Head of Automatic Lubrication System Business Line

Lubrication Lifetime Solutions is one of five independent Business Units in SKF with a complete end-to-end and full value chain responsibility, covering the world´s all regions. Our business unit supports the SKF organization and our customers with solutions for reliable lubrication and consists of two main Business Lines: Automatic Lubrication Systems (ALS) and Manual Lubrication Systems (MLS), complemented with RecondOil and MPT. Lubrication Business Unit entails ~2100 employees across the world, and 8 manufacturing sites spread over 6 countries.

Do you have a passion for strategic leadership and business growth? Are you excited about collaborating with global teams and making a significant impact? Do you have experience in business/product management in a global industrial company?

Then you could join the SKF Lubrication Lifetime Solutions team as…

Head of Automatic Lubrication System (ALS) Business Line

The Business Line is globally responsible for coordinating the full product lifecycle – from launching new products to managing them through their lifecycle. In this role, you will be a central figure within the Lubrication Lifetime Solution organization, interacting with all departments and levels of our organization, as well as customers and suppliers.

As Head of Automatic Lubrication Systems (ALS) Business Line, you will lead the development and implementation of the global ALS product line roadmap. You will spearhead the innovation ecosystem and related roadmaps, positioning Lubrication Lifetime Solutions as an innovation leader. By leveraging a deep understanding of the market, customer needs, our capabilities, and current business performance, you will build growth plans to successfully enhance the business performance of the ALS portfolio. This role includes full P&L responsibility for the business line, which operates as its own profit unit. In this role, you will have the opportunity to work with Sales units globally, gain a deep understanding of customers’ needs, identify opportunities, and shape our product strategy. You will also collaborate closely with our operations, directly involving and supporting global manufacturing footprint activities.

What you can expect in the role

• Strategic Leadership: Outline and implement the strategy for the ALS Business Line in close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, promoting value selling.
• Innovation and Development: Oversee the full product lifecycle, from innovation and new product development to engineering existing products.
• Business Growth: Ensure business growth and profitability by understanding current performance and implementing activities to enhance it.
• Market Insight: Monitor competitors, collect market information, and develop a deep understanding of market trends, customers, and competitors.
• Product Excellence: Propose differentiated competitive product offers and ensure top-quality development of the product portfolio, keeping up with technological advancements and exploring new business models.
• Marketing and Communication: Define the marketing and communication priorities for the product line in close cooperation with the Lubrication Marketing & Communication team, and support the execution of these activities.

As Head of the ALS Business Line, you and your team are expected to be the experts for this product line and its value chains, in respect of application, market and product requirements as well as competitor analysis.

We expect you to have

• A university degree (MSc) in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
• A strategic focus on the bigger picture, combined with the financial, technical, product, and application knowledge necessary to move the business line forward.
• Extensive experience across the value chain (e.g., Application Engineering, Product Development, Product Management, Sales) in an international company.
• Experience in building growth plans, setting product line strategies, and changing businesses to improve profits and lower costs.
• Previous experience in business/product management and technology development.
• The ability to understand market and customer needs and translate them into effective solutions.
• An outward-looking perspective to stay up to date with customer needs, market trends, and technology, and the insight to adjust plans and processes accordingly.
• You need to be fluent in English and have effective communication skills in diverse and complicated global situations.

You will enjoy working here if you have

• Effective communication skills that enable you to clearly convey strategies and plans to operational teams engagingly and understandably.
• Proven leadership experience with a drive for change, and the ability to inspire and motivate others to achieve their best.
• A collaborative spirit that works well with cross-functional and cross-regional teams, enhancing value and prioritizing tasks.

Our offer
This is a great opportunity to work in the Lubrication Lifetime Solutions business unit during a transformative time. We are introducing a new operating model designed to increase decision-making, speed, enhance flexibility, and clearly differentiate the OEMs, channel partners, and end-users we support. In this role, you will lead a professional and skilled team of 5 direct reports and a total of roughly 30 employees in the ALS Business Line organization.

Join us and partner with skilled colleagues in the Lubrication Lifetime Solution leadership team to create customer value, innovation, and sustainable growth. Enjoy the journey as we develop each other and have fun along the way.

Some additional information
The position holder will preferably be located in one of the following sites: Chodov (CZ), Gothenburg (SWE), Saint Louis (US), Berlin (GER), Walldorf (GER), Saint Cyr (FRA) or Houten (NL).
Please note this is a global role requiring extensive international travel.

This role reports to the Business Unit Director of Lubrication, Philipp Herlein, located in Berlin, Germany, and it will be part of the Lubrication Lifetime Solutions Management team.

For questions regarding the recruitment process, contact Josefin Nelson, or via email josefin.nelson@skf.com. Please note that we can't accept applications via email.

At SKF, we are committed to promoting fairness and inclusivity throughout our recruitment process. To achieve this, we may include assessments and verify the information in your application in compliance with country-specific laws and regulations.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the recruiter.

Is this you?
If the answer is yes, submit your application no later than 2025-01-16.