Strategy & Project Manager Europe

Our story goes back more than 150 years. From our early success in Swedenand Denmark, we've grown into the world's leading specialist producer ofplant-based oils, employing more than 4,000 people across the globe. We workwith our customers to make the products you love even better. The oils weproduce go into making your chocolate extra-creamy or putting the crunch intoyour croissant. And it's not just food - we work across industries to makeproducts that are higher quality, healthier and better for the planet.

Everything we do is about Making Better Happen™.

AAK Location

This position is based at Malmo, Karlshamn or Zaandijk

About the role

The Strategy & Project Manager will lead the strategicplanning, execution, and governance of critical initiatives across the AAKEurope region. Reporting directly to the Strategy & Projects Director forEurope, this role is instrumental in driving our growth initiatives, enablingbusiness transformation, and ensuring the successful delivery of strategicpriorities.

Working closely with the European Leadership Team and executivemanagement, you will oversee a portfolio of high-impact strategic projects fromconcept through execution. The role requires a balance of strategic thinkingand hands-on project leadership, ensuring initiatives are effectively planned,governed, and delivered while aligning with business objectives.

As a trusted partner to senior leaders, you will engage with keystakeholders across the organization to gather input, build alignment, securecommitment, and maintain momentum throughout project lifecycles. By providingrobust project governance, monitoring progress, managing risks, and ensuringdelivery against agreed objectives, the role will play a key part intranslating strategy into measurable business outcomes.

As sparring partner for the European Leadership Team, you willcontribute to strategic discussions, foster cross-functional collaboration, andhelp shape and execute initiatives that support AAK Europe's long-term growthand success.

Responsibilities
- Lead and manage strategic projects across AAK Europe, taking ownership of project planning, governance, execution, and delivery to achieve business objectives.
- Define project scope, objectives, timelines, governance structures, milestones, and success measures while proactively managing risks, dependencies, and resources.
- Develop executive-ready business cases, financial analyses, investment proposals, and decision materials to support strategic and capital investment decisions.
- Translate complex business challenges into structured problem statements and actionable recommendations that enable timely executive decision-making.
- Monitor project performance through data analysis, KPIs, and business insights, challenging assumptions and driving continuous improvement in project outcomes.
- Support the ongoing development and execution of the European strategic roadmap by identifying opportunities for new initiatives, capabilities, systems, and process improvements.
- Build strong collaborative relationships with senior leaders and cross-functional teams, including Finance, IT, Commercial, Operations, M&A, and Global functions, to ensure alignment and successful project delivery.
- Act as a trusted advisor to project teams by providing guidance, challenge, and support throughout the project lifecycle.
- Prepare and present high-quality materials for executive meetings, leadership reviews, steering committees, and governance forums.
- Drive stakeholder engagement and organizational alignment through effective communication and change management activities, including leadership updates, newsletters, intranet communications, and other engagement initiatives.
- Track project progress, measure benefits realization, and provide regular status reporting to the President of AAK Europe and executive leadership, ensuring projects remain on track to deliver strategic outcomes.

About you

- Bachelor's degree in business administration, Finance, or a related discipline.
- Minimum of 5-7 years' experience in strategy consulting, project management, business transformation, or operations leadership, with a proven track record of leading complex, cross-functional strategic initiatives.
- Strong understanding of industry trends, market dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and the external factors influencing business strategy and operational performance.
- Demonstrated ability to develop robust business cases, investment proposals, and value propositions, with strong financial acumen to evaluate costs, benefits, ROI, opportunities, and risks.
- Solid knowledge of business strategy, organizational processes, and project management methodologies, with the ability to apply these effectively across diverse business situations.
- Proven ability to lead complex projects, manage competing priorities, resolve critical issues, and deliver results within challenging timelines.
- Strong stakeholder management, influencing, and change leadership skills, with the ability to build consensus, navigate complexity, and drive organizational alignment.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with experience identifying root causes, evaluating alternatives, and implementing practical, high-impact solutions.
- Experience defining and monitoring KPIs, measuring project performance, and driving continuous improvement through data-driven insights.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to conduct research, synthesize complex information, and prepare clear, compelling executive-level reports, proposals, and recommendations.

In return AAK offers

- Join a pioneering company in specialty oils and fats, driving innovation and sustainability.
- In AAK you can work across 25+ countries, gaining international exposure and collaborating with a diverse team.
- AAK invests in your development with training, mentorship, and clear career paths.
- You will contribute to a greener world with AAK's sustainability-focused approach.
- Join a diverse and inclusive workplace that values every individual's perspective and talents.

About AAK

Everything AAK does is about MakingBetter Happen™. We specialize in plant-based oils that are the value-addingingredients in many of the products people love to consume. We make theseproducts better tasting, healthier, and more sustainable. At the heart of AAK'soffer is Customer Co-Development, combining our desire to understand whatbetter means for each customer, with the unique flexibility of our productionassets, and deep knowledge of many products and industries, including Chocolateand confectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Plant-based Foods, Special Nutrition,Foodservice and Personal Care. Our 4,000 employees support our closecollaboration with customers through 25 regional sales offices, 15 dedicatedCustomer Innovation Centers, and the support of more than 20 productionfacilities. Listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and with our headquarters in Malmö,Sweden, AAK has been Making Better Happen™ for more than 150 years.

AAK prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation,age, national origin, physical or mental disability, religion, veteran status,and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under state orfederal law in any aspect of the access to, admission, or treatment of studentsin its programs and activities, or employment and application for employment.

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