Global Digital Strategy Manager

Leveraging its deep expertise as the global leader in catalysis and precious metals, BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions (ECMS) serves customers in many industries including automotive, aerospace, indoor air quality, semiconductors and hydrogen economy, and provides full loop services with its precious metals trading and recycling offering. With a focus on circular solutions and sustainability, ECMS is committed to helping our customers create a cleaner, more sustainable world.  Protecting our elements of life is our purpose and this inspires us to ever-new solutions. 

ECMS operates globally in 15 countries with approximately 20 production sites and over 4,000 employees.

As a Global Digital Strategy Manager, you will LEAD by……….

The Global Digital Strategy Manager is responsible for maintaining and guiding our digital strategy for the global Mobile Emission Catalysts (CC-EE) business within ECMS. In this position, you will lead both short and long-term strategic business planning for digital applications; and develop integrated processes that help support business requirements across the organization.  We will focus on low-cost high-ROI initiatives that streamline operations, reduce cost, drive AI adoption where it counts, and accelerate decision -making.  This individual will be responsible for developing and delivering end-to-end value creation measures to improve CC-EE’s cost basis and profitability 

Strong cross-functional leadership and effective navigation of global stakeholders, including business unit leaders and central IT are critical as you will manage complex issues within the entire end to end product innovation to final customer delivery processes.  Key influencing and change management skills are important to help an organization adapt to future digital standards.  Today, this role has direct leadership accountability for one permanent employee and several contract roles.  It also chairs a global digital acceleration team with approximately 25 participants from across the globe.

You will play a key role in the identification, planning, financial modeling, roll-out and optimization of the developed Digital Innovation portfolio across the entire global business unit. This requires strong project management skills and influencing ability across functions, geographies, and hierarchies. This role will also focus on optimizing emerging IT capabilities and automating processes by designing solutions that will improve overall business effectiveness and efficiencies, as well as the customer and employee experiences; thus, differentiating our competitive position in the global market. Simplicity, speed, and impact are key drivers for success in this role.

• • Drive alignment and enrollment across key stakeholders and support CC-EE’s business with the appropriate digitalization program designs that deliver successful implementation of profitable, effective, and customer-oriented solutions based on business requirements.
  • Shape and operationalize the digital roadmap aligned with business goals and financial priorities.
  • Collaborate closely with the central Information Technology (IT) team to ensure ECMS group strategy, spend approval, and long-term support models.  You will be the key approver and “voice of the business” into the centralized IT team.
  • Partner with the central IT team, to research and present the latest digital trends that yield competitive advantages with recommendations on how to incorporate them as sustainable manufacturing solutions for heightened operational performance, enhanced customer experience and optimal business growth.
  • Identify opportunities for the CC-EE operations & business community to leverage digital solutions.
  • Develop and recommend global digital strategy which aligns with CC-EE business.
  • Leverage the Global CCE Digital Acceleration Team network to launch and grow CC-EE’s best practice sharing, harmonization & simplification, and global connected strategy.
  • Lead data standardization globally across all sites.
  • Build and maintain relationships and networks with internal clients and resources within BASF. Work collaboratively with global partners on regional execution – share best practices, understand localization needs and provide support for both pre and post roll-out initiatives.
  • From a Digital Innovation perspective – provide architecture and technology oversight/guidance; while partnering with platform service functions and other business units to create differentiated value propositions by leveraging the complete portfolio of BASF ECMS IT tools, solutions, and services.

• Take immediate action to eliminate significant risks and propose actions to eradicate non-conformances or deviations.
• Oversee end-to-end execution of digital initiatives, including select program and project management responsibilities.
• Define key metrics, and outcomes for digitalization programs that align with business goals. Manage and mitigate technology-related issues. Monitor and improve execution.
• Lead project teams successfully. Ensure individual responsibilities of team members are clearly documented and communicated. Ensure employees are appropriately qualified with sufficient resources and skills to fulfill their responsibilities.
• Operate in accordance and awareness of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) policies and applicable regulations where manufacturing processes across the global platform are concerned.

• • Ensure compliance with all Quality-related programs as well as associated regulations and procedures.
  • Lead governance processes to evaluate, prioritize, and decide which digital requests to fund or reject—based on clear ROI, payback, and impact criteria.
  • Rebuild the credibility and strategic relevance of the Digital Function through transparency, consistency, and results.

Your elements for success……

• Bachelor’s degree is required; advanced degree with a Business or Project Management focus, or equivalent professional experience, is preferred. Experience within innovation or start-up space is a plus.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in digital transformation, business process optimization, or IT-business interfacing roles.
• Proven track record of delivering measurable business outcomes through digital projects (cost savings, productivity, margin protection, etc.).
• Strong understanding of modern digital tools and platforms, including AI, automation, low-code/no-code, analytics
• Extremely competent in managing multiple projects simultaneously, highly organized and detail oriented. 
• A strategic thinker, an advocate and thought leader for innovation with excellent business judgment. Ability to translate operational needs into digital solutions by working effectively with internal/external customers.
• Commendable problem-solving capabilities.
• A charismatic leader, capable of building strong team relationships.
• Sound knowledge of technological trends to build strategic, digitalized solutions across a global platform.
• Proven analytical skills with an impressive track record of creating financial models, sensitivity models and multi-variable forecasts. Exceptional ability to collect and interpret qualitative and quantitative data.
• Demonstrated proficiency in leading continuous process improvements.
• Strong communication skills (written and oral), presentation, and team facilitation skills.
• Highly proficient with key Microsoft Office applications.
• Willingness to travel 20% of the time. 

You @ BASF ECMS

At BASF you get more than just compensation, Medical & Dental. Our total offer includes a wide range of elements you need to be your best in every stage of your life. That’s what we call you@BASF. Our Periodic Table of Benefits includes some additional perks below for starters…

• Flexible Work Arrangements whenever possible
• Retirement Benefits with company contributions
• Private Medical insurance
• Income protection scheme 
• Share scheme membership 
• Wellness Programs
• Mentoring & Development Programs
• Employee Discounts

What are you waiting for? Click Apply now to BELONG@BASF!!

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