(Senior) Manager, Digital Strategy & Delivery - Operations (m/f/d)

(Senior) Manager, Digital Strategy & Delivery - Operations (m/f/d)

Clariant is a focused, sustainable, and innovative specialty chemical company. We connect our customers to value-adding and sustainable solutions for products used in countless everyday applications. Our solutions contribute to our customers' sustainability targets while prioritizing our own. We are committed to creating value through innovation and sustainability for our customers, stakeholders, and the environment.

As (Senior) Manager, Digital Strategy & Delivery (m/f/d), you own the digital portfolio for operations across the business unit, from identifying improvement potential in our plants to delivering solutions that measurably move performance, quality, and cost. You work at the interface between production leadership and the digital delivery teams: close enough to operations to understand how plants actually run, and technical enough to judge what operations data, process analytics, and AI/ML can realistically deliver.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the digital roadmap for the operations domain, incl. production, process performance, and quality, in close liaison with operations and plant leadership, translating operational ambitions into prioritized, executable initiatives with quantified business cases


• Drive end-to-end ownership from pain point identification on the plant floor through problem framing, solution design, handoff to delivery teams, and oversight through to production rollout


• Own the business side of the manufacturing solution landscape (MES, process historians, process analytics platforms), shaping requirements, configuration priorities, and adoption in partnership with IT and delivery teams


• Shape and sponsor AI/ML use cases for manufacturing, such as process optimization, predictive quality, soft sensors, by framing the business problem, challenging outcomes against operational reality, and owning value realization, in close collaboration with data science and technical leads


• Build trust-based relationships with plant managers, production and quality leadership, and process engineers, maintaining alignment and removing roadblocks across sites


• Partner with change and regional implementation teams to embed solutions into daily plant operations and close feedback loops with operators and engineers


• Track and report value delivery through operational KPIs and ROI, making decisive go/no-go calls for rollouts and driving continuous improvement across the portfolio


• Act as a change agent within manufacturing, shifting mindsets toward digital-first, data-driven ways of working and building momentum through visible early wins on the shop floor

Requirements

• Degree in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree (MSc, PhD, or MBA) is a plus


• 5+ years of experience in or serving the chemicals or process industry, with hands-on exposure to manufacturing operations, e.g., plant, production, process, or quality roles, or digital/consulting roles embedded in them


• Proven track record improving manufacturing performance with measurable operational impact, whether through operational excellence methods (Lean, Six Sigma; Black Belt or Master Black Belt is a plus) or through digital and AI/ML solutions in production, combined with hands-on exposure to digital solutions in manufacturing (e.g., MES, historians, process analytics)


• Structured problem-solver with the range to own a strategic roadmap and the hands-on agility to troubleshoot delivery, paired with the credibility to challenge and align senior production stakeholders


• Familiarity with supply chain processes and planning systems is a strong plus; Agile or product management certifications are a plus

Our Offer

• The opportunity to make a significant impact through data-driven transformation


• A collaborative working environment with cross-functional teams


• Professional development opportunities in a global specialty chemicals company


• Competitive compensation and benefits package

Your Contact

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Clariant is a Swiss-based global specialty chemicals company, which is concentrated and developed in three business units: Care Chemicals, Catalysts and Adsorbents & Additives. Our purpose as a company is reflected in our tagline "Greater chemistry - between people and planet", which considers the principles of customer, innovation and people orientation, as well as a focus on creating solutions to foster sustainability in different industries by offering high-value and high-performance chemical specialties.

At Clariant, we believe that diversity, equity and inclusion are essential to our success. We strive to cultivate a workplace where all employees feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued. Our diverse workforce allows us to tap into a wealth of perspectives, experiences, and capabilities that drive innovation. We are committed to ensuring equal opportunities for professional growth and advancement across all levels of the organization, based on objective criteria and regardless of gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, protected veteran status, age, disability, sexual orientation or other aspects of diversity in accordance with the relevant governing laws. By bringing together talented individuals with diverse backgrounds and viewpoints, we gain the agility to meet the evolving needs of our global customers and communities. Join our team to help advance our mission of fostering a culture of belonging where everyone can thrive.

• Read more about our commitment for people -download our Employment Standards Brochure

We at Clariant are aware of our responsibility. Our purpose »Greater chemistry – between people and planet« describes the role we can play in the world if we align our thinking and all future decisions with it.