219 Interim Plant Manager Bosnia

About Our Client:

Our client is a leading European manufacturer of steel components for the automotive and industrial sectors. With a strong presence across major European markets, the company has experienced rapid growth, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where its plant has expanded to over 500 employees. As part of its manufacturing expansion strategy, the company is relocating production operations from multiple European sites to Bosnia and Herzegovina. To stabilize operations, optimize efficiency, and successfully lead the factory relocation project, our client is seeking an Interim Plant Manager with extensive expertise in operational turnaround, lean manufacturing, and factory relocations.

Project Description:

The Interim Plant Manager will play a critical role in stabilizing current production, ensuring operational excellence, and leading a large-scale manufacturing relocation project. This position requires a hands-on, results-driven manufacturing leader with deep experience in factory transfers, operational performance improvement, and automotive industry best practices. Key responsibilities include:

• Manufacturing Operations Management: Oversee daily plant operations, ensuring production stability, efficiency, and cost control.
• Factory Relocation Leadership: Plan and execute the relocation of manufacturing operations from multiple European sites to Bosnia, ensuring seamless integration and minimal disruption.
• Lean Manufacturing & Process Optimization: Implement Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and eliminate inefficiencies.
• Cost & Quality Control: Maintain strict quality assurance standards, optimize costs, and ensure compliance with safety and regulatory requirements.
• Team Leadership & Workforce Development: Mentor and upskill local plant management teams, fostering a culture of high performance and operational excellence.
• Cross-Border Business & Supply Chain Management: Navigate EU and non-EU market challenges, ensuring a smooth transition in labor, logistics, and supply chain operations.
• Stakeholder & Project Management: Work closely with senior leadership, suppliers, and operational teams to ensure the success of the relocation and expansion strategy.

Interim Manager Required Skills:

The ideal candidate for this Interim Plant Manager job will have a strong background in manufacturing, operational turnaround, and factory relocation. Key Qualifications & Experience:

• Proven Experience in Plant & Manufacturing Management: 15+ years in automotive, heavy industry, or precision manufacturing. Strong shop-floor leadership with a hands-on management approach.
• Expertise in Factory Relocations & Industrial Transfers: Successful track record in cross-border factory relocation projects. Strong logistics, planning, and execution capabilities to ensure seamless integration.
• Operational Turnaround & Performance Improvement: Ability to stabilize and optimize underperforming production sites. Experience in troubleshooting operational inefficiencies and improving output.
• Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement Leadership: Expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen methodologies to drive efficiency. Experience in process automation and advanced production planning.
• Strategic Leadership & Project Execution: Ability to lead both short-term operational recovery and long-term expansion. Strong project management skills for large-scale relocations and industrial restructuring.
• Understanding of EU & Non-EU Business Operations: Experience navigating regulatory, labor, and supply chain challenges across Europe. Knowledge of the Bosnia and Herzegovina manufacturing landscape is a plus.
• Change Management & Leadership Excellence: Strong people management skills, with a focus on organizational transformation. Proven ability to build high-performance teams and drive cultural change.

Key Requirements:

• Factory Relocation. Operational Excellence. Turnaround

Type of Assignment:

• Interim

Scope of Interim Assignment:

• Factory Relocation & Operational Turnaround

Functional Area of the Interim Manager:

• Plant Management

Location:

• Bosnia and Herzegovina

Duration:

• 12 months

Start Date:

• April 2025

Why work with us?:

CE Interim delivers proven executive interim leaders within 72 hours across borders, cultures, and industries. We specialize in high-impact interim management for private equity firms, family offices, and global corporations facing moments of transition: digital transformation, market entry, operational turnaround, post-merger integration, or crisis.

What sets us apart is not just the speed or depth of our network, it’s how we lead. Every engagement is personally guided by a CE Interim managing partner: former CEOs, CFOs, or COOs who’ve been on your side of the table, steering organizations through high-stakes decisions.

With a global talent pool and operational reach spanning Europe, the USA, and the Middle East, we don’t fill roles, we build trust, lead transitions, and deliver outcomes.

As part of the Valtus Alliance, the world’s largest alliance of Executive Interim Management companies, we ensure seamless international execution through 25+ offices and 80+ senior partners in over 50 countries.

Executive Leadership Breaking Borders. Outcomes Without Compromise.