Head of our planning & scheduling - Kalundborg Refinery

Do you have a heart for optimizing and integrating the refinery’s value chain? Do you have a proven expertise in production planning and scheduling? Then we are looking for you.

Are you an experienced and capable leader with a passion for operational excellence and a proven track record in planning and scheduling?

This role offers an exciting opportunity to tackle complex challenges, implement innovative solutions, and excel in a fast-paced, multinational environment.

As Head of Economics & Scheduling (which the department is called within our organization) you will be at the centre of our value chain, playing a key role in achieving the most efficient use of resources, maximizing production output, and meeting market demands, all while ensuring compliance with safety and environmental regulations.

Our value chain integrates Group Trading and Supply Chain Operations with local operations, closely aligned with Technology and Maintenance. If managing competing priorities, adapting to market volatility, and aligning schedules with changing operational needs sounds exciting, this role could be for you.

Role and Key Responsibilities 

Planning and Scheduling

• Lead upstream planning and downstream scheduling to deliver optimized monthly plans that ensure maximum margin
• Oversee integrated and detailed scheduling for processing, blending, and other refinery activities

Optimization and Efficiency

• Continuously monitor and analyze refinery processes to identify opportunities for production efficiency improvements
• Collaborate cross-functionally to minimize downtime and maximize throughput.

Risk Management, Performance Monitoring and Decision-Making

• Identify and mitigate potential risks, including supply chain vulnerabilities and operational challenges
• Track and analyze key performance indicators and oversee quality control, including demurrage, inventory management, giveaway monitoring, and lookbacks
• Align production planning strategies with the Head of Value Chain Optimization and other senior leaders to meet refinery-wide goals
• Serve as a member of the Refinery Leadership Team, participating in decision-making and cross-functional initiatives

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of production planners and schedulers, fostering a collaborative, high-performance work environment
• Oversee resource allocation, including personnel and Linear Programming (LP) models, to ensure smooth operations and timely resource availability
• Coordinate with process engineers, maintenance, logistics, and trading/sales teams to optimize resource deployment and meet production targets

Qualifications and Skills 

We are seeking a results-driven professional with significant experience in planning and scheduling, preferably within liquid batch manufacturing or the refining industry. You should have a strong understanding of planning processes, resource allocation, and the ability to integrate planning and simulation tools into existing operations.

A strategic mindset and analytical skills are essential, along with the ability to work effectively in multicultural and cross-functional environments. Professional English proficiency, both written and verbal, is a must.

Industry Experience

• A minimum of 10-15 years of experience in an industrial production site
• Deep understanding of supply chain management

Production Planning & Scheduling Expertise

• Proven expertise in production planning and scheduling. Preferable within liquid manufacturing
• Extensive hands-on experience in the economic optimisation of production plants
• Familiarity with refinery production planning software is highly advantageous

Educational background

• A bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field is required

Leadership & Management Skills

• Strong leadership and management capabilities with experience leading cross-functional teams
• Proven ability to foster collaboration, drive results, and ensure alignment across departments
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, as well as strong interpersonal skills to build relationships across diverse cultures, divisions and departments

Success in this role requires exceptional personal qualities. We value experienced leaders with strong management capabilities who demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and the ability to recover quickly from setbacks. Strong collaboration skills are critical, as you will be working with multiple teams and stakeholders across geographical locations.

The ideal candidate is proactive, able to balance strategic thinking with a hands-on approach to problem-solving. Innovation and open-mindedness are equally important, as we continuously strive to improve our operations.

In return, we offer a challenging and rewarding position where you can make a lasting impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of our refinery operations. You will join a supportive, globally connected organization committed to professional growth and continuous improvement.

Why Kalundborg Refinery?

Kalundborg Refinery is a Danish energy company with approx. 400 committed employees. The refinery in Kalundborg is Denmark's largest and processes up to 5.5 million tons of crude oil, condensate, and mixed products each year. In addition to the refinery, tank and port facilities in Kalundborg, the company also includes product terminals in Hedehusene and Kalundborg, which supply petrol and oil products to large parts of Zealand.

At Kalundborg Refinery, we are proud of our experienced and innovative groups of employees consisting of professionals in many specialties. We are a workplace with a history and strong collegial unity, a management who prioritizes work-life balance, and it is all characterized by the development and transformation that both we and society are in the middle of.

We are part of Klesch Group. Klesch is an independent refiner focused on operating safely and efficiently. Our business strategy is to create long-term value through disciplined investments, operational excellence, and commercial optimization of vital energy assets around the world.

In addition, we offer:

• Salary according to qualifications
• Pension scheme and health insurance
• Bonus scheme
• You can read more about Kalundborg Refinery and Klesch Group on our website www.kalundborgrefinery.com. 

Are you interested?

If you are interested in the position, please send your application and CV via the link below. We regularly hold interviews with suitable candidates, as the position must be filled as soon as possible. The position can therefore potentially be filled before the application deadline - however, we are happy to wait for the right candidate. NOTE: Unfortunately, we cannot handle applications sent by email, so please use the APPLY link in the job posting. If you have questions about the position, you can contact Dorthe Majbrit Bonnicksen from DeZignated ApS on phone +45 2715 4303, who handles the recruitment process in collaboration with Kalundborg Refinery. We look forward to hearing from you.
The application deadline is February 28th.