Director, Operations

Director, Operations

The Director, Operations is responsible for leading the end-to-end operations of a multi-shift manufacturing plant and raw material warehouse campus. This role owns operational execution, safety, talent development, and continuous improvement while driving performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and cash. This leader will champion and implement the Generac Manufacturing System (GMS), grounded in lean principles, to create a safe work environment, build a strong culture, improve customer experience, increase productivity, and support profitable growth. Success in this role requires the ability to translate multi-year operational strategies into disciplined daily execution while leading both direct and dotted-line teams.

Operational Leadership & Continuous Improvement (60%)

• Lead daily operations and continuous improvement efforts across a multi-shift manufacturing facility and warehouse campus.
• Drive lean manufacturing principles including continuous flow, pull systems, visual factory, and daily problem solving.
• Own and deploy the Generac Manufacturing System (GMS) using PDCA and Managing for Daily Improvement (MDI) to achieve KPI targets in safety, people, quality, delivery, cost, and cash.
• Establish standardized work and processes to ensure operational stability, productivity, and consistent execution.
• Create a highly visual operating environment that exposes problems quickly and enables rapid resolution.
• Perform Leader Standard Work and layered process audits to sustain improvements and prevent recurrence of issues.
• Ensure a best-in-class customer experience through improved quality, speed, and ease.

Talent, Engagement & Culture (30%)

• Build and sustain a strong performance culture focused on accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Develop, coach, and mentor leaders and frontline teams to strengthen capability and engagement.
• Create an environment where teams stop to fix problems and prioritize getting quality right the first time.
• Lead regular communication cadences to ensure urgency, transparency, and alignment.
• Ensure effective training, cross-training, and succession planning to support a flexible and resilient workforce.

Strategic Planning & Execution (10%)

• Develop and execute long-range plans for capacity, capital equipment, technology, and workforce needs.
• Build and manage a tactical continuous improvement roadmap, including kaizen and project execution.
• Partner cross-functionally to align operational priorities with business strategy and growth plans.

People Leadership

• Select, develop, and retain top talent while aligning team objectives with company strategy.
• Manage performance through goal setting, feedback, recognition, and development planning.
• Drive succession planning and continuous performance improvement across the organization.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Supply Chain, or a related field OR equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of experience applying lean principles and techniques (e.g., Toyota Production System, Shingo, Danaher Business System, Lean Enterprise Institute) with demonstrated year-over-year improvement.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing teams in a discrete, industrial, or consumer capital goods manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering, Business, or Supply Chain.
• 6+ years of demonstrated experience implementing lean principles with measurable operational results.
• Lean, Operations, or Supply Chain certifications.
• Experience implementing automated manufacturing processes and systems.
• Experience improving equipment reliability and productivity using OEE and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM).
• Experience with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES/MOM) and Industry 4.0 / Smart Factory initiatives.
• Experience with SAP or equivalent ERP systems.
• Demonstrated expertise in lean flow, Kanban, and Plan for Every Part (PFEP).
• Proven leadership experience managing diverse teams and skill sets.

Great Reasons to work for Generac:

• Competitive Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision, 401k and many more
• State-of-the-art facility with an onsite gym, walking trails, café, free parking and many employee activities
• Scheduled events throughout the year that allow our employees, both current and retirees, to gather together and enjoy their time with their families and co-workers
• Pride! When a storm strikes, Generac employees always rise to the occasion. Each time a storm hits, many employees volunteer their time with the customer support team or on the production line, while others go right into storm-affected areas to repair generators
• Make a positive impact. Generac has always been community-minded and dedicated to giving back. The company proudly offers a Volunteer Time Off program, inviting team members to participate in charitable volunteer opportunities on company time.
• We believe in having fun. From minor celebrations to major events, our employees balance their work by building a strong culture of teamwork and collaboration through a variety of occasions, including our Fun Days.

Generac is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The salary range for this role based in Belvidere, IL is $156,100 - $249,000 USD. This compensation will ultimately be in line with the location in which the position is filled. Final compensation for this role will be determined by various factors such as a candidate's relevant work experience, skills, certifications and geographic location. This role is eligible for variable compensation including short-term and long-term incentives.

This position includes a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental and vision plans; life, long-term disability, flexible spending and health savings accounts, accrued paid time off, 8 paid Holidays and 401(k) retirement benefits.

"We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law."