Senior Manager Strategic Customer Projects (m/f/x)

Step out of your comfort zone, excel and redefine the limits of what is possible. That's just what our employees are doing every single day – in order to set the pace through our innovations and enable outstanding achievements. After all, behind every successful company are many great fascinating people.

In a spacious modern setting full of opportunities for further development, ZEISS employees work in a place where expert knowledge and team spirit reign supreme. All of this is supported by a special ownership structure and the long-term goal of the Carl Zeiss Foundation: to bring science and society into the future together.

Join us today. Inspire people tomorrow.

Diversity is a part of ZEISS. We look forward to receiving your application regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, philosophy of life, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity.

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Your Role

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Manager Customer Projects to join our team. In this role, you will initiate, lead, and execute strategic, large-scale operational initiatives within the ZEISS Shared Production Unit to deliver against requirements from internal and external customers (e.g., product ramp-ups, launches of new products, production transfers, and economic optimizations). You will ensure successful project delivery in alignment with customer expectations and serve as the go-to person for ZEISS internal and external customers, including senior management.

• Identify, scope, structure, and lead strategic and operational projects with ZEISS Strategic Business Units, external customers, and the Shared Production Unit team

• Be the go-to person for all projects; take responsibility for successful delivery and represent projects to internal and external customers

• Manage projects to ensure on-time, on-budget, and quality delivery

• Bring an outside-the-box perspective to find best solutions in a multi-stakeholder environment

• Coordinate cross-functional activities and ensure alignment with customer requirements and strategic objectives

• Communicate progress, risks, and decisions clearly to all stakeholders and senior management

Your Profile

• Degree with excellent final grades in sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics, economics, or a related field

• Multi-year practical experience in management consulting, project management, corporate strategy, operations, or sales/key account management in ZEISS-related industries

• Track record in customer-facing roles (e.g., consulting, sales, key account management)

• Operational excellence experience is a plus; experience in operations/production engineering or R&D is beneficial

• Strong entrepreneurial, strategic thinking and solution-oriented mindset

• Demonstrated ability to partner with all levels of the organization and achieve alignment in a complex stakeholder setting

• Fluent in English and German; strong communication and lateral leadership skills

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