Operations Associate Director

nVent • Anoka, MN

14d • $146,300 - $271,700 • Onsite

About The Position

We’re looking for people who put their innovation to work to advance our success – and their own. Join an organization that ensures a more secure world through connecting and protecting our customers with inventive electrical solutions. Are you a top-tier operations leader ready to drive operational excellence within a cornerstone business unit? nVent is seeking a strategic and high-impact Associate Director, Operations to lead our Hoffman Business in Anoka, Minnesota. As a key leader within our ~$500M Hoffman business, you will report directly to the Senior Operations Director and lead all aspects of a large-scale manufacturing operation, leading a team of 700+ associates. This is a vital opportunity to drive comprehensive operational transformation, optimize high-end custom and high-volume production, and champion a world-class culture of safety and continuous improvement. We are looking for a visionary leader who can implement the strategic vision set by senior leadership while maintaining the meticulous "boots-on-the-ground" presence required to lead a large workforce to success.

Requirements

• BS or BA degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field is required.
• 10+ years of dynamic leadership experience in a large-scale, complex manufacturing environment (>$100M+ revenue or high-volume facilities preferred).
• Advanced command of the Toyota Production System (TPS), Value Stream Mapping, TPM, and Poka-Yoke.
• A consistent track record of designing and sustaining Daily Management Systems and 5S visual factory frameworks that yield measurable, bottom-line results.
• Confirmed ability to lead large, multi-layered teams.
• An active mentor who leads from the shop floor (Gemba) and builds a sustainable culture of trust, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated success in leading complex supply chain dynamics, capacity planning, and navigating changing business environments to meet customer demands.
• Ability to translate corporate strategy into actionable operational plans and provide clear, data-driven reporting to the Senior Operations Director.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Senior Operations Director to implement the site’s strategic roadmap.
• Take full ownership of site performance, ensuring meticulous adherence to metrics across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Cash (SQDCC) for a $500M revenue engine.
• Act as the primary change agent by deeply embedding the Toyota Production System (TPS) philosophy across the plant.
• Champion core Lean methodologies—including Value Stream Mapping (VSM) to identify and eliminate end-to-end waste, lead-time reduction, and flow optimization across complex manufacturing lines.
• Lead the establishment, cascading, and meticulous execution of Daily Management Systems (DMS).
• Drive visual factory standards and visual controls down to the shop floor so that every team member can instantly assess safety, quality, and output status, enabling real-time problem solving and rapid escalation.
• Foster a zero-defect culture by deploying robust Poka-Yoke (error-proofing) mechanisms and standardized work audits.
• Ensure that quality is engineered and built into the process rather than inspected out.
• Drive Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) initiatives to enhance equipment availability, minimize unplanned downtime, and champion a culture of autonomous maintenance where operators take direct ownership of machine health and minor upkeep.
• Lead and mentor a team of 4 direct reports, setting clear objectives and encouraging a culture of accountability and high performance across 700+ associates.
• Collaborate seamlessly with Engineering, Supply Chain, Finance, and HR to execute site strategy and drive the SIOP process.
• Cultivate a hard-working organization by prioritizing talent acquisition, retention, and structured professional development.
• Lead facility investments, equipment upgrades, and resource allocation to ensure the plant remains at the groundbreaking of manufacturing efficiency.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans along with flexible spending accounts, short-term and long-term disability benefits, critical illness, accident insurance and life insurance.
• A 401(k) retirement plan and an employee stock purchase plan — both include a company match.
• Tuition reimbursement, caregiver, personal and parental leave, back-up care services, paid time off including volunteer time, a well-being program, and/or legal & identity theft protection.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director