TS Manager

About the Role

Job Purpose

We are seeking a candidate who will play a key role in driving manufacturing process excellence at the Bridgestone plant in Bari, ensuring efficient, reliable, and cost-effective tire production.

We are looking for a highly skilled and technically proficient Technical Services (TS) Manager with strong leadership capabilities and a solid background in manufacturing and process engineering. The TS Manager will lead the development, implementation, and optimization of production processes, technologies, and equipment to improve productivity, process reliability, and cost efficiency.

Working closely with Production, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality and other plant functions, the TS Manager will drive technical improvements, solve complex manufacturing challenges, and support the introduction of new products and technologies. The ability to drive innovation, optimize processes, and deliver sustainable improvements will be essential to achieving operational excellence.

The ideal candidate will have significant experience in manufacturing and process engineering within a high-volume industrial environment and Experience in tire manufacturing.

Responsibilities

- Manufacturing Process Engineering:

- Design, develop, and optimize manufacturing processes, production layouts, equipment arrangements.

- Define process parameters, and technical standards to improve productivity and resource utilization.

- Identify process bottlenecks and implement solutions to increase equipment and process efficiency and reduce manufacturing costs.

- Technical Support & Industrialization:

- Provide technical support to Production teams, troubleshooting process issues and leading root cause analysis.

- Coordinate technical trials and validation activities to improve process stability and reliability.

- Support new product industrialization, equipment commissioning, and the implementation of new technologies.

- Collaborate with Engineering teams and central functions to ensure product specifications are compatible with manufacturing capabilities.

- Collaborate with central functions to ensure product development in line with new product launch timing

- Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement:

- Drive improvement initiatives in line with BME principles, focusing on productivity, Scrap reduction, cost efficiency, and process performance.

- Analyze manufacturing data and KPIs to identify improvement opportunities and implement sustainable solutions.

- Promote process standardization, technical best practices, and structured problem-solving.

- Ensure manufacturing processes and technical procedures comply with applicable safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.

- Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration:

- Lead and develop the Technical Services team, strengthening technical competencies and promoting continuous improvement.

- Collaborate with Production, Maintenance, Engineering , Quality and other plant functions to deliver technical projects aligned with business objectives.

- Foster innovation, knowledge sharing, and a proactive approach to manufacturing challenges.

Key Qualifications & Experience

Education:

- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial, or Materials Engineering, or a related technical field.

Experience:

- Minimum 7 years of experience in manufacturing, process engineering, or technical services.

- Proven experience in process optimization, technical troubleshooting, and manufacturing technology implementation.

- Experience in tire manufacturing or the automotive industry is highly preferred.

- Previous experience in team leadership and cross-functional project management is an advantage.

Technical Skills:

- Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, industrial equipment, and process optimization.

- Experience in root cause analysis, process validation, and manufacturing data analysis.

- Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, BME principles, and continuous improvement methodologies.

- Understanding of tire production processes and industrialization activities is highly preferred.

Soft Skills:

- Strong leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

- Effective communication and stakeholder management.

- Proactive, results-oriented mindset with a focus on innovation and continuous improvement.

Language Skills:

- Fluent in English and Italian, both written and spoken.

Salary range: 70.000 € - 80.000 €

The salary range is based on gender-neutral criteria: requirements under the applicable national collective bargaining agreement, responsibilities, working conditions, and market parameters for the role and location. The final salary will be determined based on gender-neutral criteria: experience, skills, and internal equity.