General Manager (Alexandria)

Founded in 1978 and owned by Granite Partners since 2016, Massman Companies has grown into a leading provider of automated packaging machinery delivering bottle-through-pallet solutions to customers across food, beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and industrial markets. Over the past eight years, Massman has quadrupled in size through a combination of organic growth and strategic add‑on investments, including its latest acquisition of ADCO. The business has intentionally simplified its operating model to deliver a seamless, enterprise‑level customer experience—one legal entity, one contract, one service model, and one accountable partner.

The company is searching for a Vice President & General Manager (VP & GM). Massman Automation is the original platform company acquired by Granite Partners in 2016; its focus is on case packaging, palletizing, in‑line pouch filling, and several specialty packaging lines. Massman Automation is also the largest business in Massman, serving as the integration hub for acquired technologies and operating out of two facilities: Massman’s campus in Alexandria, MN, and the original home office in Villard, MN (15 minutes south of Alexandria). The VP & GM has an exceptional opportunity to build upon the company’s long history at an exciting time, leveraging the technology and strength of Massman Automation and the broader Massman Companies.

This is a significant opportunity for a proven General Manager or high‑potential division manager to lead the Massman Automation business with true, full multi‑site P&L accountability and oversee the design, manufacture, and full customer experience of the company’s automation solutions. Reporting to the Massman Companies CEO, the VP & GM is a member of the executive leadership team and participates fully in the Board of Directors meetings. The position benefits from the autonomy of site leadership, the support of the transitioning General Manager, five peer VP & GMs, and the support of Massman Companies and Granite Partners.

The VP & GM will appreciate the entrepreneurial and family‑oriented environment surrounding Massman Automation as well as the benefits and support associated with being part of Massman Companies and the Granite community, both of which are committed to strategic and long‑term decision‑making with a 100‑year sustainability objective. The right candidate will be attracted to Massman’s values, people, products, and the opportunity to rapidly grow revenue at a strong performing business with healthy financials and business system maturity that punches above its weight class.

The Position

Reporting to Massman Companies’ President and CEO, the successful candidate will be responsible for leading Massman Automation’s commercial and operational activities and driving a high performing organization to produce high value, consistent products. The VP & GM will have full P&L responsibility for the Massman Automation business unit. The VP & GM is a key member of the Massman leadership team and serves as a strategic partner to the CEO and other executives, pursuing the company’s growth and value creation objectives.

The Massman Automation organization includes more than 170 employees and operates a 75,000‑square‑foot facility in Alexandria, Minnesota, and a 55,000‑square‑foot facility in Villard, Minnesota. The Alexandria site includes engineering, machine assembly, and customer testing and shares the facility with Massman Companies functions, including finance, marketing, HR, and IT. The Villard site has a fabrication center of excellence for all metal working and provides aftermarket service fulfillment and retrofits for existing customers.

The VP & GM is responsible for all functions, including sales proposals, product and specification reviews, design, fabrication, assembly, customer testing, installation, and lifetime equipment support. The VP & GM embodies Massman’s customer‑centricity and fulfills our mission of being the best running machine in the factory. The individual in this role will lead the strategic actions of Massman Automation, including identifying target markets and opportunities to increase the sale of Massman Automation’s products to Massman’s customer base and creating new‑to‑Massman accounts. This position requires a strong, interactive leader who is fully competent across a broad range of business activities.

Candidate Profile

The VP & GM must be a high‑integrity person who values employee wellbeing and is committed to long‑term versus short‑term success. We seek a highly effective leader with strong commercial, business, and operational skills. This key position requires a minimum of 10 years of people leadership experience in a custom or non‑repetitive manufacturing environment, preferably in major capital equipment manufacturing with a project work orientation. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated track record of success in positions of increasing managerial responsibility, including proven results in driving strategic decisions that create value and enhance the overall success of a business.

Qualified candidates will possess a background in engineering and manufacturing environments with an understanding of engineering design, customer relations, and operations. The right candidate will have a particularly strong commercial background with a broad‑based understanding of sales, marketing, operations, and finance. The successful candidate will likely be technically oriented and inclined to maximize his or her contribution to the company. An undergraduate degree is required; an advanced degree or MBA is desired.

Prior general management experience is preferred, including profit and loss accountability. Exceptional leadership skills are essential, characterized by a drive to succeed through staff development. Experience in an industry related to Massman, or with a similar business model, is a definite advantage. Additionally, this individual must have the capacity to collaborate with other leaders within Massman and Granite Partners, taking advantage of resources throughout the organization and becoming an integral part of the team.

• Excellent people and organizational development skills, including recruiting, objective setting, performance management, and employee communication.
• Strategic thinking and planning skills, with the ability to construct and execute a 3- to 5‑year plan.
• Outstanding communication skills, including the ability to translate operating and strategic concepts into clear and concise language for implementation at all levels.
• The ability to lead a product development and technology roadmap aligned to attractive market opportunities.
• Demonstrated success implementing continuous improvement concepts to achieve operational excellence. Knowledge of today’s best practices is beneficial, particularly in lean manufacturing and 5S concepts.
• Experience in or demonstrated knowledge of supply chain functions from procurement to distribution.
• Financial skills, with the ability to identify areas of opportunity and make bottom line‑oriented decisions to improve results and support long‑ and short‑term planning.
• An understanding of manufacturing systems, including modern MRP / ERP systems with a preference for the ability to optimize workflows through modern, digital toolsets.
• A proven ability to prioritize and drive a proactive safety culture.

The ideal candidate will have a balanced management approach capable of leading change and driving an already successful company to a higher level of potential.

Location

The VP & GM is an onsite role based at the Massman Companies headquarters in the Alexandria Lakes Area in Douglas County in the heart of West Central Minnesota.

At Massman Companies, wellbeing is a core value. We support our employees across multiple dimensions of wellbeing, helping individuals maintain their physical health and safety, strengthen their financial security, and thrive both personally and professionally. Our comprehensive compensation and benefits package is designed to support you and your family.

We offer a competitive base salary in the $200,000 to $225,000 range, based on experience and qualifications, along with an annual bonus based on company financial performance and goals, and the opportunity to participate in long‑term incentives, including a stock appreciation rights (SARs) program. Note: This range represents the good‑faith estimate of the salary we expect to pay for this position at the time of hire. Final compensation will be determined based on factors such as experience, skills, and internal equity.

Massman’s compensation and benefits are designed to support your health, financial stability, and overall wellbeing so you can do your best work and build a rewarding career with Massman Companies.