Head of HPS and Maintenance

We are seeking a visionary and hands-on leader to design, deploy, and sustain a world-class Henkel Production System (HPS) and Maintenance strategy across all global sites. This role drives operational excellence, continuous improvement, and a high-performance, people-centric culture.

What you´ll do

• Set the vision & roadmap for the Henkel Production System and Maintenance strategy, aligned with Adhesives Operations objectives.
• Lead global teams of lean and maintenance experts, mentoring regional leaders and building a culture of operational excellence.
• Deploy a global OE framework integrating Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, and modern best practices, tailored to local site maturity.
• Build a culture of CI across the E2E value chain, embedding equipment ownership, structured problem-solving, and lean leadership behaviors.
• Develop people & skills, including global operator skill programs, lean/maintenance training, certifications, and capability roadmaps.
• Standardize daily management systems, problem-solving routines, and workplace practices (5S, Kaizen, visual management).
• Drive focused improvements in value creation, waste elimination, material/information flow, automation, and process simplification.
• Ensure equipment reliability through autonomous & preventive maintenance, CMMS use, structural loss elimination, and spare parts optimization.
• Leverage digital enablers (IoT, real-time dashboards, connected worker platforms) with IT to scale lean and predictive maintenance.
• Collaborate cross-functionally & with leadership, ensuring alignment with operations, supply chain, quality, and engineering, while reporting performance and risks.

What makes you a good fit

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• Minimum of 10–15 years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing and continuous improvement roles – ideally at global, regional and local level
• Manufacturing site leadership experience
• Proven success in designing and deploying a global production system or lean transformation program. Experience in successfully designing and deploying an operational excellence framework across global manufacturing operations is a big plus
• Deep expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, and structured problem solving methodologies (e.g., A3, 5-Why, DMAIC).
• Experience with / leading Digital Manufacturing technologies deployment and their application in operational excellence.
• Strong change management and cross-cultural leadership skills; ability to influence at all levels.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with a hands-on, shop-floor orientation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Lean, Six Sigma certifications
• Certifications such as CMRP (Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional) or PMP (Project Management Professional)

Some perks of joining Henkel

• Flexible work scheme with flexible hours, hybrid work model, and work from anywhere policy for up to 30 days per year
• Diverse national and international growth opportunities
• Global wellbeing standards with health and preventive care programs
• Gender-neutral parental leave for a minimum of 8 weeks
• Employee Share Plan with voluntary investment and Henkel matching shares
• Pension Fund
• Disability Insurance
• Health Insurance
• Canteen discount
• 30 days of holidays
• Company car/ car allowance.