Head of Global Business Operations (m/f/d)

Field of Work: General Management

Location:

Berlin, BE, DE

Legal Entity: KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA

Contract Type: Regular

Is Full Time?: Yes

Onsite/ Remote: Hybrid Working Within Country

Job ID: 16746

Drive Operational Excellence. Create Business Value. Shape Global Transformation.

At KWS , we are transforming the way global business services create value for our organization. As Head of Global Business Operations (GBO) (m/f/d) , you will have the unique opportunity to shape a globally integrated operating model, drive digital transformation at scale, and partner directly with the CFO to enhance efficiency, service excellence, and business performance worldwide.

You will lead KWS' GBO organization with end-to-end accountability for our core administrative processes, including Record-to-Report (R2R), Source-to-Pay (S2P), and Order-to-Cash (O2C), ensuring operational excellence, scalability, and sustainable value creation across the enterprise.

Your Responsibilities:

• Lead Global Business Operations
• Define and execute the strategic direction of Global Business Operations in alignment with KWS' business objectives.
• Lead a high-performing global organization with accountability for service delivery, operational performance, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a trusted partner to the CFO and senior business leaders, driving organizational effectiveness and business value.
• Own and Optimize End-to-End Processes
• Provide global ownership and continuous improvement for key business processes: Record-to-Report (R2R), Source-to-Pay (S2P), Order-to-Cash (O2C)
• You will establish clear governance structures, accountabilities, service standards, and performance expectations across functions, countries, and systems to ensure scalable and efficient process execution.
• Drive Service Excellence and Business Performance
• Deliver reliable, high-quality services following a “first time right” approach.
• Define and manage KPIs, SLAs, and performance dashboards to drive transparency and accountability.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen controls, and simplify processes.
• Generate actionable insights that support informed decision-making and business performance.
• Lead Digital Transformation
• Drive the adoption of SAP S/4HANA, automation, analytics, workflow solutions, and AI-enabled technologies.
• Partner closely with Digital & IT, Global Process Owners, and business stakeholders to standardize processes and improve data quality.
• Develop and execute a transformation roadmap that balances innovation with operational stability.
• Ensure Governance, Compliance and Risk Management
• Maintain a robust control environment across all GBO processes.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, regulatory requirements, and audit standards.
• Drive process transparency, accountability, and effective risk management across the end-to-end value chain.
• Build a Future-Ready Organization
• Inspire, develop, and empower a global leadership team.
• Drive talent development, succession planning, and capability building.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, customer orientation, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Budget and Resource Management
• Own the annual budget and strategic priorities for the GBO.
• Ensure efficient allocation of resources and delivery of operational and financial targets.
• Evaluate and sponsor business cases supporting service enhancements and transformation initiatives.

Your Profile:

• Professional Experience
• Advanced degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Significant leadership experience in Global Business Operations, Shared Services, Finance Operations, Procurement, Order Management, or comparable functions.
• Proven track record in leading large-scale operational and transformation initiatives within international organizations.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end business processes, particularly R2R, S2P, and OTC.
• Experience with SAP S/4HANA and digital transformation, automation, analytics, or AI-enabled solutions.
• Demonstrated success in leading within complex global matrix organizations.
• Leadership Competencies
• Strategic and operational leader with a strong service and quality mindset.
• Ability to translate business priorities into scalable operational solutions.
• Strong analytical and fact-based decision-making skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and influencing capabilities.
• Proven ability to drive transformation while maintaining operational excellence.
• Inclusive leadership style with a focus on trust, accountability, and people development.
• Languages
• Fluent in English.
• German and additional languages are an advantage.

What We Offer:

• A highly visible and strategic leadership role with global responsibility.
• Direct partnership with the CFO and senior leadership team.
• Significant influence on the future development of KWS’ global operating model.
• The opportunity to shape process excellence, digital transformation, and organizational effectiveness on a global scale.
• An international, collaborative, and innovative working environment with substantial scope for impact and leadership.

We welcome applications from leaders who are ready to drive performance and transformation at scale. We look forward to receiving your application!

About KWS

KWS is one of the world’s leading plant breeding companies and employs around 5,000 employees in more than 70 countries. With the tradition of family ownership, KWS has operated independently for more than 170 years. It focuses on plant breeding and the production and sale of seeds for sugarbeet, corn, cereals, vegetables, oilseed rape and sunflowers. KWS uses leading-edge plant breeding methods and invests a significant amount in research and development.
At KWS, diversity is not just a value; it is an essential part of our success. Breeding resilient crops requires diversity; likewise, our strength comes from the diversity of our teams. Whatever your background or identity is, we invite you to join us.
Further information: . Follow us on LinkedIn® at .
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