Sr. Director Operations Engineering - C&I

Generac Power Systems•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 that 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 Generac's global manufacturing portfolio. It leads the Operations Engineering team, manages resources and budgets, oversees capital projects, and develops talent while advancing operational performance, cost, quality, delivery, safety, and sustainability objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial) or Industrial Technology.
10 or more years of related experience in Operations Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, and Production, including leadership of new product launches and product transfers.
At least 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 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 hands-on work.
Ability to develop and deploy standards and best practices across multiple sites.
Ability to attract, develop, and manage an impactful team.
Problem-solving, conflict-resolution, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Excellent organizational, written, and oral communication skills, including the ability to influence senior leadership.
Ability to prioritize multiple projects amid shifting priorities and deadlines.
Proficiency in a CAD platform such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and/or ProE, as well as 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 an 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 New Product Introduction operations launches 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.
Lead the introduction of new and revised processes and technologies that support cost reduction and competitive advantage.
Integrate new sites, acquisitions, and expanded capacity into the manufacturing network, aligning processes, systems, and performance expectations.
Lead facility transformation, including layout, mixed-model lines, value stream design, and deployment of the Generac Fulfillment System.
Assess facilities, infrastructure systems, and technology against best-in-class capabilities and develop plans to close gaps.
Coordinate cross-functional integration efforts and 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 maintaining supply continuity, quality, and cost.
Own and 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.
Support footprint, rebalancing, and new-capacity decisions with operations engineering analysis.
Develop, deploy, and sustain enterprise operations engineering standards, policies, procedures, and process documentation with corporate Advanced Manufacturing.
Contribute to implementation of the Generac Fulfillment System across the Order-to-Cash process.
Develop operating methodologies to maximize floor-space utilization, asset uptime and utilization, eliminate waste, and reduce operating costs.
Champion lean principles and continuous improvement, and establish and monitor KPIs for productivity, engineering output, launch performance, and facility efficiency.
Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and environmental standards, and incorporate sustainability and energy-efficiency initiatives.
Project-manage major cost, quality, and delivery initiatives, including breakthrough process and technology improvements.
Coordinate project flow across engineering, manufacturing, and other cross-functional teams while managing shifting priorities and deadlines.
Oversee capital projects related to launches, integrations, and product moves, and provide budget estimates 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 through project planning, technical guidance, and resource allocation across sites and initiatives.
Select, coach, and develop engineers and project managers; set aligned objectives and manage performance, succession planning, and development.
Guide cross-functional teams and leaders on investments in core manufacturing technologies, processes, and systems.