Senior Manager Customer Projects (f/m/x)
About this role
Your Role
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Manager Customer Projects to join our team. In this role, you will initiate, lead, and execute strategic, large-scale operational initiatives within the ZEISS Shared Production Unit to deliver against requirements from internal and external customers (e.g., product ramp-ups, launches of new products, production transfers, and economic optimizations). You will ensure successful project delivery in alignment with customer expectations and serve as the go-to person for ZEISS internal and external customers, including senior management.
Identify, scope, structure, and lead strategic and operational projects with ZEISS Strategic Business Units, external customers, and the Shared Production Unit team
Be the go-to person for all projects; take responsibility for successful delivery and represent projects to internal and external customers
Manage projects to ensure on-time, on-budget, and quality delivery
Bring an outside-the-box perspective to find best solutions in a multi-stakeholder environment
Coordinate cross-functional activities and ensure alignment with customer requirements and strategic objectives
Communicate progress, risks, and decisions clearly to all stakeholders and senior management
Your Profile
Degree with excellent final grades in sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics, economics, or a related field
Multi-year practical experience in management consulting, project management, corporate strategy, operations, or sales/key account management in ZEISS-related industries
Track record in customer-facing roles (e.g., consulting, sales, key account management)
Operational excellence experience is a plus; experience in operations/production engineering or R&D is beneficial
Strong entrepreneurial, strategic thinking and solution-oriented mindset
Demonstrated ability to partner with all levels of the organization and achieve alignment in a complex stakeholder setting
Fluent in English and German; strong communication and lateral leadership skills
Your ZEISS Recruiting Team:
Norman FunkCompany at a glance
ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. In the previous fiscal year, the ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling almost 12 billion euros in its four segments Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, and Consumer Markets (September 30, 2025).
For its customers, ZEISS develops, produces, and distributes highly innovative solutions for industrial metrology and quality assurance, microscopy solutions for the life sciences and materials research, and medical technology solutions for diagnostics and treatment in ophthalmology and microsurgery. The name ZEISS is also synonymous with the world's leading lithography optics, which are used by the chip industry to manufacture semiconductor components. There is global demand for trendsetting ZEISS brand products such as eyeglass lenses, camera lenses, and binoculars.
With a portfolio aligned with future growth areas like digitalization, healthcare, and Smart Production and a strong brand, ZEISS is shaping the future of technology and constantly advancing the world of optics and related fields with its solutions. The company's significant, sustainable investments in research and development lay the foundation for the success and continued expansion of ZEISS' technology and market leadership. ZEISS invests 15 percent of its revenue in research and development – this high level of expenditure has a long tradition at ZEISS and is also an investment in the future.
With over 46,600 employees, ZEISS is active globally in around 50 countries with more than 60 sales and service locations, around 40 research and development facilities, and 30 production facilities worldwide.
Learn more about ZEISS: www.zeiss.com/about
Data privacy: www.zeiss.com/data-protection
Imprint: www.zeiss.com/publisher
This is ZEISS's official LinkedIn account. It follows the ZEISS Netiquette: www.zeiss.com/netiquette
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