Senior Vice President of Operations - Americas

Why join us?

Our purpose is to design for the good of humankind. It's the ideal we strive toward each day in everything we do. Being a part of MillerKnoll means being a part of something larger than your work team, or even your brand. We are redefining modern for the 21st century. And our success allows MillerKnoll to support causes that align with our values, so we can build a more sustainable, equitable, and beautiful future for everyone.

Senior Vice President - Operations, The Americas

Location(s): Western Michigan (Holland, Zeeland Area)

MillerKnoll is looking for a Senior Vice President of Operations in the Americas to join our Global Operations organization. This newly created role reports directly to the Chief Operations Officer and will be responsible for leading our twelve manufacturing sites located in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. As a senior member of the operations management team, you will participate in the development of strategies and priorities and will be responsible for strategy execution in the region. You will utilize extensive knowledge of operations with a focus on operational excellence, customer reliability, and exceptional quality standards.

The executive will be a charismatic and engaging leader who creates an environment where issues can be openly raised and positively received, and a connection is built with associates at all levels of the organization.

Responsibilities

• To ensure that the Manufacturing teams across the Americas support both existing and future operational requirements.
• To maintain an operational capability to enable the allocated plants to deliver customer orders reliably. To work closely with the commercial teams to determine and deliver the most appropriate business model, and the team structure required for a stable ordering and fulfilment process to support the key strategic growth planned for the region.
• To manage the appropriate business systems to support our business processes and ensure legal compliance. Ensure safe working practices are followed
• To lead the teams who directly manage the twelve manufacturing plants in the Americas to meet customer order requirements. To implement the continuous improvement tools (MKPS) consistently to improve processes and solve problems. Ensure all product is consistently manufactured to company quality standards and that all operating procedures are complete.
• Achieve high levels of quality, reliability, safety and cost management expected in a world class organization with highly fluctuating products and volumes. Look for synergies and cost savings across the group.
• Participate in the development of manufacturing strategies and is accountable for strategy execution in assigned region. Ensure that all acquisitions, strategic projects and facility changes are implemented smoothly and achieve business requirements
• Responsible for achievement of goals which include achieving target levels demonstrated by data on the following key performance measures - reduction of service issues, customer order delivered complete and on time, overdue customer orders, lead time profile improvement, brand profitability improvement, brand sales growth, margin improvement and expense control
• Achieve exceptional levels of team member engagement through regular and open communication, two-way feedback at all levels and an environment where issues can be openly raised and positively received at all levels of leadership. Ensure consistent and high-level team member experience is achieved across the region. Be able to build a connection with associates at all levels of the business.
• Understand the commercial aspects relating to the business and act as a member of the Americas leadership team in implementing strategic plans and objectives for the companies and regions that will enable the business plan to be achieved.
• To develop and manage a strong leadership team who are customer focused and able to work within both local legal requirements and MillerKnoll company culture.
• To work effectively with the global cross functional teams to deliver the overall Operational goals

Requirements

Education and experience

Essential:

Bachelor's Degree ideal, preferably in a technical discipline. Significant operational experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Minimum of 15 years experience within manufacturing and assembly of highly variable products on short lead times with fluctuating volumes.

Minimum of 10 years leadership experience within such an environment

Committed to and able to demonstrate being passionate about process improvement and delivery of excellent customer service.

Experience of leading complex mutli-site operations. Will have operated successfully in environments with a diverse range of products and highly variable volumes.

Competences

Essential:

Able to develop and implement effective strategies and processes

Ability to use a broad business acumen and holistic perspective to see opportunities and risks of potential trade offs - must be profit conscious and proficient with P and L responsibilities

Able to lead through influence, setting direction and delivery results

Successful experience with change management principals and demonstrated ability to drive and manage the change process from strategic planning through implementation and follow through

Strong relationship and consensus building skills necessary to manage projects in a complex matrixed environment. Ability to lead, influence and work at all levels of the organization.

Demonstrated expert verbal/written communication skills

Demonstrated excellent coaching, mentoring and people development skills

Able to conduct business using appropriate electronic system and IT packages

Cultural awareness and sensitivity

Exhibits high personal performance standards, the desire and ability to continuously learn and must be results oriented

Fluent verbal and written English

Characteristics

Essential:

Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills particularly communicating with team members across cultures and functions - able to build a connection with people at all levels

High level of drive, initiative and assertiveness

Seeks to achieve results through others

Innovative and creative in devising solutions to problems and selling them to other members of the team

Able to implement change and adapt to meet new challenges

Able to work under pressure

Flexible and able to travel 30-50%

Who We Hire?

Simply put, we hire everyone. MillerKnoll is comprised of people of all abilities, gender identities and expressions, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, veterans from every branch of military service, and more. Here, you can bring your whole self to work. We're committed to equal opportunity employment, including veterans and people with disabilities.

MillerKnoll complies with applicable disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact MillerKnoll Talent Acquisition at careers_help@millerknoll.com.