Dirk Volkmann - Interim Manager

Q: Where is Dirk based?

Dirk is based in Düsseldorf, Germany and can operate in on-site , hybrid , and remote work models.

Q: What languages does Dirk speak?

Dirk speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), Spanish (Advanced), French (Intermediate), Russian (Elementary) .

Q: How many years of experience does Dirk have?

Dirk has at least 40 years of experience. During this time, Dirk has worked in at least 27 different roles and for 35 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 1 year . Note that Dirk may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Dirk's latest experience?

Dirk's most recent position is Interim Project Manager at Energy producer .

Q: What companies has Dirk worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Dirk has worked for Energy producer , Japanese conglomerate , Start-up of a medium-sized industrial company , Manufacturer of laboratory equipment/medical technology , and Surface Coating / Electroplating .

Q: Which industries is Dirk most experienced in?

Dirk is most experienced in industries like Manufacturing , Energy , and Automotive . Dirk also has some experience in Professional Services , Metals and Mining , and Chemical .

Q: Which business areas is Dirk most experienced in?

Dirk is most experienced in business areas like Project Management , Operations , and Strategy . Dirk also has some experience in Production , Sales , and Marketing .

Q: Which industries has Dirk worked in recently?

Dirk has recently worked in industries like Energy , Manufacturing , and Automotive .

Q: Which business areas has Dirk worked in recently?

Dirk has recently worked in business areas like Project Management , Operations , and Production .

Recommended expert

Düsseldorf, Germany

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Experience

Jun 2024 - Dec 2025

1 year 7 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

Interim Project Manager

Energy producer

Innovation division: Project development for a brownfield biofuel production partnership

Dec 2023 - Jan 2024

2 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

Interim Project Manager

Energy producer

Project development for biomethane plants at several locations in Germany
Drafting lease and service agreements
Creating an internal toolbox of project management tools

Feb 2023 - Dec 2023

11 months

Interim Sustainability Manager

Japanese conglomerate

Project for CO2 neutrality by 2030
Concept development for Scope 1 and 2
Purchasing EACs (Energy Attribute Certificates) and vPPAs (Virtual PPAs) for 145 European subsidiaries

Dec 2022 - Dec 2025

3 years 1 month

Germany

Interim Managing Director

Start-up of a medium-sized industrial company

Establishing a component manufacturing facility
21 planned employees

Dec 2022 - May 2024

1 year 6 months

Castrop-Rauxel, Germany

Consultant

Manufacturer of laboratory equipment/medical technology

The company was sold
Took on management tasks
40 employees

Jul 2022 - Nov 2022

5 months

Germany

Interim Plant Manager

Surface Coating / Electroplating

130 employees

Mar 2022 - Jul 2022

5 months

Hanover, Germany

Project Director

Manufacturer of Extruder Equipment

Project management / leading plant construction projects in the USA for plastics recycling

Apr 2021 - Present

5 years 2 months

Germany

Board Member, CEO

Publicly traded company

Project development of onshore wind (>650 MW), PV (350 MW) and biogas/biogas upgrading in Germany

Jun 2019 - Dec 2021

2 years 7 months

Castrop-Rauxel, Germany

CEO, CRO

Manufacturer of Laboratory Equipment / Medical Technology

Turnaround / restructuring of a mid-sized manufacturing company
Return to profitability
Increase in revenue and profit
Energy efficiency measures
40 employees

Dec 2018 - May 2019

6 months

Cologne, Germany

Managing Director

Forensic Laboratory

Managing a site for DNA analysis of an international lab group
Resolving criminal and civil issues for the shareholder
30 employees

Oct 2018 - Dec 2018

3 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

Consultant

Energy Producer

Innovation area, CO2 recycling strategies, photocatalytic and thermochemical processes for producing fuels, chemicals and solids

Aug 2018 - Sep 2018

2 months

Wülfrath, Germany

Consultant

Automotive Supplier Tier 1

Project management optimization – basic analysis, current state, maturity model and defining measures to optimize processes, especially in product development
350 employees

May 2018 - Jun 2019

1 year 2 months

Gütersloh, Germany

Coach

Subsidiary of a Printing and Media Group

Coaching/training of lower, middle and senior management in employee leadership
Long-term employee retention through appreciation to reduce illness rates (during and outside working hours)
450 employees

Jan 2018 - Jul 2018

7 months

Haldensleben, Germany

Interim Buyer

Automotive Supplier Tier 1

Technical RATIO projects to achieve purchasing successes > €3 million for 2018
Identifying technical modification options to save weight on cast and forged parts and save machining steps in production, reducing logistics costs
Broadening the supply base by searching for new suppliers internationally
Supplier development in Turkey
1,800 employees

Jan 2017 - Oct 2017

10 months

Remscheid, Germany

Interim Plant Manager

Automotive Supplier Tier 3

Managing a site within a high-performance hardening group with seven plants in Germany
Various process technologies and state-of-the-art equipment
Quality-assuring in-house testing methods
Energy efficiency measures
125 employees

Sep 2015 - Nov 2016

1 year 3 months

Weiterstadt, Germany

Interim Plant Manager

Tier 2 Automotive Supplier, Galvanizing

Development, production, and finishing of innovative, high-performance functional surfaces for materials and complex technical components of various materials
Negotiations with Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs (VW, Mercedes)
Energy efficiency measures
140 employees

Mar 2014 - Aug 2015

1 year 6 months

Lindau, Germany

Interim Project Manager

Refrigeration Plant Construction

Project management and contract management of two large power plant projects in China and France with significant time and cost overruns
Structuring and restructuring of project execution
Development and implementation of tools for change and claims management
Negotiation and enforcement of claims with clients
Implementation of scheduling and reporting, risk management
Authorized signatory under Section 54 of the German Commercial Code
25 employees

Apr 2013 - Nov 2013

8 months

Austria

Interim Managing Director/CRO

Medium-Sized Photovoltaic Module Manufacturer

Restructuring assignment / restructuring case, deployed by a banking consortium
Responsibility for marketing and sales (Germany-Austria-Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Netherlands, France), engineering, finance and accounting, HR, controlling, project management including change management and claims
Negotiations with investors on the sale of the company's own portfolio in Italy and Greece
Development of tenant electricity and neighborhood energy models
50 employees

May 2012 - Mar 2013

11 months

Berlin, Germany

Interim Head of O&M Business

PHOTON Energy Operations GmbH

Set up and expand the O&M service business for PV power plants in Germany and Europe
Leveraged established contacts with investors, banks, insurers, and competitors
Acquisition and integration of competitors out of insolvency, negotiations with insolvency administrators
Structuring of internal processes / creation of a service manual / technical documentation of existing plants
5 employees

Mar 2011 - Dec 2011

10 months

Berlin, Germany

Interim Head of Division (Segment Manager - Large Power Plants)

Q-Cells SE

Performance ratio – development of a unified business strategy
O&M – new business strategy for third-party O&M, especially in Spain
Insurance solutions for utility projects and customers
Business initiation in C&I – larger real estate portfolios
Initiation of strategic cooperation with OBI in rooftop systems and DIY
Investor relationship management – development of a strategic approach
Latin America market development (Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Brazil): initiation of various leads based on existing long-term contacts
New markets in Central and Southern Europe – development of strategic approaches for market entry and expansion

Jan 2011 - May 2011

5 months

Braunschweig, Germany

Consultant

Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt

Regional project on renewable energies and energy efficiency in Latin America and the Caribbean (GIZ project)
Collection of market data on the status of renewable energy expansion (wind, water, biomass, biogas, hydro) by country in Latin America and the Caribbean
Preparation of workshop in Rio de Janeiro / Xérem, Brazil, invitation of network partners from Latin America as speakers
1 employee

Jul 2010 - Feb 2011

8 months

Berlin, Germany

Interim Department Head (Project Finance & Sales)

GEOSOL GmbH

Established the Project Finance and Sales department from scratch
Selection, hiring and onboarding of a team of 4 employees
Set up and established banking contacts in Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, United Kingdom and Germany
Set up and established investor contacts worldwide
Negotiations with banks for project financing of PV systems (term sheets and contracts)
Feasibility studies and calculations
Securing construction financing (bridge finance)
Set up financial and technical controlling for existing plants (22 MW)
Negotiations with investors for the sale of own portfolio in Italy, Germany and Czech Republic (22 MW)

Jul 2010 - Sep 2010

3 months

Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Germany

Consultant

Agnion Technologies GmbH

Review and re-drafting of market concept for biomass gasification plants
Business plan for the second equity financing round

Jan 2010 - Jun 2010

6 months

Augsburg, Germany

Interim Director (Project Management)

MAN Diesel AG

Project management and project control for the construction of 6 diesel power plants (€1.2 billion)
Restructuring of project execution and project control
Support of procurement activities
Regular client negotiations on project progress
Set up change management / registering and defending claims
Selection and appointment of Head of Engineering
25 employees

Feb 2008 - Jun 2009

1 year 5 months

Nafplion, Greece

Interim Board Member / CEO of PV Investment Company

Eurovoltaic Hellas

Market development in Italy, Greece and Spain
Establishment of the subsidiary in Greece

Feb 2008 - Nov 2008

10 months

Dortmund, Germany

Interim Managing Director

EnvioMar GmbH / Envio Water GmbH

Developed business plan for a new patent-protected ballast water treatment process
Managed the company (designing and operating a pilot plant on Heligoland, overseeing the IMO registration process)
Marketing and sales of the technology, visiting potential customers (mainly shipping companies)
Supervised construction of a large-scale plant in India for industrial wastewater treatment
10 employees

Oct 2007 - Dec 2008

1 year 3 months

London, United Kingdom

Interim Board Member / COO, PV Investment Company

Eurovoltaic PLC

Market development in Italy, Greece and Spain

Jun 2006 - Jun 2008

2 years 1 month

Leipzig, Germany

Volunteer Board Member

FV Leipziger Institut für Energetik e.V.

Technical board member responsible for the subsidiary Institut für Energetik und Umwelt gGmbH, Leipzig - investment management
Negotiating and finalizing the share purchase agreement with the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection for the takeover of the institute

May 2005 - May 2006

1 year 1 month

Leipzig, Germany

Interim Managing Director

IE-S Integrated Energy Systems

Founded and built the company
Sales and marketing of engineering services in bioethanol, biodiesel and biogas in Asia and Latin America

Nov 2002 - Jan 2005

2 years 3 months

Freiberg, Germany

Interim Managing Director

FUTURE ENERGY GmbH

Led a process engineering company focused on entrained flow gasification for coal, biomass, chemical and refinery waste, and municipal solid waste
Developed the business plan, reorganized and repositioned the company
Secured a major contract in Sokolov, Czech Republic, and managed the project execution
Coordinated research and development - collaboration with KIT Karlsruhe
Sales and marketing of engineering services and test campaigns for the company's own pilot gasification plant worldwide
35 employees

May 2000 - May 2002

2 years 1 month

Grimma, Germany

Interim Managing Director

MAG Maschinen- und Anlagenbau Grimma GmbH

Management of a manufacturing company for process engineering equipment used in the chemical and refinery industries
Turnaround case, engagement via a banking consortium
Restructuring of equipment manufacturing, development of a buy-and-build concept
Worldwide sales/marketing for equipment and plant construction (ethanol)
Areas of responsibility: accounting, financial reporting, finance, controlling, administration, IT, HR, marketing/sales, and equipment manufacturing
300 employees

May 1998 - Present

28 years 1 month

Düsseldorf, Germany

Consulting, Interim and Project Management

Volkmann Consult

Consulting, interim, and project management in Europe and abroad in machinery and plant engineering, clean tech, energy, automotive, and renewable energy

Apr 1993 - Apr 1998

5 years 1 month

Berlin, Germany

Managing Partner

ubw Unternehmensberatung für die Wirtschaft GmbH

Founding and development of the company
Consulting projects for the Treuhandanstalt in Chemnitz and Halle/Saale and the Federal Agency for Special Tasks Related to Reunification in Berlin
Turnaround consulting for medium-sized companies

Oct 1991 - Mar 1993

1 year 6 months

Düsseldorf, Germany

Manager

KPMG Unternehmensberatung GmbH

Privatization of companies in the New Federal States on behalf of the Treuhandanstalt, Chemnitz branch

Apr 1991 - Sep 1991

6 months

Duisburg, Germany

Head of Department South America, USSR/Russia

Klöckner Industrieanlagen GmbH

Sales of process engineering plants and equipment for mining, ore processing, and non-ferrous metallurgy

Oct 1990 - Mar 1991

6 months

Dresden, Germany

Office Manager

Klöckner Stadtler Hurter GmbH

Leadership responsibility for 15 employees
Engineering firm for pulp and paper plants

Feb 1990 - Sep 1990

8 months

Duisburg, Germany

Assistant to Management

Klöckner Industrieanlagen GmbH

Strategy development for the GDR and new federal states

May 1989 - Jan 1990

9 months

Duisburg, Germany

Head of Department South America, USSR/Russia

Klöckner Industrieanlagen GmbH

Sales of process engineering plants and equipment for mining, ore processing and non-ferrous metallurgy
Authorized signatory from 01.07.89

Nov 1987 - Mar 1989

1 year 5 months

Moscow, Russian Federation

Deputy Head of the Corporate Office

Klöckner & Co AG

Leadership responsibility for 30 employees
Product responsibility for machine tools, chemical trading, industrial plants, food processing plants
Business development, negotiation support
Project management / contract management for Sayansk aluminium smelter and anode baking plant (DM 555 million)

Sep 1985 - Sep 1987

2 years 1 month

Duisburg, Germany

Project Manager

Klöckner Industrieanlagen GmbH

Tractor plant in the USSR, mining and mine projects in Peru and Chile

Industry Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.

Experienced in Manufacturing, Energy, Automotive, Professional Services, Metals and Mining, and Healthcare.

Manufacturing

Energy

Automotive

Professional Services

Metals and Mining

Healthcare

Business Area Experience

See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.

Experienced in Project Management, Operations, Strategy, Production, Sales, and Marketing.

Project Management

Operations

Strategy

Production

Sales

Marketing

Summary

Graduate in Business Administration (FH) / MBA (Sustainability Management) with a strong technical affinity
Experienced and successful interim manager with many years of leadership responsibility, specialist in restructuring/turnaround, short-term bridging of leadership vacancies, and strategic reorientation of companies or business units
Various roles including plant manager, division manager, department head, project manager, managing director, and board member in industrial, engineering, and plant engineering companies
Solid project, industry, and technical expertise in automotive, mechanical and plant engineering, energy industry, as well as CleanTech and renewable energies (biogas, biofuels, SAF, PV, wind, circular economy) combined with extensive M&A experience (>100 transactions), project management/claims management in plant engineering, change management, sustainability management
Accountability for goals and results, combined with strong analytical skills and an entrepreneurial mindset, excellent communication skills, and an inclusive, cooperative leadership style

Skills

Automotive
Process Engineering For Large-scale Plants
Mining
Non-ferrous Metallurgy
Pulp And Paper
Food Processing
Textile Machinery
Wood Processing
Toys
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
Mechanical Engineering
Equipment Manufacturing
Oil & Gas
Recycling
Power Generation Incl. Renewables
Cleantech
Water / Water Treatment
Private Equity
M&a (Sell Side, Approx. 100 Mandates)
Forensics
Laboratory Construction/medical Technology

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Spanish

Advanced

French

Intermediate

Russian

Elementary

Education

Feb 2009 - Dec 2013

University of Lüneburg

MBA Sustainability Management · Sustainability Management · Lüneburg, Germany

Sep 1983 - Aug 1985

Klöckner Delegationsbüro

Industrial Plant Specialist (IHK) · Industrial Plant Specialist · Lima, Peru

Sep 1982 - Jun 1989

Hochschule für Berufstätige, staatlich anerkannte Fachhochschule, Rendsburg

Diploma in Business Administration (FH) · Business Administration, specialization in Sales and International Trade · Rendsburg, Germany

...and 4 more

Certifications & licenses

KLIMA.PROFIT NRW – Consultant Qualification

KLIMA.PROFIT North Rhine-Westphalia

Certificate Course for Restructuring and Turnaround Consulting

IFUS-Institut

Continuous Improvement Process in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

RKW Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH

Methods and Techniques of Consulting

BUS-BeraterAkademie

Rhetoric and Negotiation Techniques

KPMG Deutsche Treuhand-Unternehmensberatung GmbH

Cross-Divisional Management Talent Development Program

Klöckner & Co AG

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 40

Experience in Manufacturing 31 y

Avg length 1 y 10 m

Longest experience 28 y

Global Experience

Countries worked in 5 (Germany, Austria, Greece, United Kingdom, Russian Federation)

Primary country Germany

Expertise

Recent roles Interim Project Manager, Interim Sustainability Manager, Interim Managing Director

Main industries Manufacturing, Energy, Automotive

Main business areas Project Management, Operations, Strategy

Qualifications

Highest degree Master

Certifications earned 6

Profile

Created

September 2025

Last Update

May 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Dirk based?

Dirk is based in Düsseldorf, Germany and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.

What languages does Dirk speak?

Dirk speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), Spanish (Advanced), French (Intermediate), Russian (Elementary).

How many years of experience does Dirk have?

Dirk has at least 40 years of experience. During this time, Dirk has worked in at least 27 different roles and for 35 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 1 year. Note that Dirk may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Dirk be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Dirk would be well-suited for roles such as: Interim Project Manager, Interim Sustainability Manager, Interim Managing Director.

What is Dirk's latest experience?

Dirk's most recent position is Interim Project Manager at Energy producer.

What companies has Dirk worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Dirk has worked for Energy producer, Japanese conglomerate, Start-up of a medium-sized industrial company, Manufacturer of laboratory equipment/medical technology, and Surface Coating / Electroplating.

Which industries is Dirk most experienced in?

Dirk is most experienced in industries like Manufacturing, Energy, and Automotive. Dirk also has some experience in Professional Services, Metals and Mining, and Chemical.

Which business areas is Dirk most experienced in?

Dirk is most experienced in business areas like Project Management, Operations, and Strategy. Dirk also has some experience in Production, Sales, and Marketing.

Which industries has Dirk worked in recently?

Dirk has recently worked in industries like Energy, Manufacturing, and Automotive.

Which business areas has Dirk worked in recently?

Dirk has recently worked in business areas like Project Management, Operations, and Production.

What is Dirk's education?

Dirk holds a Master in Sustainability Management from University of Lüneburg.

Does Dirk have any certificates?

Dirk has 6 certificates. Among them, these include: KLIMA.PROFIT NRW – Consultant Qualification, Certificate Course for Restructuring and Turnaround Consulting, and Continuous Improvement Process in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.

What is the availability of Dirk?

Dirk will be available full-time from May 2026.

What is the rate of Dirk?

Dirk's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.