Hungry for challenges? Join a group with innovation at its heart and contribute to the automotive revolution!

OPmobility is a world-leading provider of innovative solutions for a unique, safer and more sustainable mobility experience. Innovation-driven since its creation, the Group develops and produces intelligent exterior systems, customized complex modules, lighting systems, clean energy systems and electrification solutions for all mobility companies. With a €11.4 billion economic revenue in 2023, a global network of 152 plants and 40 R&D centers, OPmobility relies on its 40,300 employees to meet the challenges of transforming mobility.

Our ambition? Provide automakers with cutting-edge equipment and solutions to develop tomorrow’s clean and connected car.

Role Purpose

Lead the development and transformation of the One Roof R&D Centre India into a globally integrated “India‑for‑the‑World” R&D hub for OPmobility. Drive the organisational shift from current BG‑specific structures to a cross‑BG functional model, ensuring capability building, process harmonisation, and scalable delivery aligned with Group transformation priorities. Operate effectively within a complex matrix environment, enabling consistent governance, talent development, and operational performance across all contributing Business Groups.

Key Responsibilities

• Collect, consolidate, and translate cross‑BG R&D competency needs into a unified capability roadmap, ensuring alignment with OPmobility’s transformation priorities and future functional model.
• Steer roadmap for India R&D transformation, covering feasibility assessments, delivery phasing, dependency mapping, and operational readiness. Animate locally structured progress reviews, risk management, and decision‑making routines.
• Implement the Target Operating Model, enabling convergence to a harmonised, cross‑BG functional organisation. Ensure clarity of interfaces, governance mechanisms, processes, and KPI ownership.
• Establish and institutionalise the core processes required for the new model—capacity planning, job request flows, invoicing, workload allocation, KPI monitoring, and governance dashboards—ensuring consistency and transparency across functions
• Identify clear roles, responsibilities, and interfaces for all R&D teams, ensuring efficient workflows, on‑time delivery, and accountability to customer programmes and functional managers.
• Develop and recommend appropriate infrastructure solutions to support an efficient workplace ecosystem.
• Develop and execute change management strategies to facilitate smooth transitions during the transformation. Foster robust partnerships with business stakeholders and ensure comprehensive understanding and support of R&D demand processes.
• Partner with HR to build a recruitment and upskilling mechanism capable of supporting the ramp‑up. Ensure structured onboarding, capability mapping, training plans, and retention actions aligned with transformation KPIs (e.g., onboarding efficiency, attrition)
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within the R&D teams leveraging KPIs, feedback loops, and best practices
• Manage relationships with external partners, universities, and corporate teams to ensure capability alignment, quality, and scalability.
• Provide leadership and guidance to the R&D teams, promoting professional development and growth, securing transfer knowledge.
• Governance, Cross-BG Management & Communication: Establish and chair a Site Management Committee; ensure effective internal communication and regular all-hands meetings; maintain stakeholder map.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Project Timing: On-time R&D One Roof deployment per function/quarter.
• Financials: Budget vs. actual hours, confirmed savings, sustained productivity in transition.
• Quality: Internal customer satisfaction (quarterly), external audit feedback.
• Skills: Upskilling of India R&D staff vs business needs.
• Resources: Overall R&D workforce efficiency (OEE).
• Governance & Communication: Site Committee cadence, timely actions, participation in townhalls/events.
• Onboarding: Time to full productivity.
• Sustainability: Attrition during ramp-up.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering.
• At least 5 years of R&D management experience within OPmobility, ideally with a background in leading R&D offshoring or nearshoring initiatives.
• Strong project management skills; PMP or PRINCE2 certification desirable.
• Proven ability to structure governance, monitor KPIs, drive execution, and manage cross-functional dependencies.
• Demonstrable financial acumen, including budgeting (OPEX/CAPEX), cost control, business case development, and contract management.
• Experience leading within a complex matrix organization across multiple geographies, and functions.
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and influencing to ensure alignment across business groups and Group teams.
• Ability to work effectively in diverse, multicultural environments, with strong coaching, talent development, and team-building skills to support large-scale ramp-up.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; proficiency in Hindi or regional Indian languages is advantageous.

As a responsible company, OPmobility pays particular attention to diversity and equality within its teams and the Group commits to treat all job applications equally.