Head of Operations Excellence (f/m/x)

In our Corporate Research and Technology (CRT) team, we support the ZEISS business divisions with technology developments along the product roadmaps and contribute to the development of today's innovative products. Furthermore, we assist the business units in understanding which technologies will be relevant to them tomorrow.

To fulfill this mission, an effective and efficient business operation is necessary, which best supports our employees, managers and projects in administrative and procedural matters.

Your Role

• In your role as team leader, you are responsible for leading the Business Excellence team (8-10 persons) both professionally and disciplinarily
• You develop the team members according to the requirements and promote collegial collaboration within the team, within CRT, and with other areas at ZEISS
• You will ensure proper operation and further development of CRT’s business processes, necessary competencies, methods and tools, particularly also in the light of current AI developments and the emerging deployment of agentic automation.
• You orchestrate collaboration between various locations and departments to ensure cohesive and streamlined operations
• You will develop and implement strategies to enhance business operations and drive excellence, in alignment with the requirements and the mission of CRT

Your Profile

• You hold a Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field
• You have at least 5 years of professional experience in business excellence, operations management, or a related field
• You bring leadership skills that you have acquired through (initial) experience in the management and steering of diverse teams and/or projects
• Proven experience in driving initiatives in the area of business process excellence or in a similar environment. First experience with the usage and integration of AI based tools in the context of business operations and processes is considered as an advantage
• You are results-oriented, combined with analytical and organizational skills, ideally complemented by experience in process development and modeling
• High affinity for modern IT technologies, including familiarity with SAP software
• You have very good spoken and written communication skills both in German and English, with the ability to convey complex information clearly
• You are characterized by a very reliable and structured working style, complemented by strong interpersonal skills and strong team spirit

Your ZEISS Recruiting Team Friederike Kirklar-Harms