Sr. Director Operations Engineering - C&I

Generac•Sussex, WI

About The Position

The Sr. Director, Operations Engineering leads the enterprise Operations Engineering function, focusing on new product launches, operations integrations, product moves, and operations standards. The role ensures new products, newly integrated operations, and transferred products are launched and sustained in manufacturing safely, on time, at quality, and at target cost. Through enterprise standards, best practices, and the Generac Fulfillment System (GFS), the role drives consistent execution across the Order-to-Cash process: Plan, Source, Make, Deliver, and Service. The position partners with Engineering, Advanced Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, HR, and Business Unit leadership, and supports the global manufacturing portfolio. It leads cross-functional initiatives and the Operations Engineering team, oversees related budgets and capital projects, develops talent, and provides guidance on manufacturing technology, processes, and systems.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial) or Industrial Technology.
10+ years of related experience in Operations Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, and Production, including leading new product launches and product transfers.
5+ years of increasing responsibility for project and/or people management involving a broad range of operational technologies and processes.
Strong knowledge of New Product Development, PFMEA, and operations engineering principles.
Knowledge of lean principles, continuous improvement, and end-to-end supply chain principles.
Experience operating in both high-mix, low-volume and high-volume, low-mix production environments.
Ability to assess and manage end-to-end processes and strategic and tactical issues, including through hands-on involvement.
Ability to develop and deploy standards and best practices across multiple sites.
Ability to attract, develop, and manage an impactful team.
Demonstrated problem-solving, conflict-resolution, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Excellent organizational, written, and oral communication skills, including ability to influence senior leadership.
Ability to prioritize multiple projects amid shifting priorities and deadlines.
Proficiency in a CAD platform (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and/or ProE), MS Office, and ERP platforms.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering.
Project Management certification, such as PMP.
Experience deploying processes and standards at enterprise level, internally and with external supply chain partners.
Experience leading operations integrations, facility transformations, and multi-site product transfers.
Experience working in an international company and matrix organizations, with multi-site support experience.
Previous experience using SAP or an equivalent ERP.
Experience with facilities engineering and using and/or implementing CMMS systems.
Large-scale project management experience.

Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate operational launch of new product introductions from early design involvement through production ramp and sustained performance.
Ensure manufacturing readiness for new products, including process design, PFMEA, line layout, tooling, fixtures, work instructions, and capacity planning.
Partner with Product Engineering on design for manufacturability and assembly.
Establish launch gates, readiness criteria, and success metrics, and hold cross-functional teams accountable.
Lead and support the introduction of new and revised processes and technologies that support cost reduction and competitive advantage.
Lead operational integration of new sites, acquisitions, and expanded capacity into the manufacturing network, aligning processes, systems, and performance expectations.
Lead and contribute to facility transformation, including layout, mixed-model lines, value stream design, and GFS deployment.
Assess facility, infrastructure, and technology capabilities and develop roadmaps to close gaps.
Coordinate cross-functional integration work with HR, Finance, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and senior leadership; incorporate workplace optimization, space planning, and long-term facility planning.
Plan and execute product moves and technology transfers between facilities and external supply chain partners while ensuring continuity of supply, quality, and cost.
Own and continuously improve the product transfer procedure and support the Operations Product Transfer Steering Committee.
Develop transfer plans covering capacity validation, equipment and tooling relocation, process validation, training, and inventory bridge strategies.
Partner with Business Unit and Manufacturing Strategy leaders on footprint, rebalancing, and new capacity decisions using operations engineering analysis.
Develop, deploy, and sustain enterprise operations engineering standards, policies, procedures, and process documentation with corporate Advanced Manufacturing.
Contribute to implementation of GFS across the Order-to-Cash process.
Develop and implement operating methodologies to maximize floor-space utilization and asset uptime and utilization, eliminate waste, and reduce operating cost.
Champion lean principles and continuous improvement and support ongoing process improvement initiatives.
Establish and monitor KPIs for productivity, engineering output, launch performance, and facility efficiency, using data to drive improvement.
Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and environmental standards, and incorporate sustainability and energy-efficiency initiatives.
Drive and project manage major cost, quality, and delivery initiatives, emphasizing breakthrough process and technology improvements.
Facilitate project flow through regular cross-functional engagement, managing shifting priorities and deadlines.
Oversee capital projects related to launches, integrations, and product moves, and provide budgetary figures for future fiscal-year planning.
Manage the Operations Engineering budget and support facility operating-cost reductions consistent with company objectives.
Lead the Operations Engineering team, including project planning, technical guidance, and resource allocation across sites and initiatives.
Select, coach, and develop engineers and project managers, setting objectives aligned with company strategy.
Manage organizational talent through performance management, succession planning, and development; provide consistent feedback and systematically improve performance.
Guide cross-functional teams and leadership on decisions involving investment in core manufacturing technologies, processes, and systems.