Operations Manager

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We partner with organisations across Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Medical Devices and Life Sciences to secure leaders who create measurable impact and long-term business performance.

Through deep sector expertise, rigorous assessment, and alignment to business objectives, we identify individuals who not only fit the role, but perform strongly and thrive within the organisation.

Position Overview

A leading German industrial machinery and plant manufacturer is seeking an Operations Manager to lead its US subsidiary, based in the Chicago area. This is a confidential leadership appointment. The role carries responsibility for the day-to-day running and further development of the US business and reports directly to senior management at the German headquarters.

The US organisation is currently a small team of 3–4 people. It provides technical service and spare parts for an established installed base of bespoke conveyor and material-handling systems. It also installs and commissions new plant and coordinates projects with Germany. The business plans to significantly expand its local capabilities over the coming years, and this role will lead that build. The expansion runs from service and installation through to project management and, ultimately, sales and business development.

The first 12 months follow a structured transition. The successful candidate will work alongside the current Division Manager to learn the organisation, customers and installed base, and to take over key responsibilities and authorisations. They will also spend an extended period at the German headquarters to shape the US strategy jointly with management, before assuming full operational responsibility.

Key responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations and further development of the US business.
• Establish clear structures, processes, responsibilities and priorities across service, spare parts, purchasing, finance and administration.
• Lead, develop and motivate the existing team.
• Drive key hires, starting with service technicians and accounting/administrative support, and later a Project Manager and a Sales/Business Development Manager.
• Grow the service and spare parts business, moving from reactive call-outs to proactive customer care.
• Identify opportunities in maintenance, modifications and retrofits.
• Plan and deploy field staff and resources for the installation, commissioning and handover of new plant.
• Build local project management capability, with clear interfaces between customers, the US team and German headquarters.
• Introduce KPIs and a monthly management report covering both financial and operational performance.
• Build strong, long-term relationships with key US customers, including regular on-site visits.
• Act as the key link between the US organisation and German headquarters across sales, engineering, project management, service, finance and logistics.
• Support commercial growth alongside the German sales team and lay the foundations for local sales and business development.
• Develop a 12–24 month growth plan covering revenue targets, aftermarket development, staffing, investment and key strategic projects.

Ideal candidate profile

• Several years’ management experience within industrial plant, machinery, automation or engineering.
• Experience leading a small or medium-sized technical or service-oriented organisation or business unit.
• In-depth knowledge of planning and deploying field staff for maintenance, installation or commissioning.
• Proven track record of establishing processes and organisational structures in a growing environment.
• Strong customer focus and commercial acumen.
• Ability to balance day-to-day operational delivery with long-term organisational development.
• Experience within an international company, ideally headquartered in Europe or Germany.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to bridge cultural and organisational differences between US customers, the US team and a German headquarters.
• Hands-on, pragmatic and entrepreneurial, and comfortable in a small organisation where not every process is yet defined.
• Willingness to travel within the US and occasionally to Germany.
• Experience in project management, business development or technical sales is a strong advantage.