Head of Group Manufacturing Quality (m/f/d)

BIRKENSTOCK is a global brand which embraces all consumers regardless of geography, gender, age and income. The company is deeply footed on a family tradition of shoemaking that can be traced back to 1774. With around 7100 employees worldwide, BIRKENSTOCK is the largest employer in the German footwear industry. To ensure our quality standards, we produce over 95% of our products in Germany and source more than 90% of our materials and components from Europe. The BIRKENSTOCK Group is headquartered in Linz am Rhein and maintains several locations in Germany, as well as sales offices in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia.

YOUR NEW PAIR OF SHOES:

• Lead and develop the central Manufacturing Quality team and ensure effective support of production sites and supplier • Establish and govern global Quality standards and processes across the manufacturing network • Standardize and manage production change processes • Drive the continuous development of Quality Management Systems across all production sites • Define and govern Manufacturing Quality KPIs and ensure consistent performance monitoring and reporting • Define, establish and continuously improve product quality standards and acceptance criteria across manufacturing sites and ensure consistent decision-making • Standardize Quality-related collaboration between manufacturing sites and between sites and suppliers • Establish and continuously develop supplier Quality performance evaluation in collaboration with Procurement and Supplier Quality • Own and govern Quality requirements for the company's core manufacturing technologies and processes • Identify systemic Quality risks and performance gaps across the manufacturing network and drive appropriate improvement initiatives • Facilitate best-practice sharing and harmonization between manufacturing sites • Act as the central Quality interface for manufacturing-related topics and provide transparency on Quality performance, risks and improvement priorities to senior management

YOUR WALK OF LIFE:

• University degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Manufacturing, Footwear Technology or a comparable technical field • Proven professional experience and strong product expertise in the footwear industry or a comparable consumer goods industry with complex materials and manufacturing processes • Several years of professional experience in Manufacturing Quality Management • Proven leadership experience, including the development and management of professional teams • Experience in working across multiple manufacturing sites and establishing common Quality standards and processes • Experience in defining and implementing product quality standards, acceptance criteria, defect classifications and deviation processes • Experience in Supplier Quality Management and supplier performance evaluation • Experience with Quality KPIs and performance management • Fluent English; German and additional languages are an advantage • Willingness to travel regularly to manufacturing sites and suppliers