Head of Quotations

The Head of Quotations for EABU is a high-impact leadership position designed to drive our commercial success in this strategic shift. You will be the central architect of a new global quotation framework specifically for our value-added system products.The main task is the control, moderation, and approval of product calculations in accordance with the Business Unit's global Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) process. This is executed by and with the local teams in our manufacturing sites in Serbia and in Changzhou and Xiamen (China). This function moderates and builds the interface between local engineering, sales, our central functions such as purchasing and engineering, and the local and BU management. Core tasks include managing the customer inquiry process (Request for Quotation) with regard to technical compliance, costs, adherence to deadlines, and calculation quality, from feasibility analysis, through regular offer optimizations, to initiating the project phase after a customer's commitment. Part of the responsibilities include checking the requested product details for their feasibility according to the submitted customer specifications (technical drawings, technical standards, technical calculations, component availability, manufacturing possibilities, etc.) and their successive clarification with the customer or with external suppliers, as well as the leadership of local calculation employees. This also includes challenging the functional inputs given by the plants regarding material cost and target times with regards to competitiveness and plausibility and to explore with other central functions new processes and new design ideas as solutions to the RFQ. This function has the biggest impact on whether we will win projects and design or not. Key ResponsibilitiesControl, moderate, and approve all product calculations in accordance with the Business Unit’s global PLM process.Manage the interface and facilitate collaboration between local engineering, sales, and central departments such as purchasing and engineering.Provide leadership and guidance to local calculation teams located in our manufacturing sites in Serbia, Changzhou, and Xiamen, China.Oversee the entire customer inquiry process (Request for Quotation - RFQ), ensuring adherence to technical compliance, cost targets, and deadlines.Compare and analyze quotation concepts, monitor RFQ quotation quality, negotiate in time and ensure that quotation concepts meet customer requirements and are competitive.Conduct feasibility analysis of requested product details based on customer specifications, including technical drawings, standards, calculations, component availability, and manufacturing capabilities.Lead the clarification process for specifications with customers and external suppliers.Drive regular offer optimizations to ensure competitive and profitable quotations.Evaluation of risk assessment and feasibility study, judgment of strategic fit for single RFQsJudgement of pre-material & design alternatives - technically and commercially. Developing the existing team into a technical driven team, that can judge and challenge themselvesEnsure a seamless transition from the quotation phase to the project phase following a customer’s commitment.Collaborate with all relevant stakeholders and functions to formally initiate new projects.Lead the internal team to determine the bidding focus and pricing strategy (together with Sales), provide competitive proposals and prices for the bidding, and track the bidding progress and RFQ bidding resultsKey QualificationsProfessional Fluency in English is a must, knowledge of German, Mandarin or Serbian is a plus Strong technical experience either in product design, process design based on former rolesAbility to judge and take reasonable assumptionsDemonstrated success in creating and implementing value-based pricing frameworks.Proven experience in product cost calculation and quotations.Demonstrated ability to lead and manage international, cross-functional teams.In-depth understanding of product lifecycle management (PLM) processes.Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a keen eye for detail.Exceptional communication and negotiation skills to manage complex relationships with both internal and external stakeholdersStrong financial acumen and a deep understanding of cost structures, margin analysis, and commercial terms and cost benefit thinking