Head of Business Line – Liquid Food & Dairy (m/f/d/x)

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Business Management:

• Full P&L responsibility for the business line’s execution team.

• Oversee global application and product reporting, ensuring alignment with key financial KPIs—Order Intake, Sales, and Gross Profit.

• Establish and lead a Global Application Network to drive industry best practices.

• Implement and manage a global sales strategy tailored to the customer industry (e.g., Dairy).

• Conduct budget alignments with key stakeholders in the LPT Execution Business Units.

• Develop internal partnerships with relevant in-house suppliers to maximize GEA’s market presence.

• Lead global account initiatives, ensuring a seamless client experience.

• Represent the company at key industry events and trade fairs.

• Ensure the delivery of budgeted profits, covering global white spots and key market accounts.

• Champion the implementation of best practices and success stories across the organization.

Leadership & Organizational Development:

• Provide strong leadership to the global Business Line organization.

• Lead the organization through transformational changes, ensuring adaptability and resilience.

• Foster a transparent communication culture, ensuring alignment across all levels.

• Build and maintain a performance-driven organization, with a focus on continuous learning and development.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Master’s degree or higher in Engineering or Industrial Engineering; an MBA or similar commercial qualification is a plus.

• At least 5 years in an industry-leading role within plant engineering or related fields.

• Deep understanding of P&L management and financial steering.

• Proven leadership experience of 10+ years, including in a matrix environment.

• Background in project-driven businesses is advantageous.

• Fluent in German and English (both written and spoken); additional languages are a plus.

• Strong project management and change management skills.

• International mindset with cultural intelligence and the ability to navigate complex global structures.

• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance long-term vision with short-term business goals.

• Frequent international travel for business is expected.

• Willingness to relocate to the greater Hamburg area is required.

This is an outstanding opportunity for a senior executive looking to drive innovation and excellence in a global organization. If you have the expertise and leadership capabilities to shape the future of the liquid dairy and food industry, we would love to hear from you.

For reasons of readability, no gender-specific differentiation is made in the job advertisement. However, the job advertisement is explicitly aimed at all persons, regardless of gender or lack thereof.