Senior Manager/Associate Director Process Engineer (m/f/x) - Chicago

Mutares • Chicago, IL

81d • Hybrid

About The Position

Mutares SE & Co. KGaA, Munich (www.mutares.com), as a listed private equity holding company, acquires medium-sized companies in special situations, which show significant operational improvement potential and are sold again after undergoing a repositioning and stabilization process. Mutares actively supports its portfolio companies with its own investment and operations teams and through strategic add-on acquisitions. The focus is on companies with revenues ranging from EUR 100 million to EUR 750 million, across various industries. The aim is to achieve a clear value increase with a focus on sustainable, long-term growth of the portfolio company.

Requirements

• Successfully completed a degree in Engineering or a related field with outstanding results
• At least 6 years of experience in the process industry, preferably in the chemical sector, combined with the ability to work in a consulting environment
• High level of expertise in asset management, process excellence, performance management, and organizational effectiveness
• Subject matter expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Six Sigma, and related methodologies
• Business fluency in English with the ability to communicate in a well-structured and concise manner
• Willingness to travel up to 4 days per week (typically Monday – Thursday) and to work in an international environment

Nice To Haves

• another language is a plus

Responsibilities

• Lead the Lean Production stream in restructuring and turnaround projects, providing clear leadership, strategic direction, and hands-on expertise to drive Operational Excellence
• Deploy Turnaround Lean approach for Production, define roadmaps, optimize manufacturing processes, organization, and systems to improve operational and financial performance (EBITDA & Cash)
• Engage local teams, closely monitor execution of action plans, lead breakthrough initiatives and workshops, and provide guidance and training in core process engineering and Lean methods (VSM, PFMEA / Control Plans, SPC, DOE, SMED, 5S, problem-solving).
• Identify benchmarks, enforce operational basics, deploy best practices, and unlock synergies across all production-related functions including Manufacturing, Quality, Maintenance, and Engineering
• Support the M&A team in due diligence through expert operational assessments, including process flows, capacity and bottleneck analysis, and CapEx/OpEx implications for value creation roadmaps

Benefits

• Work in a highly motivated, international, committed, and agile team that enjoys working together
• Exciting work environment with varied challenges, strategic influence, and tasks for continuous personal and professional development
• Flat hierarchies, fast decision-making processes, and room for your own ideas
• Regular team events and offsites

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior