Senior Manager - Operation Excellence

Daikin Applied Americas•Plymouth, MN

12d•$100,800 - $171,700•Hybrid

About The Position

Daikin Applied is seeking a Senior Manager - Operation Excellence who will serve as a strategic Chief of Staff to the Vice President of Safety, Quality, Cost, and Delivery (SQCD). This role drives organizational alignment, operational excellence, and execution across the SQCD organization. Acting as an extension of the VP, the position leads cross-functional initiatives, manages key business rhythms, and ensures priorities are translated into actionable plans and measurable results, enabling Daikin Applied to deliver on its safety, quality, cost, and delivery objectives. Come be a part of an exciting journey at Daikin Applied, where innovation and excellence drive our every endeavor!

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, or a related field from a four-year college or university is required.
5+ years of applicable experience in Engineering, Manufacturing, Commercial Operations, Supply Chain Management & Quality.
Willingness to operate in an ambiguous and solve challenging problems with urgency
Ability to communicate in a clear and concise manner
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite of tools (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, etc…)
Track record of successful project management and team leadership experience.
Ability to travel to Daikin’s key sites throughout the U.S & Mexico.
Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position

Nice To Haves

MBA or MS Finance or similar in Business, Finance, Engineering, or related technical field
7+ years of experience in Engineering, Manufacturing, Commercial Operations, Supply Chain Management & Quality.
With experience reporting to senior level management.
Deep understanding of Safety, Quality, Cost, and Delivery (SQCD) principles, with the ability to connect strategy to execution in a complex operational environment.
Demonstrated ability to translate high-level strategy into actionable plans, drive alignment, and deliver measurable business results.
Strong organizational and prioritization skills, with experience managing multiple high-impact initiatives simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
Experience leading or supporting organizational change efforts, with the ability to drive adoption and sustain new ways of working.

Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted advisor and extension of the VP of SQCD, translating strategic priorities into actionable plans while ensuring alignment across safety, quality, cost, and delivery objectives.
Lead and manage key operating cadences (e.g., staff meetings, scorecards, reviews), ensure consistent tracking of KPIs, clear accountability, and data-driven decision-making.
Manage process improvement through all activities of the SQCD team.
Drive and coordinate high-impact, cross-functional initiatives, removing barriers, accelerating execution, and ensuring measurable outcomes aligned to organizational priorities.
Champion continuous improvement methodologies and standard work, identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and improve performance across the SQCD organization.
Develop executive-level communications, presentations, and updates for internal and external stakeholders, ensuring the VP is prepared, informed, and positioned to effectively lead and influence.
Manage and continuously refine the SQCD initiative portfolio, ensuring resources are focused on the highest-impact activities and aligned with strategic priorities.
Build strong relationships across functions and levels to drive collaboration, alignment, and shared ownership of SQCD outcomes.
Proactively identify operational risks and performance gaps, partnering with leaders to develop mitigation plans and ensure sustained execution.
Support organizational change efforts by improving clarity of roles, processes, and communication, helping teams adopt new ways of working and sustain performance improvements.