally lead the team in Stockdorf, Germany
- Actively participate in executing Webasto and APD targets and strategy, accordingly develop goals towards the team, always following Webasto’s values
- Develop the team by defining targets and goals
- Partner with the Product Managers and other critical stakeholders to build a sustainable technical innovation pipeline. Forster innovation idea generation, ensure IP awareness, guide for technical marketing, coordinate with customers’ R&D teams
- Delegate the development activities to the APD Product Owners and Engineers
- Ensure compliance to the Stage Gate processes of APD and other departments, which implies follow-up upon deadlines, milestones and resource allocation
- Consider interfaces to other roof technologies, such as kinematics or roller shades, and include them proactively in the development process
- Plan APD budgets, align them with GCC targets and manage resources and expenses against them
- Empower APD Product Owners and Engineers to self-sufficiently develop technologies and products within their responsibilities, including the interface management internally and externally (customers/suppliers, partners)
- Assist in design change proposals for existing technologies to be transferred to new plants, lines or customers
Master’s degree in engineering or related field- 8+ years’ experience in management role with career progression in automotive/glass business
- Experience in leading employees and developing teams in the R&D field
- Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to produce strong business results
- Exceptional interpersonal, networking, communication and negotiation skills
- Experience with strategic planning, positioning and messaging, forecasting, budgeting and analysis of business situations, competitive profiles and pricing analysis
- High analytical skills, problem solving capabilities and effective DOE planning experience
- Product design experience including GD&T and DFMEA.
- Advanced skills with Microsoft Office package (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
- Ability to learn and follow procedures while working safely in a manufacturing environment
- Hands-on approach to problem solving and analysis
- Business fluent English is a must, German and/or French skills are a plus
