Join us

Founding Head of Manufacturing

Build our first factory. Then help us build the next ones.

CYCLEUP is building a new circular model for construction materials.

We take used formwork plywood from the construction industry and remanufacture it into new panels — reducing the need for virgin wood by up to 80% and CO₂ emissions by approximately 70%, without asking customers to change the product they use or the way they work.

The technology and processes have been developed and validated. We have strong industry traction and are now preparing to build our first commercial-scale factory.

For that, we’re looking for a Founding Head of Manufacturing to join our small team of three.

This is not a role where you inherit a factory — you build it.

The role

You will take ownership of turning our validated manufacturing process into a commissioned, commercially operating factory — a project of approximately DKK 50 million, covering CapEx and the initial organisation.

Reporting directly to our CEO, you will lead the journey from business case and detailed factory design through procurement, installation and commissioning, until the line is running and handed over to operations.

This is as much a strategic role as a technical one. You will co-own the factory business case, drive key decisions on make-or-buy and level of automation, contribute to our investor dialogue, and design the blueprint that allows us to replicate the model in Factory #2 and beyond.

Your responsibilities will include:

  • Co-owning the factory business case and key strategic choices (make-or-buy, automation level, phasing)

  • Finalising factory and production-line design

  • Defining machine specifications and production requirements

  • Selecting, negotiating with and managing equipment vendors

  • Managing CapEx, timelines and build execution

  • Planning site requirements and building adaptations

  • Leading installation, commissioning and start-up of production

  • Establishing SOPs, QA/QC and manufacturing processes

  • Ensuring machinery safety, CE marking and regulatory compliance

  • Designing the logistics and sourcing setup

  • Recruiting the initial hires, including factory manager, and shaping the production organisation

  • Contributing to investor dialogue on the factory and manufacturing roadmap

  • Building a replicable blueprint for future factories

As the factory moves towards operation, a factory manager will take over day-to-day production. Exactly where that handover happens — and how ramp-up is shared — we will shape together with you.

From there, the natural next step is to lead the replication of the model: building Factory #2 and beyond across Europe.

Who we're looking for

The most important thing on your CV is not a particular industry.

It is that you have done this before.

You have personally played a leading role in establishing a new manufacturing line or factory from design through commissioning and ramp-up — not only managed an existing operation.

You understand what can go wrong because you have experienced it firsthand.

You are comfortable moving between the boardroom and the factory floor: discussing CapEx and strategy one moment, reviewing machine specifications, calling a supplier or solving a commissioning problem the next.

You probably bring:

  • Experience leading external vendors and integrators through installation and commissioning

  • Strong technical and process-engineering judgement — combined with the commercial sense to own a business case

  • Experience managing significant CapEx budgets and negotiating with equipment vendors

  • The ability to create structure where none exists — and the drive to do the work yourself

Experience with automation, robotics, woodworking, composites, recycled materials or circular manufacturing is a plus — but not a requirement.

How you work

We are small, efficient and hands-on — we make decisions in days, not quarters, and there are no large departments to hand problems to.

In the first phase, you are the manufacturing organisation. You'll write the specifications, run the vendor negotiations and build the CapEx model yourself, supported by the founders and external specialists where it makes sense.

This role is probably not for you if you need established processes, a large support organisation or a team to delegate to from day one.

We’re looking for someone who takes end-to-end ownership, makes decisions with incomplete information and surfaces problems early.

Someone who can think strategically without being afraid to get their hands dirty.

And someone who enjoys turning a validated concept into a scalable industrial reality.

What you get

This is a rare opportunity to build a world-first industrial remanufacturing operation and shape how the company and its manufacturing platform develop.

You will work directly with CYCLEUP's founders and have substantial autonomy over how the factory is designed and built.

As an early-stage company, we offer a package combining a fair salary with warrants in CYCLEUP's warrant programme, reflecting the ownership and long-term impact we expect.

Location: Copenhagen preferred, close to our main office. Alternatively Southern Jutland, close to the factory, with partial remote work. Either way, significant on-site presence at the factory in Southern Jutland is required during establishment and commissioning.

Employment: Full-time, permanent, reports to CEO.

Start: 1 January 2027.

If you've built a manufacturing line before and want to do it again — this time with circularity at the core — we'd like to hear from you. Give us a call, send an email or connect on LinkedIn.

Contact person: Thomas Pries, CEO and founder, +45 61 33 38 68, thomas@cycleup.dk.

Come build Factory #1 with us.