Nils H. - Senior Advisor to the CTO

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Hamburg, Germany

Experience

Jan 2022 - Dec 2023

2 years

Berlin, Germany

Senior Advisor to the CTO (various interim roles)

McPhy Energy S.A.

Interim Head of Engineering Department
Leading 6 teams through a rapid growth phase, doubling headcount within 11 months, with 5 team leads and 3 project engineering managers as direct reports and overseeing a team of over 30 engineers
Led the setup of capacity resource planning, project capacity alignment and outsourcing for the entire technology division (Engineering, Research & Development, Product Development)
Interdisciplinary collaboration improvement initiative: introduced the role "Project Engineering Manager", created job descriptions, and hired new staff
Engineering performance improvement initiative: introduced measurement and evaluation of engineering performance, and integrated it into annual targets (including works council approval)
Interim Program Management Lead:
Led the largest internal development program for the next generation of hydrogen electrolysis stacks. Outcome: "Go" for the next phase "Basic Engineering"
Conducted a strategic make-or-buy study for one of the key and most valuable core components. Outcome: technologies selected and "Go" for the next phase "Feasibility Studies"
Interim Corporate Partnerships Lead:
Built technology partnerships within the European hydrogen industry under IPCEI (Important Project of Common European Interest)

Oct 2019 - Present

5 years 11 months

Hamburg, Germany

Freelance management consultant, trainer & coach

Freebird Consulting

Optimized investment costs for 3 projects in the FE1 and FE2 phases using McKinsey's Capex Excellence methodology (MTS) at mining and basic chemicals companies. Outcome: capex reduction of 30-50% of the original estimate (12, 40 and 80 million euros each)
Led the transformation of two concrete industry production sites in the Czech Republic with around 150 full-time employees each. Outcome: about 20% reduction in direct and indirect costs
Managed the "Transformation Office" for an organizational development project at Oxea Ruhrchemie's main production site (around 900 employees) after its acquisition by OQ (Oman Oil Company)
Freelance consultant at Stern Stewart & Co. for an alignment initiative among 19 global subsidiaries of a leading industrial company. Goal: +50 million EUR in revenue & +10 million EUR in EBIT
Led the PMO for a public tender in regional rail transport
Supported Boeing in a helicopter tender in the defense sector. Developed the logistics work package with a volume in the mid-three-digit million range.

Nov 2018 - Oct 2019

1 year

Hamburg, Germany

Project Manager (interim)

Lumics Consulting - A joint venture between McKinsey & Company and Lufthansa Technik

Project manager of an "end-to-end" process optimization program between strategic procurement and the Financial Services division, sponsored by the CFO of the Lufthansa Group
Led a team of 5 consultants (15 core team members), including conducting performance and development reviews, approving travel expenses, leaves, time tracking, etc.

May 2018 - Present

7 years 4 months

Hamburg, Germany

Adjunct Lecturer (part-time) // Department of Management, Business and Media

Fresenius University of Applied Sciences

Lectured on "Industrial Production / Lean Management" and "Strategic Management" for the Master's in Economics and "Master in International Tourism & Event Management". Transitioned to digital teaching.
Developed content for the new course "Business Consulting" and supported accreditation

Apr 2016 - Oct 2018

2 years 7 months

Hamburg, Germany

Senior Consultant

Lumics Consulting - A joint venture between McKinsey & Company and Lufthansa Technik

Lean transformation at DB Netz in Munich, setting up a cascaded performance management system between central office and 6 regional divisions, and training four lean coaches & managers
Project and program management coaching for a cost reduction program in the Engine Division of Lufthansa Technik
Methodical coaching and leading three process streams for the largest cost reduction program in the history of Lufthansa Cargo
Developed and conducted train-the-trainer workshops on operations, change, lean management, and innovation, including design thinking, across multiple hierarchy levels
Internal activities: conducting candidate pre-interviews by phone and face-to-face case interviews using the McKinsey PEI model

Jan 2015 - Dec 2016

2 years

Madrid, Spain

Business Development Manager

Ennomotive (early stage crowd-sourcing start-up for Engineering projects)

Sales strategy, building strategic partnerships with consulting firms, companies and universities
Applying the lean start-up method

Jan 2009 - Dec 2013

5 years

Hamburg, Germany

Project Manager (EPC) // Business Unit "Cargill Refined Oils Europe"

Cargill

Responsible for managing EPC projects (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) in the renewable energy sector with a budget of about €7 million and leading teams of up to 7 engineers

Jan 2008 - Dec 2009

2 years

Frankfurt, Germany

Freelance engineer for engineering (part-time)

ZUG- Zentes Unitex GmbH

Jan 2007 - Dec 2009

3 years

Belgium

Project Engineer // Department Renewable Resources- Technology

Air Liquide S.A. (former: Lurgi A.G.)

Engineering, large-scale plant planning and technical negotiations in Spanish & English

Jan 2005 - Dec 2007

3 years

Spain

Intern // Department for major project execution

Air Liquide S.A.

Supporting the project manager for large-scale plants at the head office and on the main construction site (13 months on-site in Spain), conducting OPS training in Spanish and English

Jan 2001 - Dec 2002

2 years

Hanover, Germany