Manufacturing Performance Excellence Leader - EMEA & APAC

Performance Excellence is not a support function — it is how Corbion operates, improves, and wins every day. In this role, you will play a key part in strengthening operational performance across manufacturing and supply chain sites. This is a highly visible leadership role where strategy meets execution, and where impact is created both on the shop floor and at senior-leadership level.

The role

As Regional Performance Excellence Leader, you will lead sustainable performance improvement across the region by deploying Corbion’s DRIVE operating system (Do it Right, Improve Value Every day), based on TRACC methodology. You will work closely with site leadership teams, engineers, operators, and technicians to embed a culture of ownership, agility, and continuous improvement. You will act as the connecting force of Performance Excellence in the region — aligning sites, building capability, scaling best practices, and ensuring continuous improvement becomes part of everyday work.

Key responsibilities

• Lead deployment of the regional Performance Excellence strategy and operating system (DRIVE) across manufacturing and supply chain functions, aligned with global standards and business priorities
• Drive improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and sustainability using structured CI methodologies (TRACC, Lean, Six Sigma)
• Develop and ensure consistent application of PE standards, tools, and ways of working, including performance management routines and visual management
• Build Continuous Improvement capability through training, coaching, and leadership development at all organizational levels
• Support structured problem-solving and root-cause analysis, ensuring sustainable corrective actions for recurring issues
• Promote operator-led improvement, recognition, and storytelling that celebrate CI success
• Lead and prioritize the regional PE project portfolio, ensuring delivery of measurable business value and contribution to Cost-to-Value (C2V) targets
• Act as a change leader, supporting leadership teams in driving engagement, adoption, and sustainability of PE initiatives
• Partner closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, EHS, Supply Chain, and Finance on key transformation initiatives

What you bring

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business Management, or Life/Food Sciences
• 8–12+ years of experience in Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Supply Chain, or Project Management, including 4–6 years in a line manager role
• Lean / Six Sigma expertise (Green Belt required)
• Proven experience delivering measurable and sustainable performance improvements in cross-functional environments
• Strong coaching, facilitation, and stakeholder-influencing skills
• Willingness to work in a regional role with frequent travel (60–70%)

Why Corbion

Corbion is a global leader in sustainable ingredients, driven by science, innovation, and purpose. We care deeply about people, safety, sustainability, and long-term impact. In this role, you will help shape how our sites operate today — and how they perform for the future.

About Corbion

Corbion is a sustainable ingredients company dedicated to preserving what matters, including food and food production, health, and the planet. Corbion specializes in lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives, food preservation solutions, functional blends, and algae ingredients, using deep application and product knowledge to propel nature’s ingenuity through science. Leveraging advanced capabilities in fermentation and preservation technology, Corbion helps customers differentiate their products in diverse markets ranging from food and animal nutrition to home & personal care, pharmaceuticals, electronics, medical devices, and bioplastics.