Operations Manufacturing Leader

Working at Watlow

Watlow is a global technology and manufacturing leader who provides world class engineering expertise through innovative thermal products and systems, enabling our customers to thrive. We are making a positive impact every day as our solutions enrich the lives of people everywhere. We have been providing breakthrough thermal solutions for nearly a century. Our corporate values guide us uncompromisingly to always do the right thing, continually learn and improve, respect everyone, and lead with service and humility.

Operations Manufacturing Leader- St Louis, MO

About the Role

As the Operations Manufacturing Leader at our St. Louis, MO location, you will oversee all aspects of the manufacturing process. The ideal candidate is a proven Lean practitioner with a strategic mindset, strong leadership skills, and a passion for developing people while delivering the highest quality products.

In this role, you will provide both strategic direction and hands-on leadership across manufacturing and continuous improvement, advancing our journey toward World Class Manufacturing. You will shape and execute operational strategies, establish best practices, and remove barriers to ensure performance goals are met.

This is a unique opportunity for a hands-on leader who excels at coaching teams, driving improvements, and tackling the challenges of a growing business. The position reports directly to the Senior Director of Operations for the U.S.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Create and foster a constructive team environment that demonstrates genuine concern for the personal and professional development of all team members, regularly recognizing team members and encouraging collaboration.
• Partner with functional groups to successfully launch new products into manufacturing and produce the required output.
• Ensure the manufacturing team fully implements and utilizes the Watlow Business System.
• Relentlessly improve manufacturing through the applications of Lean tools and techniques. Ensuring the fundamentals of lean and Managing for Daily Improvement (MDI) are in place, practiced and sustained.
• Implement strategy deployment tools and tactics to meet the sites operating and financial plans.
• Ensure that customer requirements for product quality, delivery and cost are met or exceeded through effective order fulfillment processes as defined by the business unit.
• Drive accountability for production costs by developing cost visibility, monitoring performance to budget, identifying variances, and implementing corrective actions to achieve financial targets.
• Applies organizational metrics and correlates the relevance to business success.
• Coordinate regular reviews with team that demonstrate performance to plan for schedule adherence and proper Andon escalation
• Communicates strategy, business goals, and results to team members and business leadership.
• Strategically plan for and manage direct and indirect labor. Ensure direct headcount is in line with overall annual headcount plan and demand needs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business or engineering and operations leadership experience, or operations leadership experience of at least 7 years
• Demonstrated ability to coach and mentor constructively at all levels of leadership
• 7 years of lean leadership and proven track record of implementation

Desired Qualifications

• Experience being effective, thriving, and leading in a flexible work environment, reacting quickly to changes in customer demand
• Experience establishing budgets and business plans
• 5 years' experience in a high mix low volume manufacturing environment
• Blackbelt certification and/or lean technical certifications

Benefits: The Watlow Total Compensation Plan

The health, well-being and financial stability of you and your family is a high priority to us. The Watlow Total Rewards Plan includes competitive compensation and a full range of life and career enhancing benefits:

• Annual Incentive Program
• 401(k) plan that includes a company match on your contribution and an annual company contribution that is tied to company performance
• Wellness incentives
• Employee Personal Assistance Program
• Dental, medical, vision and short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Paid holidays, personal time, and vacation
• Parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement

Diversity & Inclusion

We proactively embrace diversity in all its dimensions across our company and cultivate a culture of inclusion and forward thinking that respects and reflects each team member's individual strengths, views, and experiences. Watlow takes pride in being an inclusive equal opportunity employer and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Please let us know confidentially if you need or require any special accommodations to participate in our recruiting process by emailing us at accommodations@Watlow.com.