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About our client

Our client is an innovative cleantech company that converts plastic waste into high-value green oil and circular feedstock. With the first German production site operational and several additional plants under construction or planned internationally, the company is transitioning from a project-driven organisation into a fully scaled industrial player. Backed by an experienced industrial and PE-oriented leadership team, the firm is preparing to expand into international markets such as the Middle East and Scandinavia and to significantly increase its asset base. The company is seeking an accomplished CEO who can build the organisation, lead complex industrial expansions, and transform the business into a half-billion enterprise and beyond. The role is based in Munich, Germany.

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What the job involves

• Set the strategic direction and guide the company through its next scale-up phases, including international expansion
• Build and professionalise the organisation, establishing structures, processes, and leadership capabilities required for a rapidly growing industrial company
• Oversee the development, construction, commissioning, and operational performance of new production plants; ensure technical rigor and industrial excellence
• Work closely with engineers and technical teams; bring a solid understanding of refinery, power plant, or comparable complex process-industry environments
• Strengthen the company’s global footprint by developing international sites and forging relationships with partners and authorities in key markets
• Represent the company with regulators, policymakers, governmental bodies, and industry associations; manage political and regulatory affairs
• Lead high-level fundraising and investor relations activities, representing the strategic vision to current and potential investors in close collaboration with the CFO
• Develop commercial strategies, secure long-term strategic partnerships, and open new markets
• Foster a high-performance culture across the organisation and lead the executive team through a demanding growth journey
• Ensure operational excellence, safety, and compliance across all production and expansion activities
• Act as the company’s principal external representative in strategic negotiations, industry platforms, and public forums
• Drive innovation, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision-making across all business units

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Who we are looking for

• University degree in Engineering, Natural Sciences, Business Administration, or a related field
• Significant leadership experience as CEO, Managing Director, or senior executive in industrial, energy, chemical, or large-scale process industry environments
• Strong technical understanding of complex industrial assets — ideally with experience in refineries, power plants, chemical plants, or comparable infrastructure projects
• Ability to communicate effectively with engineers and technical teams and to oversee large-scale construction and commissioning projects
• Proven track record in organisational building and transformation, scaling companies from early-stage setups into fully operational industrial organisations
• Experience in international expansion and managing multi-country industrial footprints
• Strong commercial mindset with ability to secure strategic partnerships and manage high-level negotiations
• Familiarity with political and regulatory landscapes, ideally with experience interacting with governmental authorities and regulators
• Entrepreneurial, hands-on leader who can operate effectively in a demanding, fast-paced, PE-backed environment
• Excellent stakeholder-management and communication skills
• Comfortable with a compensation model that is strongly performance-driven and tied to the achievement of growth targets
• Fluency in written and spoken German and English