(Senior) Director Engineering

Below is a ready‑to‑use cover‑letter template (and a short checklist for your CV) that you can adapt to the Senior Director Engineering position (reference 110 392) at the Hesse site.
Feel free to copy‑paste the text, insert your personal details, and tweak any sections to match your exact experience.

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📄 Cover‑Letter (PDF‑ready)

[Your Name]  
[Street Address] • [Postal Code, City] • Germany  
[Phone] • [E‑mail] • LinkedIn: [URL]  

[Date]

Hiring Committee – ISG  
[Company Address – if known]  
Hesse, Germany  

Re: Application for (Senior) Director Engineering – Ref. 110 392  

Dear Members of the Hiring Committee,

I am writing to express my strong interest in the (Senior) Director Engineering role for the Hesse site. With **over 15 years of progressive engineering leadership in the pharmaceutical/biotech sector**, a proven track record of delivering multi‑million‑euro CAPEX projects on‑time and on‑budget, and deep expertise in cGMP, EHS, and sustainability, I am confident that I can drive the engineering organization toward the next level of operational excellence and strategic impact.

### Why I am the right fit

| Core Requirement | My Relevant Experience & Achievements |
|------------------|----------------------------------------|
| **Leadership of a large, matrix‑based engineering team (≈110 FTE)** | • Head of Engineering at **[Current/Previous Company]** – led 120 engineers, technicians and project managers across production technology, automation, utilities and facilities. <br>• Built a high‑performance culture through talent‑development programs, succession planning and a transparent KPI framework, resulting in a 22 % increase in employee engagement scores (2022). |
| **Optimization of processes & cross‑functional collaboration** | • Designed and rolled‑out a site‑wide “Engineering Excellence” framework that harmonised SOPs, work‑instruction templates and digital tools (SAP PM, PI System). <br>• Reduced engineering change order lead‑time by 35 % and cut OPEX in the technical core functions by €4.3 M annually. |
| **CAPEX/OPEX planning & project delivery** | • Managed a €180 M CAPEX portfolio (new plant, facility upgrades, automation) – 96 % of projects delivered within ±5 % of budget and ±10 % of schedule. <br>• Introduced a stage‑gate project‑review process adopted by the global engineering network, improving decision‑making speed by 30 %. |
| **Compliance (cGMP, EHS, legal)** | • Served as “Duty‑Holder” for the technical area, ensuring 100 % audit‑pass rate for cGMP and EHS inspections over the past 5 years. <br>• Led the implementation of a site‑wide risk‑based maintenance strategy aligned with Global Supply Chain Risk Management, cutting unplanned downtime by 18 %. |
| **Strategic, visionary leadership in a multinational environment** | • Partnered with R&D, Quality, Supply Chain and Commercial functions across Europe, APAC and the US to align engineering road‑maps with product‑launch timelines and sustainability targets (net‑zero 2030). <br>• Championed a “Digital‑First” transformation that introduced predictive‑maintenance analytics, saving €2.1 M in annual maintenance costs. |
| **Fluent English; German (basic‑intermediate)** | • Conducted all executive presentations, board briefings and stakeholder communications in English; daily interaction with German‑speaking site teams and external contractors. |

### Vision for the Hesse Site

If entrusted with this role, I will focus on three strategic pillars:

1. **Integrated Engineering Excellence** – Consolidate and harmonise technical processes, tools and documentation across production technology, automation, and facilities, creating a single source of truth that supports both local execution and global standards.

2. **Sustainable CAPEX Portfolio** – Embed sustainability KPIs (energy‑efficiency, carbon‑footprint, water‑use) into every investment decision, ensuring the site contributes measurably to the company’s net‑zero ambition while protecting profitability.

3. **People‑Centred Leadership** – Expand the existing talent‑development framework, introduce a structured mentorship program, and implement a transparent performance‑management system that aligns individual growth with the site’s strategic goals.

I am excited about the opportunity to bring my blend of technical expertise, business acumen, and people‑leadership to ISG’s Hesse site and to help shape the future of pharmaceutical engineering at a global scale.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing how my background and vision align with your needs.

Yours sincerely,

[Signature (if sending PDF)]  
[Your Printed Name]

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📋 Quick CV Checklist (to accompany the letter)

Section	What to Highlight (tailored to the posting)
Professional Summary	1‑2 lines: “Seasoned engineering leader with 15+ years in pharma/biotech, expert in cGMP, EHS, CAPEX/OPEX, and digital transformation.”
Core Competencies	• Engineering Organization Design • Process Optimisation • CAPEX Portfolio Management • cGMP & EHS Compliance • Matrix Leadership • Strategic Planning • Sustainability & Net‑Zero Initiatives
Professional Experience	For each role (last 3‑4 positions): – Title, Company, Location, Dates – Team size & matrix scope – Key achievements (use numbers: % improvement, € saved, lead‑time reduced, audit pass rate, etc.) – Direct relevance to the four responsibility blocks (Leadership, Operations, Finance/Projects, Compliance).
Education	Engineering degree (B.Sc./M.Sc.) – University, Year. Add any relevant certifications (e.g., PMP, Six Sigma Black Belt, ISO 9001 Lead Auditor).
Languages	English – native/fluent; German – B1/B2 (or indicate “basic‑intermediate”).
Professional Memberships	ISPE, AIChE, VDI, etc. (if applicable).
Publications / Patents	Optional – only if directly related to pharma engineering or process innovation.
Digital Skills	SAP PM/MM, PI System, MS Project, PowerBI, Python/SQL for analytics, digital twins, etc.
References	“Available on request” (or list two senior leaders who can attest to your engineering leadership).

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How to use this material

1. Copy the cover‑letter into a Word/Google‑Docs file.
2. Replace placeholders ([Your Name], [Current/Previous Company], etc.) with your real data.
3. Adjust any bullet points so they reflect your exact numbers and projects.
4. Export as PDF (keep the formatting clean and professional).
5. Attach the PDF together with your updated CV (using the checklist above) and submit via the ISG careers portal or the email address indicated in the posting.

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Final tip

The job description stresses “continuous improvement, harmonisation of processes, and strong compliance focus.” Make sure each achievement you list explicitly ties back to one of those themes – the hiring committee will quickly see the match between your background and their needs.

Good luck with your application! If you’d like a deeper review of any section (e.g., polishing a specific achievement statement or tailoring the “Vision for the Hesse Site” paragraph), just let me know.