Local Service Unit Quality & CI Manager (f/m/d)

About the Position

Local Service Unit Quality & CI Manager (f/m/d)

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity in the green energy sector? Join Hitachi Energy as a Local Service Unit (LSU) Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager in our Service Unit in Germany!

You will be responsible for defining and executing the Local Service Unit's quality strategy while driving a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement across all functions. The role ensures customer satisfaction, regulatory compliance, product and process quality, and sustainable business performance improvement through Lean, Six Sigma, and quality management methodologies.

As a key member of the LSU leadership team, the position leads quality governance, continuous improvement initiatives, business process optimization, and organizational capability development to achieve world-class performance.

As we actively participate in the exciting green energy transition, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to a better future! We also offer smart working options to ensure that you can maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Job Description

The ideal candidates will have strong experience in managing, organizing and ramping up department structures, ideally with a multi-product mix. They will also have a proven track record of leading collaboration and innovation in a matrix organization, with both external and internal stakeholder management, able to optimize the management of diverse teams whilst delivering results.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Quality Leadership

• Develop and implement the Local Service Unit Quality Strategy aligned with global and regional business objectives.
• Ensure compliance with standards like ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001 ISO 45001 and other applicable industry standards and customer requirements.
• Own the Quality Management System and drive continuous enhancement of quality processes.
• Lead quality assurance, quality control, supplier quality, customer quality, and quality engineering activities.
• Establish quality objectives, general and specific KPIs, and performance monitoring systems.
• Lead internal and external audits and ensure timely closure of findings.

• Develop and deploy a structured Continuous Improvement roadmap across the LSU.
• Drive Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, and Problem-Solving methodologies.
• Lead cross-functional improvement projects focusing on quality, productivity, cost, delivery, processes and safety.
• Introduce and support automation by dedicated software tools
• Facilitate root cause analysis and implementation of sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and data-based decision making across all business functions.

• Act as senior escalation point for major customer quality issues.
• Drive customer satisfaction improvements through proactive quality initiatives.
• Monitor customer feedback, complaints, warranty trends, and field performance metrics.
• Ensure effective corrective action processes and communication with customers.

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators including
• Drive measurable business improvements in productivity, quality, and profitability.
• Support strategic growth initiatives, product launches, and operational transformation programs.
• Define, run, support and implement saving and optimization projects

• Lead, coach, and develop the Quality and Continuous Improvement organization.
• Build organizational capabilities in Lean, Six Sigma, and quality methodologies.
• Foster collaboration across operations, engineering, supply chain, project management, sales, and service functions.
• Support talent development, succession planning, and employee engagement initiatives.
• Promote continuous improvement and digitalization within quality and CI processes.

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Quality Management, Business Administration, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in Quality, Continuous Improvement or Operational Excellence.
• Minimum 5 years in a leadership role.
• Lean Six Sigma Qualification
• Auditor certification (preferred).
• Strong experience in Quality Management Systems, Root Cause Analysis methods, Process Excellence and Business Process Optimization, Data Analytics and KPI Management
• Experience working in a matrix organization and international environment.
• Experience managing customer quality and supplier quality processes.

• Strategic thinking and business acumen
• Strong customer orientation
• Inspirational leadership and team development
• Results-driven mindset
• Excellent stakeholder management
• Effective communication and influencing skills
• High level of integrity and accountability
• Ability to lead through change and transformation
• Problem Solving