Vice President, Operations

Wausau Window and Wall Systems

Position Summary

Reporting directly to the President of Architectural Framing Systems (AFS), the VP Operations working in conjunction with the AFS Leadership team, is responsible for providing the overall vision, leadership and direction for the Operations organization, including Safety, Manufacturing, Quality, Materials Management, Manufacturing Engineering, Logistics, and Transportation. The role encompasses seven manufacturing sites in the US and Canada, including approximately 1,800 employees.

The success of the incumbent will be measured on his/her ability to support the business unit in driving profitable growth, and the ability to achieve operational excellence in cost, quality and service. 

Responsibilities

Lead the Operations functional transformation. Set a vision, strategy, and functional road map that will ensure the segment secures its place as a best-in-class manufacture of building products while achieving significant cost  savings across the segment.

Drive Operational Excellence in Manufacturing, Materials Management, Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, Logistics, and Transportation. Develop and implement an operating system that allows AFS to significantly differentiate itself in lead times, quality, and reliability of our products.

• Safety. Drive to a zero-accident safety culture.

• Deliver Results. Provide day-to-day leadership, direction and management of manufacturing operations to drive all business performance and deliver of results.

• Quality. Enhance quality standards to meet or exceed customer expectations. Oversee, identify and manage customer quality issues and collaborate with internal teams on root cause analysis.

• Manufacturing Efficiencies. Drive year-over-year cost and productivity improvements. Responsible for driving operational efficiencies across all manufacturing sites and implementing lean manufacturing best practices to ensure excellent manufacturing efficiency and quality.

• Manufacturing Processes. Deploy organizational model that can effectively manage and continuously improve operational procedures/processes, share best practices, leverage common value streams across the segment, and create new, innovative ways to meet objectives.

• Materials Management. Ensure timely and accurate delivery of raw materials. Ensure the manufacturing facilities have a material management plan for storage, picking and delivery of materials to the manufacturing lines to meet productivity goals.

• Manufacturing Utilization. Define and deliver effective plant utilization, with analysis of capacity, geographic locations, footprint, labor and equipment.

• Management Operating System (MOS). Deploy robust management operating system, including an operational dashboard and reports to ensure adherence to segment policies and procedures, monitor functional performance, manage labor budgets, and develop long range goals and objectives. 

Manufacturing P&L’s

• Analyzes activities, costs, and forecasts to determine progress towards goals and objectives; helps maximize returns during the highs and lows of the construction cycle.

• Capital asset plans.

• Defines and prepares capital asset plans in alignment with both annual operating and strategic plans that deliver a return for the segment.

Support achievement of overall segment objectives as a member of the Segment Leadership Team. Build, foster and maintain strong relationships with senior management, establishing mechanisms to ensure high levels of collaboration across the organization in order to meet segment objectives.

Support talent development, employee engagement and provide functional leadership. Build a strong Operations team at all levels within the segment that understands the functional vision and how to achieve positive results in a performance and accountability culture. 

• Safety. First and foremost, provide our employees with a safe and healthy place to work.

• Employee Engagement. Ensure management team values diversity and supports a fair and respectful environment for both employees and customers; including high performance, recognition, candid feedback and rewards for performance exists on their team.

• Culture. Promote a “performance and accountability” culture by setting clear expectations, holding employees accountable, facilitating a productive work environment, and setting goals that focus the objectives of the segment…where the team is able to achieve tough objectives the right way.

• Talent Development. Provide training and development for internal team members, promote strong employee engagement, and drive effective new talent acquisition.

Requirements

Education

• Undergraduate degree, engineering (Preferred)

• A master’s degree or MBA (Preferred)

Experience & Skills

• 10-15 years of experience in Operations leadership role(s)

• Experience leading multi-site manufacturing operations, ideally with intra-site routing

• Configured OEM experience

• Track record of success in multiple manufacturing environments

• Experience leading and/or participating in a significant change initiative

• Proven ability on performance management and talent development

• Strong financial acumen

Apogee and our brands are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.