Director Maintenance (m/w/d)

• Applications are considered on a rolling basis
• On-site

Job Description

We are looking for an experienced Director of Maintenance to join us in our mission to contribute to a greener future. The role is part of our bold and passionate Production Leadership team based in Heide, Germany. By joining us, you will be a key player in establishing Northvolt Drei and contribute to building one of the first large-scale battery factories in Germany.  

About the Job

As the Director of Maintenance, you will be responsible for leading multiple critical maintenance functions, including production maintenance, technical administration, the tooling workshop, and facilities & utilities. Your primary task will be to build and lead a team of over 200 skilled professionals, ensuring that Northvolt’s production operations are maintained at the highest standards of efficiency and reliability.

A typical day in this role involves strategic oversight of maintenance activities, coordinating with other departments to ensure smooth production, and implementing long-term maintenance plans that support our sustainability goals. You will need to manage high-demand situations in a fast-paced, innovative environment, where the ability to act with urgency and precision is crucial.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with extensive leadership experience in manufacturing, particularly in large-scale, greenfield projects. You will have the chance to shape the future of maintenance operations at Northvolt, working closely with the Plant Manager to drive continuous improvement and innovation.

About the team

You will be part of our Operations Leadership Team based in Heide, working in a dynamic environment with colleagues who are passionate about building a sustainable future. The team is growing rapidly, and the long-term goal is to develop a world-class maintenance department that can scale with Northvolt's expanding operations. As Director of Maintenance, you will play a crucial role in shaping this team and ensuring its success.

If you're ready to take on the challenge of leading in a fast-moving environment and driving forward a mission that matters, this is the perfect role for you!

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Responsibility for the strategic and operational maintenance of our production facility, including automation and robotics.
• Leadership and development of the maintenance team, as well as management of resources and budgets.
• Implementation of Lean Manufacturing to increase efficiency and reduce downtime.
• Ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards.
• Collaboration with production, engineering, and stakeholder to ensure maximum equipment availability.
• Experience with CMMS and data-driven maintenance (Predictive Maintenance).
• Technical background in industrial facilities, ideally in battery technology, chemicals, or automotive industries.

Northvolt is an equal opportunity employer. We're a diverse group of individuals, united by a common mission, who recognise that while our actions as individuals have a role to play in driving Northvolt towards its goals, we always seek to move forward as a team. We offer you an open and welcoming atmosphere where we win as a team – and fail as a team. Northvolt is growing at the speed of light and we are a strong believer in internal career development. For us it’s important to look at your skills and potential, please refrain form including your picture and age with your application to help us with this.

Apply with CV in English or your complete LinkedIn profile.

Please note that candidates considered for employment with NV may be subject to a mandatory background check process.

Please note that any applications submitted via email or direct messaging will not be considered.

Skills & Requirements

We believe that you have :

• Proven leadership in large manufacturing organizations, preferably in a Maintenance Department.
• 5-10 years of experience in a similar management role within the manufacturing industry, preferably in the battery, automotive, or chemical sectors.
• The ability to transition quickly from strategic planning to hands-on problem solving.

Bonus points for:

• Knowledge of European legislation and safety standards.
• A role model for safety, quality, and teamwork.
• Experience from a multi-cultural environment.

About the company

Northvolt makes green batteries for a blue planet. Affordable, sustainable, and high-quality cells and battery systems. Built to enable the future of energy.

To accomplish this, we do things differently. We design, manufacture, and recycle everything under one roof. We even build our own factories. All this is incredibly challenging and requires us to think in unconventional ways. We’re constantly experimenting, learning and adapting to make the world’s greenest batteries.

Northvolt is growing fast. We’re looking for smart people from all disciplines. Strong individuals that truly want to make a positive impact on the future. Those of us already on board share a passion for our mission. We’re prepared to work hard in pursuit of excellence. We enjoy the ride and our main drive is to make a difference for real. As a team, we’re dedicated to thinking new, working hard and having fun!