Director, Operations

Generac•Belvidere, IL

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Operations is responsible for leading the end-to-end operations of a multi‑shift manufacturing plant and raw material warehouse campus. This role owns operational execution, safety, talent development, and continuous improvement while driving performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and cash. This leader will champion and implement the Generac Manufacturing System (GMS), grounded in lean principles, to create a safe work environment, build a strong culture, improve customer experience, increase productivity, and support profitable growth. Success in this role requires the ability to translate multi‑year operational strategies into disciplined daily execution while leading both direct and dotted‑line teams.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Supply Chain, or a related field OR equivalent experience.
3+ years of experience applying lean principles and techniques (e.g., Toyota Production System, Shingo, Danaher Business System, Lean Enterprise Institute) with demonstrated year‑over‑year improvement.
5+ years of leadership experience managing teams in a discrete, industrial, or consumer capital goods manufacturing environment.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Engineering, Business, or Supply Chain.
6+ years of demonstrated experience implementing lean principles with measurable operational results.
Lean, Operations, or Supply Chain certifications.
Experience implementing automated manufacturing processes and systems.
Experience improving equipment reliability and productivity using OEE and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM).
Experience with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES/MOM) and Industry 4.0 / Smart Factory initiatives.
Experience with SAP or equivalent ERP systems.
Demonstrated expertise in lean flow, Kanban, and Plan for Every Part (PFEP).
Proven leadership experience managing diverse teams and skill sets.

Responsibilities

Lead daily operations and continuous improvement efforts across a multi‑shift manufacturing facility and warehouse campus.
Drive lean manufacturing principles including continuous flow, pull systems, visual factory, and daily problem solving.
Own and deploy the Generac Manufacturing System (GMS) using PDCA and Managing for Daily Improvement (MDI) to achieve KPI targets in safety, people, quality, delivery, cost, and cash.
Establish standardized work and processes to ensure operational stability, productivity, and consistent execution.
Create a highly visual operating environment that exposes problems quickly and enables rapid resolution.
Perform Leader Standard Work and layered process audits to sustain improvements and prevent recurrence of issues.
Ensure a best‑in‑class customer experience through improved quality, speed, and ease.
Build and sustain a strong performance culture focused on accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
Develop, coach, and mentor leaders and frontline teams to strengthen capability and engagement.
Create an environment where teams stop to fix problems and prioritize getting quality right the first time.
Lead regular communication cadences to ensure urgency, transparency, and alignment.
Ensure effective training, cross‑training, and succession planning to support a flexible and resilient workforce.
Develop and execute long‑range plans for capacity, capital equipment, technology, and workforce needs.
Build and manage a tactical continuous improvement roadmap, including kaizen and project execution.
Partner cross‑functionally to align operational priorities with business strategy and growth plans.
Select, develop, and retain top talent while aligning team objectives with company strategy.
Manage performance through goal setting, feedback, recognition, and development planning.
Drive succession planning and continuous performance improvement across the organization.

Benefits

Health, Dental, Vision, 401k and many more
State-of-the-art facility with an onsite gym, walking trails, café, free parking and many employee activities
Scheduled events throughout the year that allow our employees, both current and retirees, to gather together and enjoy their time with their families and co-workers
Volunteer Time Off program, inviting team members to participate in charitable volunteer opportunities on company time.
Fun Days
medical, dental and vision plans
life, long-term disability, flexible spending and health savings accounts
accrued paid time off
8 paid Holidays
401(k) retirement benefits