As Sr Business Leader Design & Manufacturing, you are ultimately responsible for a group of customers and all projects being carried out for them. These are multidisciplinary complex projects within complex mechanical engineering and product development: assignments where we do the design; design, procure, assemble, test and deliver; both, and then in ‘running’ production environments. The number of clients and assignments you lead will depend on the complexity, scope, and relationships involved.
In this role, you will lead projects and oversee customer development with a team of project leaders, technical leaders, and team members. You will be responsible for managing the client’s needs and impact, developing the client, fostering teamwork, building competencies, and maintaining the focus of the team and its leaders. Your main objective is to meet customer expectations, effectively develop team members, and create added value for PDM.
In this context, you will be responsible for leading customer development. You will actively participate in the sales process, including developing contacts, engaging in customer conversations, making proposals, and contributing to the development from proposal to order as part of a team. Your success in this role will be determined by your ability to deliver quality, added value, and impact while putting People Create Excellence at the forefront.
In practice, this means that the sales phase involves developing needs, proposing needs analysis or functional requirements, conducting a pre-study or concept design, and leading to quotations. The goal is to ensure that these initial studies result in a final plan for design, which may include procurement/outsourcing, assembly, testing, and delivery. In a production environment, these steps are the same but have their own dynamics.
Delivering quality, added value, and impact to clients means achieving measurable and sustainable results with and for clients to strengthen and accelerate their progress and make their teams successful. As a Senior Business Leader, you actively participate and take the lead in working with clients. You focus on gaining client buy-in, meeting expectations, developing relationships, identifying new opportunities, and leading and challenging customers. This also involves anticipating and effectively addressing future issues, concerns, and bottlenecks to drive expansion.
You create an environment where all project leaders, except technical leads with their own responsibilities, understand precisely what the customer will receive. Encourage team members to be engaged, inspired, and challenged in all efforts to deliver “on time – in full,” always prioritizing the customer’s needs and added value. Collaborate closely with the Account Manager or take on that role yourself to maximize client engagement and intimacy.
CONTRIBUTING TO PDM’s FUTURE
We work based on operational and development lines. Our super flat organization resembles the mix of a matrix and network structure. Based on this, your role actively involves you in virtually all aspects of PDM.
As Sr Business Leader of Design & Manufacturing, you will help build account development and sales, the impact of delivery, and our human capital by coaching team members in their development and speaking to new candidates whom you enthuse about PDM and also critically evaluate. You will be financially responsible and contribute to content creation.
At PDM, there is no hierarchy. We rely on our colleagues’ self-managing capabilities and authentic strengths. This operates within a framework of rules, as “informal” here does not mean “without responsibility.”
We are ambitious, competitive, and performance-oriented, providing a home for resilient and strong individuals. These people are our main asset, and we support, facilitate, and coach them in every way. This includes you, and in turn, you support others. Development and innovation are core to everything we do; we aim to cultivate these traits in everyone every day. Your personal growth determines your future—no barriers or ceilings exist here. It’s challenging work, with a strong work ethic and a big smile.
We offer the opportunity to contribute to building a company with a mission. For us, it’s not about job titles or roles; it’s about who you will become and what you will contribute within the company.
No less: customer development, project management, project-based work, development of new and then deepening competences, procuring/assembling/testing, etc., are also in full development with us. So you help build, help lay the foundation for who we will become.
WHAT WE EXPECT
Experience in Development and Manufacturing environments in at least some of the industries described. Experience with technology development and improvement, as well as working in the Netherlands and Belgium, is a plus.
Maximum of 15 years of proven and successful experience in designing and developing complex mechanical engineering and products. Additionally, a minimum of 10 years of successful project management experience, with experience as a Senior Project Leader being a plus. Intrinsically committed
At least 5 years of proven successful experience in commercial processes, customer development, and expansion. Strong experience, talent, and ambition in developing business is highly desirable. If building business is what really drives you, we will discuss the role of Sr Business Leader.
You attach great importance to the further development of your leadership talents and possess proficient (project) management skills. You can handle complexity at the enterprise level, and are consciously adept at dealing with the interests & detrimental risks linked to this responsibility
You exhibit university-level thinking and working ability. You are adept at conceptualization and possess strong structuring skills. You are people-oriented, able to influence others, and externally focused. You think quickly, work top-down, and act bottom-up, with a strong work ethic.
You actively participate, take action, and help to build. You are unaffected by status or authority. You focus on people and clients all the way. You know it’s not about executing a trick; you are driven to bring out the best in people and clients. Team competitiveness and performance mean everything to you. You identify with our core values: discipline, stretch, trust, and support.
WHAT WE OFFER
We provide excellent conditions:
- Competitive salary and benefits, with either a Belgian or Dutch employment status.
- Everything you need to do your job well, including support in mobility and connectivity.
- Continuous development through in-house coaching, development programs, and opportunities to explore and develop new areas while contributing to the growth of PDM.