Factory Manager, QED

Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. What does that mean? Well, we pump peanut butter into your jar, and the oil in your car. We glue the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows and the screen on your phone. We spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, the paint on your house and texture on your walls. Graco is part of your daily life.

Where You’ll Work - QED Environmental Systems, a subsidiary of Graco, Inc., located in Dexter, MI

QED Environmental Systems is the market-leading provider of environmental technology solutions. We design, manufacture and support solutions for groundwater, soil and gas management and detection applications into environmental, industrial and renewable energy markets worldwide.

Since our inception, we have been the leading manufacturer of environmental monitoring and remediation equipment. We offer the best and most diverse product portfolio and solutions to our customers.

Ready to join us?

The Factory Manager owns end-to-end execution and operating performance for a manufacturing site. This position integrates production, people, environment, health and safety, capacity, capital, quality, material flow, cost and continuous improvement into one factory plan and is accountable for safe, compliant, reliable and competitive operations. The individual in this position leads through manufacturing and functional leaders, connects enterprise capabilities to local execution and builds the operating discipline, leadership depth and culture needed to meet current commitments and support future business needs.

What You Will Do at Graco

Factory Performance and Business Execution

• Own factory safety, quality, delivery and cost performance and establish the annual operating plan, budget, priorities and resources required to deliver results.
• Lead factory capacity, staffing, production, inventory, spending, productivity and capital performance, making clear tradeoffs when priorities compete.
• Create predictable operations through disciplined performance routines, standard work, escalation and corrective action.
• Communicate factory commitments, risks, constraints and recovery plans to Manufacturing and business leadership.

Factory Operating System and Continuous Improvement

• Lead the factory operating system and ensure Lean, Continuous Improvement, and common operating disciplines are embedded in daily work.
• Improve flow, equipment effectiveness, quality, productivity, cost and material performance through structured problem solving and sustained countermeasures.
• Drive the implementation, governance, and continuous improvement of factory standards to ensure operational consistency and performance excellence. Connect the factory with Operational Excellence, Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Quality, Planning and other enterprise capabilities.

Capacity, Capital and Future Readiness

• Own site-level capacity analysis and capital planning, including major equipment, technology and facility investments.
• Lead manufacturing readiness for new products, product transfers, process upgrades and significant changes in demand or operating requirements.
• Ensure the factory has the equipment, skilled workforce, systems and leadership capacity needed to support future growth.
• Partner with Planning, Sourcing and Materials leadership to align production capability, material availability and business demand.

Team Leadership and Financial Management

• Lead, mentor, manage, and staff a factory team, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and promoting a culture of excellence.
• Drive team performance by setting clear goals, providing ongoing feedback, and facilitating professional growth opportunities.
• Establish, manage, and be accountable for the annual factory budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources and alignment with organizational strategic objectives.
• Integrate operating and capital budgets, workforce plans and productivity commitments into the factory operating plan.
• Build succession depth across factory leadership and critical technical roles to sustain performance and support future capability needs.

What You Will Bring to Graco

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of progressive manufacturing, production, operations or related experience, including production leadership, process improvement, capacity planning and capital investment.
• 4+ years of leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading managers, supervisors and factory support resources.
• Experience owning a factory or business operating plan, budget and SQDC results.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional execution, major changes and factory-wide improvement.
• Strong operational, financial, analytical, communication and talent-development capability.

Accelerators

• MBA, Master’s degree or advanced technical degree.
• Lean, Six Sigma or related continuous improvement certification.
• Experience in an engineered-products or multi-process manufacturing environment.
• Experience with manufacturing information systems, ERP/MRP, data visualization or operational analytics.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This role is not eligible for immigration sponsorship now or in the future (e.g., H-1B, TN, F-1 OPT).

At Graco, you truly make a difference. Your unique talents contribute to our organizational growth and future. Not only do you make a difference, but Graco’s culture empowers employees to create their own career path. Whether you choose to advance within your current department or explore new opportunities in different divisions, you have the ability to build your future. Our managers are here to provide support and guidance as you continue to grow within your career.

Graco has excellent opportunities available to individuals who want to be part of a fast-moving, growing company that is committed to quality, innovation and solving fluid handling problems for our customers. Graco is proud to be named a Best Place to Work by Fortune Magazine in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022. Graco offers attractive compensation, benefits and career development opportunities. Graco’s comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, stock purchase plan, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more.

Our company uses E-Verify to confirm the employment and eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit

The base pay range for this position is listed below, exclusive of fringe benefits or other compensation. If you are hired, your final base hourly rate will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, competencies, education, and/or experience. In addition to those factors, we will also consider internal equity of our current employees. Please keep in mind that the range provided is the full base salary range for the role. Hiring at or near the maximum of the range would not be typical to allow for future and continued salary growth.