Home Jobs Senior Manager, Continual Improvement
Back to Jobs

Senior Manager, Continual Improvement - Job Opportunity at Neste

Rotterdam, Netherlands
Full-time
Senior
Posted: July 1, 2025
On-site
EUR 95,000 - 130,000 annually, considering the senior management level, 10+ years experience requirement, and Rotterdam's competitive market for petrochemical professionals. The role's global scope and strategic importance to Neste's operations likely positions it in the upper tier of this range.

Benefits

Opportunity to create real environmental impact through climate change mitigation solutions
Comprehensive safety-first culture with emphasis on employee wellbeing and psychological safety
Extensive professional development opportunities including versatile learning programs and global career advancement paths
Flexible and smart working arrangements supporting work-life integration
Global collaboration opportunities across multiple continents and business units
Access to cutting-edge sustainable technology and renewable energy innovation projects

Key Responsibilities

Lead strategic benchmarking initiatives to position Neste's operational performance against global industry standards and drive competitive advantage
Execute comprehensive operational audits across multiple international sites to identify performance gaps and optimization opportunities
Define and implement enterprise-level competence frameworks that establish organizational excellence standards across all refinery operations
Drive organizational transformation through coaching and mentoring local competence teams to achieve world-class operational standards
Spearhead cross-functional collaboration with commercial, supply chain, and refinery stakeholders to develop data-driven improvement strategies with measurable business impact
Build and leverage global stakeholder networks to influence organizational culture and drive sustainable operational excellence across diverse teams and regions

Requirements

Education

Master degree in relevant field

Experience

Strong (10+ years) experience in petrochemical processes, technology and operations management

Required Skills

High commitment to safety and safety standards Results, business and safety -driven mindset Ability to understand key strategic business issues Proven skills in communication and leadership, incl. change leadership Proven ability to influence multiple levels of an organization Strong analytical and problem solving skills Fluent spoken and written English Working knowledge and experience in Lean or 6 sigma methodologies in a manufacturing environment
Advertisement
Ad Space

Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The renewable energy sector is experiencing unprecedented growth with global renewable fuel capacity expected to expand significantly by 2030, driven by regulatory mandates and corporate sustainability commitments. This creates substantial demand for operational excellence professionals who can optimize production efficiency in renewable fuel manufacturing. Sustainability and ESG compliance have become critical business imperatives, with companies investing heavily in continuous improvement methodologies to meet carbon neutrality targets and regulatory requirements. This trend is particularly pronounced in the petrochemical industry's transition to renewable feedstocks. Digital transformation and Industry 4.0 technologies are revolutionizing refinery operations, requiring professionals who can integrate traditional operational excellence with advanced analytics, AI-driven optimization, and predictive maintenance capabilities.

Role Significance

Likely managing a team of 5-10 continuous improvement specialists and analysts, while coordinating with dozens of stakeholders across refineries, commercial teams, and supply chain operations globally.
This is a senior strategic role with significant organizational influence, responsible for setting enterprise-wide standards and driving operational transformation across multiple international locations. The position requires executive-level thinking and the ability to influence senior stakeholders across the global organization.

Key Projects

Implementation of global operational excellence frameworks across multiple refinery locations Development and execution of comprehensive benchmarking studies comparing Neste's performance to industry leaders Leading cross-functional improvement initiatives that directly impact production efficiency and cost optimization Establishment of competence development programs for refinery operations teams

Success Factors

Deep understanding of petrochemical processes combined with expertise in sustainable fuel production technologies Exceptional change leadership capabilities to drive cultural transformation across diverse, global teams Strong analytical mindset with ability to translate complex operational data into actionable business strategies Proven track record of influencing senior stakeholders and building consensus across multiple organizational levels Experience with Lean Six Sigma methodologies and their application in manufacturing environments Cultural intelligence and adaptability to work effectively across different countries and business cultures

Market Demand

High demand driven by the renewable energy transition, regulatory pressure for operational efficiency, and limited pool of professionals with both petrochemical expertise and sustainable fuel industry experience.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Petrochemical process expertise is absolutely essential as it forms the technical foundation for understanding refinery operations and identifying improvement opportunities. Without this deep technical knowledge, it would be impossible to effectively benchmark performance or coach operational teams. Change leadership capabilities are critical given the role's focus on driving organizational transformation across multiple sites and cultures. The ability to influence without direct authority and build consensus among diverse stakeholders is fundamental to success. Analytical and problem-solving skills are vital for conducting meaningful benchmarking studies, interpreting complex operational data, and developing data-driven improvement strategies that deliver measurable business impact.

Beneficial Skills

Lean Six Sigma certification and experience would significantly enhance effectiveness in this role, providing structured methodologies for process improvement and waste elimination that are highly valued in manufacturing environments. Digital transformation knowledge, particularly in areas like predictive analytics, IoT, and Industry 4.0 technologies, would provide competitive advantage as the industry increasingly adopts smart manufacturing approaches. Sustainability and ESG expertise would be valuable given Neste's strong commitment to environmental goals and the increasing importance of sustainability metrics in operational performance evaluation.

Unique Aspects

Opportunity to work at the forefront of the energy transition, directly contributing to climate change mitigation efforts
Global scope with potential assignments across three continents and exposure to diverse operational environments
Combination of traditional petrochemical expertise with cutting-edge renewable fuel technology
Direct impact on establishing industry best practices in the rapidly evolving sustainable fuel sector
Access to Neste's extensive network of commercial and supply chain partnerships globally

Career Growth

3-5 years to VP level positions, 5-7 years to C-suite roles, given the strategic nature of this role and the rapidly growing renewable energy sector

Potential Next Roles

Vice President of Operations or Manufacturing Director of Operational Excellence for larger energy companies Chief Operating Officer roles in renewable energy companies Senior consulting positions with top-tier management consulting firms specializing in energy transition

Company Overview

Neste

Neste is a globally recognized leader in renewable fuel production, particularly sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel, with a strong commitment to circular economy principles. The company operates refineries across three continents and has ambitious growth plans to increase renewable fuel production capacity to 6.8 million tons by 2027.

Market leader in sustainable aviation fuel globally, with strong financial performance evidenced by EUR 20.6 billion revenue in 2024. Consistently recognized by leading sustainability indices, positioning the company as a premium employer in the renewable energy sector.
Rotterdam location serves as a critical European hub for Neste's operations, providing access to major shipping routes and proximity to key European markets. The role offers potential for international assignments across Neste's global operations in Finland and Singapore.
Neste emphasizes values-driven culture with focus on care, courage, and cooperation. The company promotes psychological safety, diversity, and inclusion while maintaining rigorous safety standards. The culture appears to balance high performance expectations with employee wellbeing and professional development.
Advertisement
Ad Space
Apply Now

Data Sources & Analysis Information

Job Listings Data

The job listings displayed on this platform are sourced through BrightData's comprehensive API, ensuring up-to-date and accurate job market information.

Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Our advanced AI system analyzes each job listing to provide valuable insights including:

  • Industry trends and market dynamics
  • Salary estimates and market demand analysis
  • Role significance and career growth potential
  • Critical success factors and key skills
  • Unique aspects of each position

This integration of reliable job data with AI-powered analysis helps provide you with comprehensive insights for making informed career decisions.