Innovation Division Director

AGTEGRA COOPERATIVE•Huron, SD

22h

About The Position

The Innovation Division Director provides operational leadership and hands-on support across multiple shop locations to ensure safe, efficient, and profitable innovation, precision agriculture, and retail operations. The role focuses on equipment uptime, parts and service profitability, inventory control, customer satisfaction, regulatory compliance, and technician performance through consistent standards, data-driven oversight, and on-site engagement. The director supports Innovation Center locations through on-site visits and remote communication, promotes safety and operational best practices, and helps teams meet revenue, margin, and expense targets. The role oversees product development and portfolio management, inventory optimization, customer service standards, preventative maintenance scheduling, mechanic performance, training and certifications, and maintenance compliance. It also uses reporting tools to identify performance gaps and guide corrective actions across locations. The position requires regular travel to multiple locations and leadership of team performance through measurable goals, coaching, feedback, and consistent policy application. Agtegra Cooperative is a farmer- and rancher-owned agricultural cooperative headquartered in Aberdeen, South Dakota, with more than 70 locations and 850 employees.

Requirements

Eight or more years of progressively responsible leadership or management experience.
Ten or more years of related experience in fleet maintenance, shop operations, equipment service, parts and service operations, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
High school diploma or GED.
Eligible to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.
English proficiency.
Must be 18 years or older.
Strong working knowledge of fleet maintenance, shop operations, and retail parts/service environments.
Proven ability to manage inventory, control costs, and improve operational profitability.
Strong leadership, communication, and coaching skills.
Knowledge of DOT, FMCSA, and safety compliance requirements.
Ability to travel regularly to multiple locations.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor’s degree, or technical training, in fleet maintenance, automotive or diesel technology, business, operations, or a related field.
Previous experience overseeing multiple locations or leading managers or supervisors.
Experience in agricultural equipment, precision agriculture, or a cooperative environment.
Experience with CMMS or a similar fleet maintenance management system.

Responsibilities

Support each Innovation Center location through on-site visits, conference calls, webinars, and weekly team direction.
Promote safety and consistent best practices by conducting safety audits of work areas and shops.
Support and enforce approved Parts/Vendor programs, including price protection, goodwill support, and warranty recovery.
Help location teams achieve revenue, margin, and expense-control targets for parts and service operations.
Optimize parts turnover by maintaining appropriate stock, reducing obsolete or excess inventory, and reviewing inventory turns and aging reports with site leadership.
Lead product development and product cycle management with leadership of the product portfolio.
Conduct sales-promoting activities and team training to support growth.
Promote consistent service standards, communication, and turnaround times; address parts and service customer concerns or escalations as needed.
Promote a customer-first culture focused on uptime, reliability, and value.
Support preventative maintenance scheduling using internal systems to maintain accurate monthly schedules and minimize downtime.
Use internal CMMS systems to manage mechanic performance, technician efficiency, and in-house repair capabilities.
Develop internal time-of-repair guides within RTA to compare allotted and actual repair times.
Collaborate with Parts and Service teams to increase internal and external retail capture rates and retain work that can be completed in-house.
Maintain and track mechanic training and certification records, including applicable vehicle inspection, DOT, cargo tank, and tire credentials.
Spot-check equipment maintenance compliance while on-site to reduce DOT exposure and improve FMCSA safety scores.
Use CMMS, business intelligence, and inventory reporting tools to monitor trends, identify gaps, and implement corrective actions.
Coach and motivate team members through feedback, goal setting, communication, and consistent application of policies and practices.
Set measurable team goals, track metrics, and hold employees accountable for performance.
Follow applicable safety regulations, policies, and procedures, including OSHA regulations, vehicle and fleet safety policies, and DOT regulations.
Perform other duties as assigned.