Senior Manager, Operations (Manufacturing)
About The Position
The Senior Manager, Operations provides hands-on leadership for Lenze Americas’ manufacturing and logistics operations. Reporting to the Vice President, Operations, this role translates business priorities into daily execution across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Inventory, and People (SQDCIP), while fostering accountability, operational discipline, and continuous improvement. The position works with local and global stakeholders to develop managers and teams, implement sustainable process improvements, and support strategic initiatives that strengthen operational performance and business growth. The role leads Production and Logistics, including daily manufacturing and logistics execution, capacity and labor planning, operational readiness, warehousing, inventory management, material flow, shipping, and logistics performance. It manages budgets, forecasts, labor plans, manufacturing costs, productivity initiatives, and capital projects. The Senior Manager uses KPI reviews, daily management systems, structured problem solving, standard work, Lean manufacturing, and the Lenze Production System to improve performance and sustain results. This leader partners cross-functionally and globally on operational issues, new products, customer requirements, strategic projects, growth, and digital manufacturing initiatives. The role also champions safety and ensures compliance with EHS, quality, regulatory, customer, trade, transportation, and internal control requirements. It supports ISO standards, audit readiness, sustainability initiatives, and business continuity planning. Domestic and international travel, including occasional overnight travel, may be required up to 15%.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field required.
- 10+ years of manufacturing operations experience within industrial automation or a comparable technical manufacturing environment.
- 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, operations, logistics, or supply chain management, with demonstrated success leading complex operational environments.
- 5+ years of experience leading leaders within a multi-level manufacturing or operations organization, with a track record of developing managers, driving accountability, and building high-performing teams.
- Demonstrated success in a Production Manager role leading manufacturing operations and production teams is required.
- Proven experience driving operational performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, inventory, and productivity metrics.
- Strong leadership and people-development skills, including a track record of building high-performing teams, developing leaders, and leading organizational change.
- Demonstrated financial acumen, including responsibility for operating budgets, labor planning, productivity initiatives, working capital management, and capital investment projects.
- Hands-on experience implementing Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, and Operational Excellence initiatives with measurable business results.
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt required.
- Experience with ERP systems; ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally, including occasional overnight travel, up to 15%.
Nice To Haves
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt preferred.
- Experience with SAP preferred; familiarity with MES, operational analytics, and Power BI strongly preferred.
- Knowledge of Industry 4.0, automation, digital manufacturing, and data-driven decision-making practices.
- Experience participating in Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), capacity planning, and operational readiness activities.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing quality systems, EHS programs, regulatory compliance, and risk management practices.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, and decision-making skills.
- Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all organizational levels and cross-functional teams.
- Experience in a global, matrixed organization and partnering with international stakeholders preferred.
- Results-oriented leadership, ownership, continuous-improvement mindset, and commitment to developing people and driving business performance.
Responsibilities
- Provide visible, hands-on leadership for Production and Logistics; coach managers, stay connected to employees and daily operations, and remove barriers to performance.
- Set expectations, review performance, hold leaders and teams accountable, and foster safety, collaboration, continuous improvement, and high performance.
- Build organizational capability through talent development, succession planning, workforce planning, and leadership development; model Lenze Leadership Principles.
- Direct daily manufacturing and logistics operations to meet safety, quality, delivery, cost, inventory, and productivity goals, maintaining a regular production-floor presence to identify and resolve issues.
- Lead capacity and labor planning, operational readiness, and customer-commitment execution; integrate Lean manufacturing and Lenze Production System initiatives into standard work.
- Provide the Vice President, Operations with recommendations on priorities, risks, investments, and performance improvement opportunities.
- Oversee warehousing, inventory management, material flow, shipping, and logistics execution, resolving service and flow constraints with leaders.
- Improve inventory accuracy, working capital, on-time delivery, and logistics efficiency through disciplined processes and performance follow-up.
- Ensure compliance with trade, import/export, transportation, and internal control requirements.
- Manage operational budgets, forecasts, labor plans, and manufacturing costs; identify variances and take corrective action.
- Lead productivity, cost-reduction, and continuous-improvement initiatives that deliver measurable, sustainable savings.
- Develop capital investment recommendations and oversee approved projects to achieve expected operational and financial outcomes.
- Lead KPI reviews and daily management systems, using data and direct observation to prioritize actions and improve performance.
- Facilitate structured problem solving and continuous improvement with managers, supervisors, and frontline teams.
- Establish standard work, process discipline, and follow-up routines to sustain operational gains.
- Partner with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, Finance, and Customer Service to resolve operational issues and achieve business objectives.
- Lead operational readiness for new products, customer requirements, strategic projects, and growth initiatives.
- Collaborate with local and global stakeholders to align processes, share best practices, manage risk, and support digital manufacturing and transformation programs.
- Champion a safety-first culture through visible leadership, floor engagement, and prompt follow-up on hazards and corrective actions.
- Ensure compliance with EHS, quality, regulatory, and customer requirements while improving safety and quality performance.
- Support ISO standards, audit readiness, sustainability initiatives, and business continuity planning.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
