Senior Manager, IO Industrial Engineering - Lakeland
About The Position
The Senior Manager of Industrial Engineering for Industrial Operations leads the industrial engineering managers and teams whose work influences Publix’s workforce, facilities, and equipment. The role drives process improvement and operational excellence across Distribution, Manufacturing, Transportation, Central Pharmacy, and other supported areas of the business. The position partners with operational leaders, directors, and vice presidents to establish priorities, align resources, develop leadership capability, and ensure consistent execution of industrial engineering strategies supporting Publix’s business priorities. It provides enterprise-level direction for decisions concerning associate performance, staffing and scheduling, labor productivity, operational capacity, and investments in facilities and equipment. The role leads beyond a single operation, shaping how Publix optimizes resources, improves processes, drives efficiencies and cost savings, and builds operational capabilities to support long-term growth and performance. The Senior Manager develops high-performing teams, influences senior leaders, and turns complex operational challenges into measurable business improvements.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering, a closely related analytical discipline, or equivalent experience.
- Six years of industrial engineering experience in a large-scale retail, distribution, manufacturing, or pharmacy environment, including developing and implementing engineered labor standards or comparable productivity measures, driving process improvements, designing facility layouts for operational efficiency, and identifying innovative tools, equipment, or automated solutions while collaborating with suppliers to assess feasibility and support implementation.
- Five years of experience applying engineering leadership skills and business acumen, including understanding core business principles and translating them into actionable plans.
- Five years of experience building relationships, understanding stakeholder needs, and influencing decisions across all organizational levels, including senior and executive leadership.
- Five years of project management experience working with cross-functional teams.
- Five years of experience in a role responsible for mentoring and/or reviewing the work of other engineers, analysts, or specialists.
- Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.
- Valid driver’s license to operate a company-owned vehicle.
- Knowledge of departmental planning and management processes, including operating budgets, three-year planning, workforce and succession planning, and progressive promotions.
- Knowledge of effective applications of industrial engineering techniques, including Operations Research & Quantitative Analyses, Work Design & Measurement, Human Factors & Facility Design, Systems Engineering & Process Improvement, and Management Science & Performance Analytics.
- Knowledge of external industry practices, benchmarks, suppliers, equipment, systems, and emerging technologies.
- Knowledge of modeling, decision support applications, and engineering analysis applications, such as system simulation applications, facility layout and design applications, Minitab, Python, and WorkStudy+.
Nice To Haves
- MBA or Master of Science degree in industrial engineering, engineering management, or a closely related engineering discipline.
- Maynard Operation Sequence Technique (MOST) certification.
- Lean/Six-Sigma green belt or higher certification.
- At least eight years of industrial engineering experience.
- At least seven years of Publix industrial engineering experience.
- At least seven years of experience designing and optimizing large-scale automated systems.
- At least seven years of project management experience working with cross-functional teams.
- At least seven years of supervisory experience with a proven record of hiring, leading, and developing a high-performing team.
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.
- Experience using enterprise operations applications for supported business areas, such as SAP, Oasis, CM Smart, Dallas Warehouse Management System, Manhattan Transportation Management System, or Driver Performance system.
- Experience using applications developed by the Industrial Engineering team, such as Selector Accuracy Sampling, Labor Planning Tool, retail/manufacturing/distribution capacity models, and engineered standards maintenance tools.
Responsibilities
- Identify and prioritize high-impact industrial engineering work, including strategic process improvements, operations optimization, and special projects of significant business value, risk, or confidentiality.
- Provide oversight, guidance, and/or direct leadership on the most complex and high-impact industrial engineering work.
- Guide Publix leaders in making strategic, long-term decisions regarding operations, resources, investments, and organizational priorities aligned with Publix business strategies.
- Direct the development, maintenance, configuration, and validation of engineered labor and production standards supporting scheduling, pay, performance evaluation, product costing, and production planning.
- Build and sustain a high-performing industrial engineering team by mentoring and developing managers and engineers, and strengthening leadership capability, collaboration, and innovation.
- Foster an achievement-focused culture that drives engagement, organizational effectiveness, and the attraction and retention of top talent.
- Ensure high-quality, high-value industrial engineering analyses and recommendations that strengthen business decisions and confidence in industrial engineering decision support.
Benefits
- Year-end bonus of one month’s extra pay each year, pro-rated in the first year, if the associate remains employed through the bonus check issue date.
- Employee stock ownership plan that contributes Publix stock to associates each year at no cost.
- Opportunity to purchase additional shares of privately held stock.
- 401(k) retirement savings plan.
- Group health, dental, and vision plans.
- Paid Time Off.
- Paid Parental Leave.
- Short- and long-term disability insurance.
- Tuition reimbursement.
- Free hot buffet-style lunches at facilities with a cafeteria.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
