Operations Excellence Manager

Vermeer • Pella, IA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Operations Excellence Manager works with operations leaders across the organization to develop leadership capabilities and advance lean leadership principles. Through one-to-one interactions, group facilitation, coaching, and mentoring, this role helps operations teams execute business plans and improve organizational performance. The position partners across manufacturing leadership and support functions to align improvement efforts and foster personal and professional development.

The role serves as a resource for developing Vermeer culture, applying lean principles, and using performance boards to engage team members around metrics and production goals. It coordinates with Continuous Improvement Leaders on lean activities, change management, leadership development, and kaizen events. The role also mentors Production Area Managers in alignment with Vermeer Characteristics and Behaviors. Occasional travel is expected. This is an onsite position, with day-to-day work best performed on a Vermeer campus.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least four years of experience in manufacturing or an equivalent business leadership role.
• Proven operations leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Expertise in lean manufacturing, managing through daily improvement (MDI), and leading structured problem-solving efforts.
• Ability to coach and develop leaders through observation, feedback, and practical application.
• Ability to build trusted relationships, influence without formal authority, and partner effectively across functions and organizational levels.

Responsibilities

• Support operations leaders in developing Vermeer culture and lean principles and using performance boards to engage team members around team metrics and production goals.
• Coordinate with Continuous Improvement Leaders on lean activities, learning, change management, and leadership development.
• Plan, prepare, lead, execute, review, and audit kaizen events.
• Promote and educate leaders on standard processes, improved flow, waste elimination, and managing for daily improvement (MDI) activities.
• Partner with Continuous Improvement, Quality, Operations Engineering, Talent Development, and other support functions to align proactive measures and leadership development efforts.
• Mentor Production Area Managers through leadership development initiatives aligned with Vermeer Characteristics and Behaviors.

What This Job Offers

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