Director, Global Operations - Putting People and Collaboration First

Would you like to lead talented people across countries and cultures and help shape the next chapter of Svanehøj's journey? Svanehøj is looking for an experienced leader who can bring its international operations together around shared goals, develop the organisation and achieve strong results through collaboration.

On behalf of Svanehøj, we are seeking a Director, Global Operations, as the current director has moved into a new role within the parent company, ITT. Reporting directly to the CEO, you have the overall responsibility for production, procurement, warehousing, quality and safety across the company's international operations. You set direction, develop leaders and strengthen the connection between people, processes and operational performance.

Leadership and Development Across Borders

Svanehøj is a leading international manufacturer of advanced pump solutions for the maritime industry and is part of ITT Inc., a publicly listed US industrial group. Over the past five years, Svanehøj has acquired seven companies and today operates production facilities in Denmark, Singapore, Germany and France, alongside procurement activities in China.

This international growth creates new opportunities to learn from one another and strengthen collaboration across locations. Your role is to bring together local expertise and experience around shared goals, while respecting the skills and cultures that make Svanehøj what it is today.

You play a central role in the company's continued development as Svanehøj implements SAP, further develops its processes and integrates acquired businesses. You will help people understand and embrace change, involve leaders and employees, and ensure that new ways of working become part of everyday operations while maintaining delivery reliability and quality.

At Svanehøj, high ambitions and strong performance go hand in hand with a culture built on trust, engagement and collaboration. People and professional expertise are at the heart of the organisation, with a strong emphasis on relationships across functions and countries. As a leader, you play an important role in preserving and further developing this culture, respecting local strengths and differences.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Strengthen collaboration across production, planning and deliveries, ensuring that the expertise and resources of each location are used effectively

• Ensure reliable deliveries, productivity and sound financial performance through clear priorities, dialogue and systematic follow-up

• Develop shared ways of working and drive continuous improvement together with local teams, focusing on Lean principles, quality and effective day-to-day operations

• Lead the transition to the new SAP system, with a strong focus on employee involvement, learning and operational stability

• Lead and develop local production leaders, creating shared direction, engagement and trust-based collaboration across countries and cultures

• Strengthen the global supply chain through strategic sourcing, supplier development, inventory optimisation and improved working capital management

• Maintain high standards of quality, safety and occupational health throughout the value chain

• Support the integration of acquired businesses, respecting local strengths while promoting a shared culture, knowledge sharing and strong results.

Who Are You?

You bring solid leadership experience from an international industrial company within production, operations or supply chain management, ideally with responsibility across multiple production sites. You have a proven ability to develop leaders and teams and to manage change in environments where people, culture and operations must succeed together.

You combine financial understanding with hands-on insight into production, capacity planning and quality, and you know how to turn analysis into practical improvements. Knowledge of SAP and strategic sourcing is an advantage. Experience with and an understanding of Asian markets and cultures is also beneficial, enabling you to build on the important relationships with colleagues in China and across the wider international organisation.

As a leader, you are clear, approachable and decisive. You listen, build trust and know how to lead through others. You communicate openly about change, welcome different perspectives and follow up on both performance and collaboration. You are comfortable making decisions and gaining commitment while respecting local circumstances.

What Svanehøj Offers

You join an international company in an influential leadership role, where people and culture are an important part of what makes Svanehøj a great place to work.

You have the opportunity to shape the company's continued development and achieve meaningful results alongside dedicated colleagues across countries and cultures.

The position is based at Svanehøj's office in Svenstrup, Denmark, and involves travel to the company's international locations.

For further information about the position, please contact Louise Andersen, Partner at Kompetent, on +45 20 60 23 50.