Senior Process Manager (d/f/m) R&D Operational Excellence & Process Improvement

In this role, you will drive the efficiency of the global Stage-Gate process for product development across LIXIL's brands and regions. You are the operational engine behind our R&D delivery: ensuring clear work packages, disciplined gate transitions, and practical governance that project teams can easily adopt. As the primary subject matter expert, you will serve as the trusted advisor for project managers and gatekeepers on all process inquiries. The role works through influence across a matrixed, multi-cultural organisation and is a service to colleagues rather than an audit function. R&D is in active transformation on tooling and data quality, so ambiguity and shifting priorities are part of the job. Your Responsibilities:

• Drive continuous optimisation of the global Stage-Gate Work Packages, ensuring deliverables are lean, consistent and harmonised across brands and regions.
• Maintain and enforce the global R&D governance framework: processes, tools, RASCI models, cadence structures and compliance checkpoints.
• Safeguard gate readiness, documentation integrity and audit readiness across all gate transitions.
• Define, track and report R&D KPIs covering gate discipline, cycle time and pipeline health.
• Develop and maintain digitalized templates, blueprints, work instructions and process documentation that simplify execution for project managers.
• Coordinate cross-functional and cross-regional alignment, so local delivery conforms to global R&D standards.
• Ensure Stage-Gate documentation and gate data are captured consistently and kept current in the governing systems, and represent process requirements towards the system owners.
• Build and maintain the R&D Knowledge Hub as the single, topic-structured source for process documentation, templates and training material, curated as an ongoing exercise.
• Ensure data continuity between Stage-Gate governance and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), acting as the business-side representative to translate process requirements into system specifications with the Global PLM team. Your Profile:
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Business Management, Industrial Management or comparable.
• 7 to 10 years in process management, R&D project management or operational excellence, gained across more than one industry, ideally in product development or manufacturing.
• Proven implementation of Stage-Gate or comparable phase-gate models
• Working understanding of project and portfolio management systems used in an R&D environment (e.g. Planisware Orchestra, SAP) and good data literacy for KPI definition and process analysis.
• Interest in how AI, automation and digital tools can simplify product development processes.
• Solid understanding of PLM, ERP, and engineering change management systems (e.g., SAP, Planisware Orchestra), with the ability to align process governance with system architecture.
• Demonstrated comfort, curiosity and respect across cultures and working styles is a core requirement.
• Gives and receives feedback constructively.
• Lean, Six Sigma or comparable optimisation approaches an advantage.
• Strong moderation and stakeholder skills, able to steer cross-regional teams without direct reporting lines. Able to translate between technical detail and business framing.
• Business-fluent English required, German an advantage. Our offer:
• A salary package that ties directly to your work experience and responsibilities
• Comprehensive health management, including an on-site fitness room, local and digital health services, Health Cashback, and Hansefit membership
• Diversity & Inclusion: We offer equal opportunities for all individuals and support your personal development
• Access to a wide range of employee benefits, such as discounts on travel, fashion, media, mobile phones, and more
• A highly motivated, appreciative, and international team that inspires you and offers opportunities to learn and grow
• A modern company restaurant to ensure your well-being during the day Interested? Then we are looking forward to your application!