Dirk Volkmann - Interim Project Manager

Q: Where is Dirk based?

Dirk is based in Düsseldorf, Germany and can operate in on-site , hybrid , and remote work models.

Q: What languages does Dirk speak?

Dirk speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), Spanish (Advanced), French (Intermediate), Russian (Elementary) .

Q: How many years of experience does Dirk have?

Dirk has at least 40 years of experience. During this time, Dirk has worked in at least 29 different roles and for 34 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 1 year . Note that Dirk may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Dirk's latest experience?

Dirk's most recent position is Interim Project Manager at Energy Producer .

Q: What companies has Dirk worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Dirk has worked for Energy Producer , Japanese conglomerate , Newly founded medium-sized industrial company , Manufacturer of laboratory equipment/medical technology , and Surface Coating / Electroplating .

Q: Which industries is Dirk most experienced in?

Dirk is most experienced in industries like Manufacturing , Energy , and Automotive . Dirk also has some experience in Professional Services , Metals and Mining , and Chemical .

Q: Which business areas is Dirk most experienced in?

Dirk is most experienced in business areas like Project Management , Operations , and Strategy and Planning . Dirk also has some experience in Production/Manufacturing , Sales , and Marketing .

Q: Which industries has Dirk worked in recently?

Dirk has recently worked in industries like Energy , Manufacturing , and Automotive .

Q: Which business areas has Dirk worked in recently?

Dirk has recently worked in business areas like Project Management , Operations , and Production/Manufacturing .

Recommended expert

Düsseldorf, Germany

Experience

Jun 2024 - Dec 2025

1 year 7 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

Interim Project Manager

Energy Producer

Innovation division: project development for a brownfield biofuel production partnership

Dec 2023 - Jan 2024

2 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

Interim Project Manager

Energy Producer

Project development for biomethane plants at various sites in Germany
Development of lease and service contracts
Creation of an internal toolkit for project management tools

Feb 2023 - Dec 2023

11 months

Interim Manager Sustainability

Japanese conglomerate

Project for CO2 neutrality by 2030
Concept development for Scope 1 and 2
Procurement of EACs (Energy Attribute Certificates) and vPPAs (Virtual PPA) for 145 European subsidiaries

Dec 2022 - Dec 2025

3 years 1 month

Germany

Interim Managing Director

Newly founded medium-sized industrial company

Establishment of component manufacturing
21 (planned) employees

Dec 2022 - May 2024

1 year 6 months

Castrop-Rauxel, Germany

Consultant

Manufacturer of laboratory equipment/medical technology

The company was sold
Took over management tasks
40 employees

Jul 2022 - Nov 2022

5 months

Germany

Interim Plant Manager

Surface Coating / Electroplating

130 employees

Mar 2022 - Jul 2022

5 months

Hanover, Germany

Overall Project Manager

Extrusion Equipment Manufacturer

Project management / leading plant construction projects in the USA for plastics recycling

Apr 2021 - Present

5 years

Germany

Board Member, CEO

Publicly Traded Corporation

Project development of onshore wind (>650 MW), PV (350 MW) and biogas/biogas upgrading in Germany

Jun 2019 - Dec 2021

2 years 7 months

Castrop-Rauxel, Germany

CEO, CRO

Labor Equipment / Medical Technology Manufacturer

Turnaround/restructuring of a medium-sized manufacturing company
Return to profitability
Increase in sales and profit
Energy efficiency measures
40 employees

Dec 2018 - May 2019

6 months

Cologne, Germany

Managing Director

Forensic Laboratory

Management of a site for DNA analyses for an international laboratory group
Resolution of a criminal and civil legal issue for the shareholder
30 employees

Oct 2018 - Dec 2018

3 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

Consultant

Energy Producer

Area of innovation, CO2 recycling strategies, photocatalytic and thermochemical processes for producing fuels, chemicals and solids

Aug 2018 - Sep 2018

2 months

Wülfrath, Germany

Consultant

Automotive Supplier Tier 1

Optimization of project management – basic analysis, current state, maturity model and derivation of measures to optimize processes, especially in product development
350 employees

May 2018 - Jun 2019

1 year 2 months

Gütersloh, Germany

Coach

Subsidiary of a printing and media group

Coaching/training for lower, middle and senior managers in employee leadership
Long-term employee retention through appreciation with the goal of reducing the sickness rate (within/outside the LFZ)
450 employees

Jan 2018 - Jul 2018

7 months

Haldensleben, Germany

Interim Buyer

Automotive Supplier Tier 1

Technical RATIO projects to achieve purchasing successes of over 3 million euros for 2018
Identifying technical change options to save weight in cast and forged blanks and reduce processing steps in production, reducing logistics costs
Broadening the supplier base by looking for new suppliers, internationally
Supplier development in Turkey
1,800 employees

Jan 2017 - Oct 2017

10 months

Remscheid, Germany

Interim Plant Manager

Automotive Supplier Tier 3

Managing a site within a high-performance heat treatment group of seven plants in Germany
Various process technologies and state-of-the-art equipment
In-house testing procedures to ensure quality
Energy efficiency measures
125 employees

Sep 2015 - Nov 2016

1 year 3 months

Weiterstadt, Germany

Interim Plant Manager

Automotive Tier-2 Supplier, Electroplating

Development, production, and finishing of innovative, highly durable functional surfaces for materials and complex technical components made of various materials
Negotiations with Tier-1 suppliers and OEMs (VW, Mercedes)
Energy efficiency measures
140 employees

Mar 2014 - Aug 2015

1 year 6 months

Lindau, Germany

Interim-Project Manager

Refrigeration Plant Engineering

Project management and contract handling for two major power plant projects in China and France with significant schedule and cost overruns
Structuring and restructuring of project execution
Development and implementation of change and claims management tools
Negotiation and enforcement of claims with customers
Implementation of scheduling, reporting, and risk management
Power of attorney according to §54 HGB
25 employees

Apr 2013 - Nov 2013

8 months

Austria

Interim Managing Director/CRO

Mid-sized Photovoltaic Module Manufacturer

Restructuring assignment / turnaround situation, engagement via a banking consortium
Responsibility for marketing/sales (Germany-Austria-Switzerland, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, France), engineering, finance/accounting, human resources, controlling, project management including change management and claims
Negotiations with investors on the sale of the company's own portfolio in Italy and Greece
Development of tenant power and neighborhood energy models
50 employees

May 2012 - Mar 2013

11 months

Berlin, Germany

Interim Head of O&M Business

PHOTON Energy Operations GmbH

Establishment and expansion of O&M service business for PV power plants in Germany and Europe
Use of established contacts with investors, banks, insurers, and competitors
Acquisition and integration of competitors out of insolvency, negotiations with insolvency administrators
Structuring internal processes / creation of a service manual / technical documentation of existing plants
5 employees

Mar 2011 - Dec 2011

10 months

Berlin, Germany

Interim Head of Division (Segment Manager for Large Power Plants)

Q-Cells SE

Performance ratio – development of a unified business strategy
O&M – new business strategy for third-party O&M, especially in Spain
Insurance solutions for utility projects and customers
Business development C&I – larger real estate portfolios
Initiation of strategic cooperation with OBI in the area of rooftop systems and DIY
Investor relationship management – development of a strategic approach
Market development in Latin America (Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Brazil): initiation of various leads based on existing long-term contacts
New markets in Central and Southern Europe – development of strategic approaches for market entry and expansion

Jan 2011 - May 2011

5 months

Braunschweig, Germany

Consultant

Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt

Regional project for renewable energies and energy efficiency in Latin America and the Caribbean (GIZ project)
Gathering market data on the status of renewable energy deployment (wind, water, biomass, biogas, hydro) by country in Latin America and the Caribbean
Preparing a workshop in Rio de Janeiro / Xérem, Brazil, inviting network partners from Latin America as speakers
1 employee

Jul 2010 - Feb 2011

8 months

Berlin, Germany

Interim Department Head (Head of Project Finance & Sales)

GEOSOL GmbH

Building up the Project Finance and Sales department from scratch
Selecting, hiring and onboarding a team of 4 employees
Establishing and developing banking contacts in Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, the UK and Germany
Establishing and developing investor contacts worldwide
Negotiating with banks for project financing of PV plants (term sheets and contracts)
Performing profitability checks and calculations
Securing bridge financing for construction
Setting up financial/technical controlling for existing plants (22 MW)
Negotiating with investors on the sale of own portfolio in Italy, Germany and the Czech Republic (22 MW)

Jul 2010 - Sep 2010

3 months

Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Germany

Consultant

Agnion Technologies GmbH

Reviewing and newly creating the market concept for biomass gasification plants
Business plan for the second equity financing round

Jan 2010 - Jun 2010

6 months

Augsburg, Germany

Interim Director (Project Management)

MAN Diesel AG

Project management and project control for the construction of 6 diesel power plants (EUR 1.2 billion)
Restructuring project execution and control
Supporting procurement activities
Regular customer negotiations on project progress
Setting up change management / filing and defending claims
Selecting and appointing Head of Engineering
25 employees

Feb 2008 - Jun 2009

1 year 5 months

Nafplion, Greece

Interim Board Member / CEO of PV Investment Company

Eurovoltaic Hellas

Market development in Italy, Greece and Spain
Establishing the subsidiary in Greece

Feb 2008 - Nov 2008

10 months

Dortmund, Germany

Interim Managing Director

EnvioMar GmbH / Envio Water GmbH

Developed a business plan for a new, patent-protected process for ballast water treatment
Managed the company (construction and operation of a pilot plant on Helgoland, supported the IMO registration process)
Marketed and sold the technology, visiting potential customers (mainly shipping companies)
Built a large-scale plant in India for industrial wastewater treatment
10 employees

Oct 2007 - Dec 2008

1 year 3 months

London, United Kingdom

Interim Board Member / COO PV Investment Company

Eurovoltaic PLC

Market development in Italy, Greece, and Spain

Jun 2006 - Jun 2008

2 years 1 month

Leipzig, Germany

Volunteer Board Member

FV Leipziger Institut für Energetik e.V.

Board member responsible for the subsidiary Institut für Energetik und Umwelt gGmbH, Leipzig - managed equity holdings
Negotiated and finalized the share purchase agreement with the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection for the takeover of the institute

May 2005 - May 2006

1 year 1 month

Leipzig, Germany

Interim Managing Director

IE-S Integrated Energy Systems

Founded and built up the company
Sales/marketing of engineering services in bioethanol, biodiesel, and biogas in Asia and Latin America

Nov 2002 - Jan 2005

2 years 3 months

Freiberg, Germany

Interim Managing Director

FUTURE ENERGY GmbH

Managed a process engineering company in entrained flow gasification for coal, biomass, chemical & refinery waste, and municipal waste
Developed the business plan, reorganized, and restructured the company
Secured a large order in Sokolov, CZ, and managed order processing
Coordinated R&D - collaboration with KIT Karlsruhe
Sales/marketing of engineering services and pilot test campaigns for the company’s pilot gasification plant worldwide
35 employees

May 2000 - May 2002

2 years 1 month

Grimma, Germany

Interim Managing Director

MAG Maschinen- und Anlagenbau Grimma GmbH

Leading a manufacturing company for process engineering equipment for use in the chemical and refinery industries
Turnaround case, engagement by a banking consortium
Restructuring the equipment manufacturing division, developing a buy-and-build concept
Sales/marketing for equipment and plant engineering (ethanol) worldwide
Responsibilities: accounting, financial reporting, finance, controlling, administration, IT, human resources, marketing/sales, and equipment manufacturing
300 employees

May 1998 - Present

27 years 11 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

Consulting, Interim and Project Management

Volkmann Consult

Consulting, interim and project management in Europe and outside Europe in the fields of mechanical and plant engineering, clean tech, energy, automotive, and renewable energy.

Apr 1993 - Apr 1998

5 years 1 month

Berlin, Germany

Managing Partner

ubw Unternehmensberatung für die Wirtschaft GmbH

Founding and building up the company
Consulting projects for the Treuhandanstalt in Chemnitz and Halle/Saale as well as for the Federal Agency for Special Tasks Arising from German Reunification in Berlin
Restructuring consulting for mid-sized companies

Oct 1991 - Mar 1993

1 year 6 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

Manager

KPMG Unternehmensberatung GmbH

Privatization of companies in the new federal states on behalf of the Treuhandanstalt, Chemnitz branch

Apr 1991 - Sep 1991

6 months

Duisburg, Germany

Head of Department South America, USSR/Russia

Klöckner Industrieanlagen GmbH

Sales of process engineering plants and equipment for mining, ore processing, and non-ferrous metallurgy

Oct 1990 - Mar 1991

6 months

Dresden, Germany

Office Manager

Klöckner Stadtler Hurter GmbH

Leadership responsibility for 15 employees
Engineering company for pulp and paper plants

Feb 1990 - Sep 1990

8 months

Duisburg, Germany

Assistant to Management

Klöckner Industrieanlagen GmbH

Strategy development GDR / NBL

May 1989 - Jan 1990

9 months

Duisburg, Germany

Section Manager South America, USSR/Russia

Klöckner Industrieanlagen GmbH

Sales of process engineering plants and equipment for mining, ore processing and non-ferrous metallurgy
Power of attorney since July 1, 1989

Nov 1987 - Mar 1989

1 year 5 months

Moscow, Russian Federation

Deputy Head of the Group Office

Klöckner & Co AG

Leadership responsibility for 30 employees
Product responsibility for machine tools, chemical trading, industrial plants and food processing plants
Business development, negotiation support
Project management / contract management for the Sayansk aluminum smelter anode baking plant (DM 555 million)

Sep 1985 - Sep 1987

2 years 1 month

Duisburg, Germany

Project Manager

Klöckner Industrieanlagen GmbH

Tractor plant in the USSR, mining and mine projects in Peru and Chile

Industries Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time. Longer bars indicate deeper hands-on experience, while shorter ones reflect targeted or project-based work.

Experienced in Manufacturing (31 years), Energy (28 years), Automotive (28 years), Professional Services (6.5 years), Metals and Mining (4.5 years), and Healthcare (4 years).

Manufacturing

Energy

Automotive

Professional Services

Metals and Mining

Healthcare

Business Areas Experience

The graph below provides a cumulative view of the freelancer's experience across multiple business areas, calculated from completed and active engagements. It highlights the areas where the freelancer has most frequently contributed to planning, execution, and delivery of business outcomes.

Experienced in Project Management (31 years), Operations (14.5 years), Strategy (14.5 years), Production (7.5 years), Sales (7 years), and Marketing (6.5 years).

Project Management

Operations

Strategy

Production

Sales

Marketing

Summary

Diploma in Business Administration (FH) / MBA (Sustainability Management) with strong technical affinity
Experienced and successful interim manager with many years of leadership responsibility, specialist in turnaround/restructuring, short-term bridging of leadership vacancies and strategic realignment of companies or business units
Various roles as plant manager, division head, department head, project manager, managing director and board member in industrial, engineering and plant construction companies
Solid project, industry and technical expertise in automotive, mechanical and plant engineering, energy sector as well as CleanTech and renewable energies (biogas, biofuels, SAF, PV, wind, circular economy), combined with extensive M&A experience (>100 transactions), project management/claims management in plant engineering, change management, sustainability management
Goal and results responsibility, combined with analytical rigour and entrepreneurial thinking and action, a high level of communication skills and an integrative, cooperative leadership style

Skills

Automotive
Process Engineering Plant Construction
Mining
Non-ferrous Metallurgy
Pulp And Paper
Food Processing
Textile Machinery
Wood Processing
Toy Manufacturing
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
Mechanical Engineering
Equipment Manufacturing
Oil & Gas
Recycling
Power Generation Including Renewables
Cleantech
Water / Water Treatment
Private Equity
M&a (Sell Side, Approx. 100 Mandates)
Forensics
Lab Construction / Medical Technology

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Spanish

Advanced

French

Intermediate

Russian

Elementary

Education

Feb 2009 - Dec 2013

University of Lüneburg

MBA Sustainability Management · Sustainability Management · Lüneburg, Germany

Sep 1983 - Aug 1985

Klöckner Delegation Office

Industrial Plant Specialist (IHK) · Industrial Plant Specialist · Lima, Peru

Sep 1982 - Jun 1989

University of Applied Sciences for Working Professionals, state-recognized university of applied sciences, Rendsburg

Diploma in Business Administration (FH) · Business administration, focus on sales and international trade · Rendsburg, Germany

...and 4 more

Certifications & licenses

KLIMA.PROFIT NRW – Qualification as Consultant

KLIMA.PROFIT North Rhine-Westphalia

Certificate course in restructuring and turnaround consulting

IFUS Institute

Continuous improvement process in small and medium-sized enterprises

RKW Saxony-Anhalt GmbH

Methods and techniques of consulting

BUS Consultant Academy

Rhetoric and negotiation techniques

KPMG Deutsche Treuhand Management Consulting GmbH

Cross-functional management trainee development program

Klöckner & Co AG

Profile

Created

September 2025

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Dirk based?

Dirk is based in Düsseldorf, Germany and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.

What languages does Dirk speak?

Dirk speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), Spanish (Advanced), French (Intermediate), Russian (Elementary).

How many years of experience does Dirk have?

Dirk has at least 40 years of experience. During this time, Dirk has worked in at least 29 different roles and for 34 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 1 year. Note that Dirk may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Dirk be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Dirk would be well-suited for roles such as: Interim Project Manager, Interim Manager Sustainability, Interim Managing Director.

What is Dirk's latest experience?

Dirk's most recent position is Interim Project Manager at Energy Producer.

What companies has Dirk worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Dirk has worked for Energy Producer, Japanese conglomerate, Newly founded medium-sized industrial company, Manufacturer of laboratory equipment/medical technology, and Surface Coating / Electroplating.

Which industries is Dirk most experienced in?

Dirk is most experienced in industries like Manufacturing, Energy, and Automotive. Dirk also has some experience in Professional Services, Metals and Mining, and Chemical.

Which business areas is Dirk most experienced in?

Dirk is most experienced in business areas like Project Management, Operations, and Strategy and Planning. Dirk also has some experience in Production/Manufacturing, Sales, and Marketing.

Which industries has Dirk worked in recently?

Dirk has recently worked in industries like Energy, Manufacturing, and Automotive.

Which business areas has Dirk worked in recently?

Dirk has recently worked in business areas like Project Management, Operations, and Production/Manufacturing.

What is Dirk's education?

Dirk holds a Master in Sustainability Management from University of Lüneburg.

Does Dirk have any certificates?

Dirk has 6 certificates. Among them, these include: KLIMA.PROFIT NRW – Qualification as Consultant, Certificate course in restructuring and turnaround consulting, and Continuous improvement process in small and medium-sized enterprises.

What is the availability of Dirk?

Dirk is immediately available part-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Dirk?

Dirk's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.