Director of Operations

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work everyday. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions. Position Summary The Director of Operations for the Smith-Blair business within Xylem provides strategic and operational leadership for manufacturing activities to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operations that meet customer, quality, delivery, and financial commitments. This leader is responsible for driving performance across production, materials flow, quality, maintenance, and continuous improvement while building a culture of accountability, engagement, and operational excellence. Also has responsibility for Supply Chain and Maintenance for the Smith-Blair business. This role partners closely with commercial, engineering, quality, EH&S, finance, and site leadership to align manufacturing execution with business priorities. The Director of Operations is expected to lead from the floor, develop high-performing teams, and drive sustainable improvements in safety, productivity, cost, and service. What You’ll Do Lead manufacturing operations with a strong commitment to safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost performance. Champion a culture where safety is a core value and operational discipline is visible in daily management practices and leadership behaviors. Drive plant performance through clear operating rhythms, KPI reviews, tiered accountability, and effective problem-solving. Partner with supply chain and planning teams to align capacity, staffing, inventory, and production schedules with customer demand. Work closely with quality and engineering teams to reduce defects, improve process control, and strengthen corrective and preventive action disciplines. Lead continuous improvement efforts using lean principles and structured problem-solving to eliminate waste, improve flow, and increase throughput. Oversee manufacturing resource utilization, labor productivity, equipment effectiveness, and plant readiness to meet business objectives. Support maintenance and reliability strategies that improve uptime, asset care, and long-term operating stability. Develop operational talent through coaching, performance expectations, leadership development, and succession planning. Build strong cross-function relationships that improve responsiveness, execution, and alignment across the business. Own and manage operating budgets, cost performance, and capital planning inputs to support growth and productivity objectives. Ensure compliance with all Xylem standards, EH&S requirements, and applicable regulatory expectations. Leadership Expectations The successful candidate will be a visible and engaged manufacturing leader who can connect strategy to execution and translate business priorities into measurable plant outcomes. This person should be comfortable operating at both a strategic and tactical level, with the ability to drive daily accountability while leading broader operational improvements. This leader is expected to create clarity, build trust, and raise performance standards across the organization. They should bring a continuous improvement mindset, strong operational judgment, and a commitment to developing people and teams. What You’ll Bring Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations management, manufacturing, supply chain, business, or a related field is required. An advanced degree is a plus. 10+ years of progressive manufacturing or operations experience 5+ years of leadership experience in a plant or manufacturing operations environment Proven success leading cross-function teams and delivering measurable operational improvement Experience with lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and KPI-based performance management Experience in a multi-shift or high-mix manufacturing environment preferred Why Xylem Join the global Xylem team to be a part of innovative technology solutions transforming water usage, conservation, and re-use. Our products impact public utilities, industrial sectors, residential areas, and commercial buildings, with a commitment to providing smart metering, network technologies, and advanced analytics for water, electric, and gas utilities. Partner with us in creating a world where water challenges are met with ingenuity and dedication; where we recognize the power of inclusion and belonging in driving innovation and allowing us to compete more effectively around the world. At Xylem, you'll not only contribute to solving water issues but also have the chance to make a difference through our paid Volunteer Program, Xylem Watermark. We prioritize our employees' well-being through inclusion and belonging as well as our Employee Resource Groups (ERG). Proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (including disability and veterans) and affirmative action workplace, Xylem fosters an inclusive environment free from discrimination or harassment. #J-18808-Ljbffr