Head of Europe Operation Center - Automation

At ABB, we help industries outrun - leaner and cleaner. Here, progress is an expectation - for you, your team, and the world. As a global market leader, we’ll give you what you need to make it happen. It won’t always be easy, growing takes grit. But at ABB, you’ll never run alone. Run what runs the world.

This Position reports to:

Head of Operation Centers & Quality

Position Overview:

ABB Europe Operation Center (EUOPC) is one of the largest operational centers supporting ABB’s Automation (AU) business by delivering operational excellence, digitalization, and collaborative services to customers across Europe and other continents. EUOPC services to Automation divisions cover all areas of project execution, sales support, software development and data analytics.

In the role of you will be accountable for further EUOPC value add increase through flawless execution, continuous Improvement and closer collaboration with the AU Divisions and other Operation centers.

You will be leading a diverse team of over 1000+ professionals located in multiple countries, dedicated to value creation for ABB customers.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and execute a forward-looking strategy for EUOPC, ensuring alignment with the objectives of Automation Divisions and their evolving market needs.
• Champion EUOPC’s position as a center of excellence in automation, electrification, digital innovation, and value-added services.
  
  

Team Leadership:

• Inspire, lead, and develop a high-performing, multidisciplinary team, fostering a culture of innovation, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Drive talent management initiatives, including robust training and certification programs, to attract, retain, and develop top talent.
  
  

Operational Excellence and Productivity:

• Ensure the efficient, timely, and cost-effective delivery of engineering and service projects, maintaining the highest standards in quality, project management, and process standardization.
• Build and nurture collaborative partnerships with internal customers and suppliers to rapidly respond to changing needs.
  
  

Governance & Compliance:

• Maintain adherence to ABB’s global standards, integrity rules as per ABB Way. Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, and cybersecurity requirements.
• Proactively manage risk and incident response processes, ensuring robust governance and compliance across all operations.
  
  

Value Creation and Collaboration:

• Focus on enhancing EUOPC value add through flawless execution, continuous Improvement and closer collaboration with the AU Divisions and other Operation centers.
  
  

Qualifications:

To be successful in this role, you bring a graduate degree in Engineering or an equivalent discipline, along with a minimum of 15 years of relevant professional experience. You have strong experience in project execution functions within the automation sector and a proven track record in people management, including leading and developing large teams.

You also bring 10–15 years of progressive experience in corporate communications, public relations, or a related field, ideally within a B2B or technology-driven environment. You have demonstrated success in developing and executing effective communication strategies and are experienced in managing communications during crisis situations.

International or multicultural work experience is an added advantage. In addition, you bring deep domain expertise in automation, a strong strategic vision with the ability to execute at scale, and experience managing large-scale operations with a customer-centric mindset.

Your leadership capabilities support organizational development, and you are comfortable driving digitalization initiatives, including AI integration. You communicate with clarity and influence, collaborate effectively across stakeholders, and consistently demonstrate strong people management skills.

Location: We are open to candidates applying from any country, preferably within Europe, and you are willing and able to relocate to the Czech Republic.

We value people from different backgrounds. Could this be your story? Apply today or visit www.abb.com to read more about us and learn about the impact of our solutions across the globe.