Head of Operational Excellence

AGRANA Fruit is part of the AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG, operating at 26 production sites on 5 continents worldwide. We offer a wide range of creative and innovative solutions for the food and beverage industry. Our fruit solutions deliver high quality fruit, which is expertly prepared to be used in the dairy, ice cream, bakery, food service and beverage industries. AGRANA Fruit's product development work incorporates the latest global nutritional and health trends.

For our location in Vienna we are looking for an experienced, proactive-minded candidate with passion for Food Manufacturing to join us in the following position: Head of Operational Excellence (OpEx) (m/f/d)

Purpose of the job:

As a member of our Global Operations Team, you will lead the deployment and execution of the Operational Excellence (OpEx) Program across the Fruit business segment, driving operational performance, efficiency, and reliability.

If you are eager to deliver measurable business value, build OpEx capabilities and foster cross-functional collaboration in a team of passionate specialists, this job is for you

Your responsibilities:

• Strategic roadmap: Develop and deploy the regional strategic roadmap for the Operational Excellence program across AGRANA's Fruit segment.

• Program deployment: Lead the launch and progression of AGRANA OpEx Program, ensuring alignment with global business objectives.

• Business alignment: Partner with manufacturing facilities and regional functions to align operational goals with Division strategic and tactical priorities.

• Governance and communication: Establish governance structures, management routines, and steer teams while ensuring effective communication.

• Performance delivery: Drive OpEx Program framework to strengthen problem solving, reliability, and operational performance

• Diagnostic and value delivery: Lead Value Stream Mappings (VSM) to visualize, analyze and improve factory process while using different OpEx tools to deliver value and drive transformation across the business segment.

• Site implementation: Launch and sustain AGRANA OpEx program at sites to improve asset reliability, performance, and efficiency.

• Financial Input: Provide operational performance budgeting insights to Sr. VPs Operations and Sr. VP OpEx.

• Savings Program: Lead division saving program by identifying projects that will help to deliver expected targets on each factory, track and report status.

• Cross-functional leadership: Lead and effectively manage cross-functional, and cross-geography teams to drive collaboration and results.

• Capability Building: Develop and deploy a framework for OpEx competency building and embed these capabilities into operational roles across sites.

Your profile:

• You hold a university degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering or related field of education.

• You are a certified/trained Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt,

• You have a proven track record in deploying Operational Excellence programs across multiple sites or Business units.

• You have experience in cross-functional leadership, stakeholder management, and driving measurable operational and financial results.

• You demonstrate ability to analyze complex operational challenges, implement solutions, and sustain improvements.

• You are fluent in spoken and written English - any additional language is a plus (German, French, Spanish).

Our offer:

• Exciting, diverse and challenging tasks that will allow you to get in contact with various internal and external stakeholders within the AGRANA world and Food & Beverage business.

• A working environment where your ideas and insights are welcome.

• A motivated and dedicated team, offering long-term careers in an international environment.

• A competitive salary package with various benefits.

• All the tools you need to be successful

• Due to legal reasons, we are obliged to disclose the minimum salary according to the collective agreement for this position, which is € 46.111,66 gross p.a. on full-time basis (applicable to Austria only).

Contact Person:

Aymeric REGENT | Human Resources Manager, Division Fruit

Find out more about AGRANA Fruit and also visit us on LinkedIn.

As a global company, we are very proud of our diverse workforce and attach great importance to equal opportunity and diversity. We welcome and encourage everyone regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, religion or sexual orientation who is passionate about our company to apply.

Have we caught your interest? Then we look forward to receiving your application.