Staff Performance & Utilization Manager (m/f/d)
- Cologne
- Full-time
- Permanent
- Qvest
As a Staff Performance & Utilization Manager, you take partial ownership of resource allocation, utilization management, and workforce performance across the organization.
This role is the central control function of the delivery workforce. You ensure that capacity is effectively deployed, utilization targets are achieved, and leadership has full transparency on staffing, performance, and structural risks.
You operate as an independent authority, working directly with Delivery Leadership, including Delivery Principals and the Head of Project Management, and maintain a direct reporting line into these leadership functions as well as the Managing Director.
You will not just support decisions — you will drive, enforce, and continuously optimize them at a leadership level.
Your Tasks
Resource Allocation & Staffing Control
- Own and manage cross-project staffing and resource allocation end-to-end
- Ensure optimal assignment of skills to demand across all delivery activities
- Maintain full transparency over capacity, demand, and workforce structure
- Actively shape and enforce staffing decisions
- Support presales and bid processes by ensuring realistic and executable staffing scenarios
Utilization Ownership & Performance Steering
- Take full responsibility for utilization management across teams and projects
- Define, track, and enforce utilization KPIs and targets
- Identify underutilization, over-allocation, and structural inefficiencies early
- Drive corrective actions in alignment with Delivery Leadership
- Provide clear, actionable reporting to support fast, fact-based decisions
Resource Conflict Resolution (Escalation Authority)
- Act as the central escalation point for resource conflicts
- Make binding, transparent staffing decisions across projects and units
- Resolve competing priorities across financial, delivery, and workforce constraints
- Ensure consistent and enforceable decision-making standards
External Workforce Management
- Build and manage a scalable, high-quality network of external resources
- Control the balance between internal and external capacity based on utilization and cost efficiency
- Ensure external partners meet quality, availability, and compliance standards
Performance Transparency & Leadership Insights
- Own the analysis and interpretation of performance and utilization data
- Provide direct, data-driven input into performance evaluations at leadership level
- Ensure objective and comparable performance assessment standards
- Continuously evolve KPIs and frameworks aligned with business goals
Workforce Governance & Advisory
- Act as an independent governance function within the Delivery organization
- Identify and communicate capacity risks, skill gaps, and structural challenges early
- Establish and enforce best practices in utilization and resource management
- Serve as a trusted advisor to Delivery Leadership and Managing Director
Your Profile
- Degree or equivalent with relevant professional experience
- Several years of experience in resource management, workforce planning, utilization control, or delivery operations in project-driven environments
- Proven ability to operate at senior stakeholder level and influence leadership decisions
- Strong track record in managing utilization and capacity at scale
- Advanced analytical skills with strong experience in Excel, BI, and reporting tools
- Confident handling of conflict, prioritization, and decision-making under pressure
- Clear, assertive communicator with strong stakeholder management skills at leadership level
- Highly structured, reliable, and data-driven working approach
- Very good command of German and English
Why This Role Matters
This role establishes central control over staffing, utilization, and workforce performance and ensures that the organization operates with:
- Predictable and optimized delivery capacity
- High utilization and efficiency
- Transparent, data-driven decision-making
- Scalable and high-performing delivery teams
It is therefore a critical, leadership-facing function with direct impact on operational performance and business success.
We offer
- Training and Continuing Education
- Flexible Working Hours
- Employee Events
- Corporate Benefits
- Parking Lot
- JobBike
- Group Accident Insurance
- Good Traffic Connection
- Capital Accumulation Plan
- Hybrid Work
- Company Pension Plan
- Company Laptop
- Urban Sports Club
About Qvest
Qvest provides holistic support to companies worldwide in their further development in the context of digital transformation. With a focus on success, more than 1,300 employees help their customers to achieve future-oriented change with innovation and consulting services, system and ICT integration in technology and infrastructure projects and the development of software and digital products. Qvest's clients include numerous well-known companies from industries such as media & entertainment, telecommunications, automotive, health & pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, retail, transportation and logistics, as well as organisations from the public sector. In addition to its headquarters in Cologne, the company also has offices in Europe, the USA, the Middle East, South East Asia and Australia.
Talent Manager
Phone: +49 163 7411464