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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead engineering excellence and strategic capital investment across Europe.
- Company: Join AAK, a leader in plant-based oils with over 150 years of innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, diverse work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainability and engineering practices in a global company.
- Qualifications: Proven engineering leader with strategic mindset and experience in CapEx management.
- Other info: Collaborative culture focused on safety, innovation, and continuous improvement.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
Overview
Location options: Hull (UK), Karlshamn (Sweden), Malmö (Sweden), Aarhus (Denmark), or Zaandijk (Netherlands). We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director Engineering Europe to lead AAK’s engineering function across the European region. This senior leadership role reports to the Director Operations Europe and is accountable for the capital investment masterplan, engineering excellence, safety, ESG initiatives, and organizational development within the European manufacturing footprint.
Responsibilities
- Capital Management
- Develop and deliver a strategic CapEx roadmap/masterplan in collaboration with sites, engineering teams, and finance, ensuring value chain optimization, network design, clear site roles, and efficiency gains at reduced cost.
- Lead the planning, execution, and review of regional CapEx projects, ensuring alignment with business goals, scalability, and ROI.
- Integrate asset management and reliability engineering into a proactive asset replacement and investment program.
- Engineering
- Oversee development, implementation, and execution of engineering standards to ensure best practice in project management, operational reliability, and cost effectiveness across all European sites.
- Stay informed about technological developments in oils processing and packaging, integrating relevant advancements into site investment programs to ensure continuous improvement and future readiness.
- People, Organization & Network
- Provide direction to the direct team while fostering collaboration across the matrix organization, building a strong community with local and indirect teams to align on workforce planning, headcount, technical capability, knowledge management, and organizational design.
- Lead the regional engineering network and establish a clear engineering people strategy.
- Represent Europe Engineering within the Global Engineering Excellence function and within the Global Innovation function.
- Safety & ESG
- Champion a safety-first culture by overseeing the development and implementation of best-in-class safety policies and behavioral safety programs, striving for zero incidents.
- Drive environmental sustainability initiatives, reducing Europe’s carbon footprint, optimizing energy and water usage, and supporting AAK’s science-based targets while ensuring compliance with European regulations.
About You
You are a proven engineering leader with deep functional knowledge and a strategic mindset. You bring credibility, authority, and the ability to influence across sites and global functions. You should bring:
- University degree in engineering or a relevant discipline, preferably with a postgraduate qualification (or equivalent experience).
- Demonstrated capability in strategic investment planning, CapEx management, and program and project management.
- Strong functional expertise in food or process industry production processes.
- Minimum 5 years in functional management roles, with at least 3 years at director level, capable of leading complex programs and teams.
- Exceptional business knowledge, leadership, and general management capability.
- Experience building and leading business or functional teams with strong cross-site influence.
- Analytical, structured, and results-oriented, with a track record of delivering complex projects to high standards; a people leader who inspires teams, drives collaboration, and fosters innovation.
Contact and Information
Please apply via our career portal. For more information about the position, contact Luuck van Kooten, Talent Acquisition Manager Europe, at Luuck.van.kooten@aak.com.
About AAK
Everything AAK does is about Making Better Happen. We specialize in plant-based oils that serve as value-adding ingredients in many products. We aim to make products better tasting, healthier, and more sustainable, through Customer Co-Development and deep knowledge across multiple industries including Chocolate and confectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Plant-based Foods, Special Nutrition, Foodservice and Personal Care.
We employ about 4,000 people and operate with 25 regional sales offices, 15 Customer Innovation Centers, and more than 20 production facilities. Listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and headquartered in Malmö, Sweden, AAK has been Making Better Happen for more than 150 years.
AAK prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, religion, veteran status, and any other class protected under applicable law in any aspect of employment.
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Director Engineering Europe employer: AAK
Contact Detail:
AAK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director Engineering Europe
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. We can’t stress enough how valuable personal connections can be in landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your experience. We want you to shine, so practice common interview questions and have your own ready to ask!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! In your discussions, highlight your experience in managing teams and driving projects. We know that demonstrating your ability to lead and inspire others is key to landing senior roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for passionate individuals who want to make a difference in the engineering field.
We think you need these skills to ace Director Engineering Europe
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that align with the Director Engineering role. Highlight your strategic investment planning and CapEx management experience, as these are key for us.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this position. Share your vision for engineering excellence and how you plan to drive safety and ESG initiatives across our European sites.
Showcase Your Leadership Style: We want to know how you lead teams and foster collaboration. Include examples of how you've built strong communities and influenced cross-site teams in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our career portal! This ensures we receive all your details correctly and can review your application efficiently.
How to prepare for a job interview at AAK
✨Know Your Engineering Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your engineering knowledge, especially in areas relevant to the food or process industry. Be ready to discuss specific projects you've led, focusing on strategic investment planning and CapEx management.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, particularly in managing complex teams and cross-site collaboration. AAK values strong people leaders, so be ready to share how you've inspired teams and driven innovation.
✨Understand AAK's Values
Familiarise yourself with AAK’s mission of 'Making Better Happen'. Think about how your experience aligns with their focus on sustainability and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to their ESG initiatives.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that demonstrate your interest in the role and the company. Inquire about their current engineering challenges or future projects, showing that you're not just interested in the position but also in contributing to AAK's success.