Purpose of the role

The Head of Europe Asset Management has the end-to-end accountability for the currently 14 assets in our European Global Biogas portfolio and responsibility to pick-up new assets into operations over the coming years. This accountability spans from the Operating Assets in Europe (including drivers) across all the above-assets departments that collectively are responsible for safe and profitable operations. Departments in the above asset organization include Logistics, Key Account Management and Production Improvement/ Projects.

Europe Asset Management consists of over 200 staff of which the majority is operational staff and drivers who run the assets. Staff are located across multiple offices and asset locations in Denmark and France, where we currently run one asset. The main work location for the Head of Europe Asset Management will be the Headquarter Office in Odense, Denmark.

This is a vital leadership role, firstly in terms of shaping the team’s delivery of safe and top quartile asset safety and performance, and secondly in terms of leading the organisation through the transition to a more value driven, integrated ways of working. Most notably the role will be an essential interface in the Europe Global Biogas value chain, interfacing with Shell Trading and the various departments in Nature Energy, particularly Business Development, Procurement, Engineering, and Construction, to ensure assets are optimised to deliver maximum integrated E2E value for Nature Energy and Shell.

Key Accountabilities

• Visible safety leadership for currently 14 assets in Denmark, the Netherlands and France as well across the overall Global Biogas community, ensuring regulatory compliance & Shell’s sustainability requirements and being respectful neighbour to local stakeholders and local communities where assets operate – working towards Goal Zero
• Leading a large and diverse community focused on positive engagement, care and performance
• Driving performance of existing assets to meet asset P&L objectives as well identifying and delivering improvement opportunities both top-line and bottom-line of P&L, including accountability as contract owner for all operational and commercial contracts ranging from feedstock to off-take at each facility (in conjunction with other product contracts or other Global Biogas business owned contracts)
• Part of the Global Biogas Leadership Team showcasing strong integrative behaviours, both delivery and learner mindset and driving top-quartile operational excellence for Global Biogas across all regions. Acting as an essential ambassador for European strategy and driving enterprise first resource allocation decisions
• Lead the extended Global Biogas community in the EU together with other Global Biogas leaders based in EU with the objective to drive team work and performance, with a culture of respect, care and people development
• Ensuring successful start-up of new projects that are being handed-over from Business Development/Engineering at completion, accountable for assurance of sign-off from Construction to Asset Management; including end-to-end assurance accountability leading to business acceptance and managing any gap closure plans
• Deliver performance improvement initiatives and production improvement capital costs/upgrades to ensure assets deliver the investment commitment.
• Leader of end-to-end value optimisation, acting as an interface with Shell Trading to facilitate Enterprise first and quality decision making. Active member of EU Biogas Integrated Performance Unit (or “IPU”, a cross business optimisation team covering production, trading, marketing) with ability to lead value chain integration through Enterprise First mindset, connecting across multiple Shell businesses, functions and Shell’s Marketing businesses to identify and unlock P&L growth and support new business opportunities
• Responsible for upskilling the organisation to ensure competitive technical and commercial standards across the business.
• Drive a culture for Decision Quality decision making in the face of highly complex, ambiguous, regulated and layered market environment

Requirements of the role

For this challenging position we are looking for a strong integrative and hands-on leader with a passion for the Energy Transition and the ability to maximize value-driven mindset in order to make best integrated commercial decisions. Since safety performance and culture is critical, the role will also require strong ownership by the leader to visibly drive the change agenda to get to Goal Zero.

• University level qualification in a commercial or technical discipline
• Substantial experience (min.15+ years) in leading operations and managing assets/projects preferably gained in the energy, manufacturing, chemicals or pharmaceutical industry.
• Experience in large corporate environments combined with the demonstrated ability to successfully navigate complex international matrixed organizations
• Proven safety leadership to lead towards Goal Zero, Net-Zero Emissions and Respecting Nature and demonstrated ability to actively embed the HSSE and compliance & sustainability lens into the development and decision making of all activities.
• Ability to set strategic longer-term vision and targets and translate to in year performance delivery, with a focus on value over volume – ‘more value with less emissions’
• Deep understanding and experience in leveraging integrated value chains to unlock potential and maximize value
• Proven relationship management and influencing skills with the ability to build trust and collaborate across organizational boundaries
• Strong people leader with the ability to lead, engage, inspire, and develop a global team/community
• Fluent in Danish and English
• Ability to explore new ways of working and business models to adapt to changing business environment. Continuously seek opportunities for improvement and innovation, staying ahead of industry trends and advancements.

Working at Nature Energy

By joining Nature Energy, you will be part of a highly experienced and ambitious team in the circular economy. Our common denominator is that we want to build a sustainable future for our planet and our people Headquartered in Odense, Denmark, Nature Energy is the European market leader in the development, design, construction, and operation of large, industrialized biogas plants pioneering a sustainable future by turning waste into value. The company owns and operates 14 biogas plants in Europe and is launching new biogas projects in Europe.

Nature Energy currently employs more than 500 dedicated employees across offices in Europe. In 2023 Nature Energy has been acquired by Shell and is currently in the process of integrating into Shell Low Carbon Solutions. Shell Low Carbon Solutions is responsible for laying the solid foundations for Shell's future beyond its traditional businesses and, critically, Shell’s capability to increasingly offer low-carbon solutions to help our customers decarbonise their activities.

You can read more about Nature Energy at Nature Energy.