Americas Operations Director

Are you adept at ensuring operational productivity while translating strategic initiatives into actionable plans? Are you ready to take on the responsibility of overseeing performance, establishing objectives, and steering a management team? Then we have an interesting position in Grundfos for you.

What is the job about?

Grundfos is looking for an experienced leader to head our Operations activities for our Water Utility (WU) Division in the Americas Region.

In this role, you will have responsibility and oversight for the Americas region (USA, Mexico, and Chile) and act as the Plant Director for our Fresno, CA facility.

You will be overall responsible for the improvement and performance of the unit and departments which means Production Plants and APUs. You will align activities between sales and operations and ensure that strategies are translated into actions.

This position reports directly to the Vice President of Global Water Utility Operations and can be based out of any of our WU facilities in the Americas, preferably out of San Luis Potosí, Mexico or our WU Global Headquarters in Brookshire, TX, USA.

Your main responsibilities:

• Overall responsible for performance of the unit and departments within the region.
• Establish goals, processes, operational efficiency, and concrete execution plans linked to the targets set.
• Participate in strategic and operational planning and orchestrating all production, industrial engineering plans and projects aimed at ensuring business outcomes for the region while continuously improving Sustainability, Quality, Delivery, Inventory, Costs and People.
• Select, lead, guide, evaluate and develop the management team to ensure that the unit/department achieves the business objectives and comply with all relevant regulations and laws.
• Lead, direct, and control all Operations activities to maximize the use of the organization’s resources and meet established production specifications and schedules volume, deliver and wastage targets in accordance with safety, quality, delay, cost, inventory, and people standards.
• Accountable for the SQDICP (Safety, Quality, Delivery, Inventory, Cost &People) performance and development of the Fresno plant as well as plan, direct, and monitor day-to-day activities of the plant to achieve short- and medium-term financial and operating objectives.

Your background

We imagine that you have:  

• A Bachelor’s degree in a related field, a Master’s degree would be preferable.
• 10 years’ relevant work experience.
• Experience developing and implementing overall operating processes particularly within Operations.
• Experience developing and executing key strategic initiatives within a complex business environment; experience working in a large manufacturing environment is highly valued.
• Extensive experience operating and leading a large team and/or complex process particularly within Operations.
• Great business and commercial understanding - combined with good cultural understanding and you have proven yourself in a leadership role across geographies managing people from different cultures.
• Effective communication skills.
• Ability to travel within the region (50%).

What’s in it for you?

You’ll be an invaluable part of our global leadership team, a diverse network of pioneers guiding others in seeing possibilities, not problems. You’ll be instrumental in spreading our optimistic, can-do attitude to advance global innovation and a clear sense of purpose, embodying our six core values, guiding our colleagues in living them day by day, and making a difference in global projects. We support you in navigating your own career and development path, offering you tools to hone your leadership craft, both within your field and to broaden your interest or expertise in areas such as diversity & inclusion, coaching and culture.

In addition, if you are in the USA, your day-to-day benefits include:  

• If you’ll be working from your home office, we’ll make sure you are well equipped with a workstation. However, you are always welcome to our offices where you can engage, learn, and have fun with colleagues.   
• On top of it, flexible working hours; 5 paid holidays; paid time off for volunteering; up to 20 paid vacation days. Vacation hours are accrued on a prorated basis, based on your hire date within the calendar year. 
• Competitive medical insurance rates through medical, dental, and vision plans; and a 401(k)-match program. 
• Annual bonuses, parental support, internal well-being consultants and programs.
• Access to the modern Grundfos Academy to pursue further both personal and professional development. 

If this job sounds interesting, please send your resume and cover letter by clicking “Apply”.  

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Grundfos needs and welcomes professional people from all corners and backgrounds by providing equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. Employment decisions at Grundfos are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. Learn more about your rights as an applicant and pay transparency. Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities.

We look forward to hearing from you.