Operations Director - Commercial Solutions Division

Operations Director - Commercial Solutions Division Location:Appleton, Wisconsin, United States of America Category:Manufacturing widget:Full time Job ID:JR4480 Description Job Description: Are you an experienced Operations leader driven by curiosity and motivated to make an impact? Commercial Solutions Division of Miller Electric, an ITW company, is seeking an Operations Director to join our team. In this role you will play a key part in developing and managing the operations strategies of the business. Lead and collaborate with the Materials & Supply Chain team, Production Operations team, and Manufacturing Engineering team to establish continuous improvement strategies and goals, encompassing cost, quality, and delivery measures for the business. Apply the ITW Operating Principles to Division Operations while fostering new ideas to elevate the business to new heights. We are seeking a strong, business-minded leader with the ability to drive results, build a diverse talent pipeline, and develop and execute roadmaps and plans for inclusive growth. How You Will Make an Impact: People Leadership Provide essential leadership of the production operations team which includes a manufacturing workforce of over 80 team members, building an empowered, and inclusive workplace culture with continued strong employee engagement. Partner with business unit leaders and divisional leadership to prioritize and support customer needs. Lead manufacturing engineering team, driving continuous improvement in manufacturing processes yielding better In-Lining and Flow, optimizing overall production efficiency, capacity, and quality. Champion the hiring, people development, and long-term resource planning necessary to ensure a stable pipeline of talent for future business needs. Work closely with support staff and Human Resources to effectively support all facets of our business. Coach and develop work teams to have positive and proactive attitudes, personal accountability, and superior quality. Provide leadership that will allow achievement of a flexible and fast responding workforce, in a fast paced, dynamic organizational environment. Strategic Planning Strategically lead the materials & supply chain team directly within the division and matrixed across the enterprise to streamline, simplify, and build resiliency of a multi-tiered, internal and external supply chain supporting a high-volume, high-pace manufacturing operation. Provide leadership in the development of strategies during our business planning process and execution of those strategies to evolve our business operations to enable and support sustained business growth. Drive adoption of manufacturing technologies to further improve production costs, quality, and efficiency. Experience with automated manufacturing processes preferred. Develop and drive a strategic plan that delivers significant results in safety, quality, and efficiency to achieve annual business objectives. Drive successful metrics for safety, quality, efficiency, and delivery while maximizing capacity utilization. Lead benchmarking activities to stay up to date on innovative manufacturing processes. Manage team to drive solutions by utilizing internal/external resources to solve equipment, tooling, facility and process problems. Financial Management Responsible for preparation and management of the overall operations budget. Work with the engineering team, production team, finance team, and the supplier base to develop and implement initiatives to improve variable and direct margins of the product line. Establish a go-forward plan of cost savings and strategic sourcing results, which aligns with the division's growth initiatives. What You Need to Do to be Successful in this Role: Operations & Supply Chain Leadership: Demonstrate proven strategic operations leadership with increasing responsibility and measurable results. Bring expertise in analytics, procurement, contracts, inventory, material control, and warehousing, leveraging Market Rate of Demand (MRD) principles. Influential Leader: Build trust through accountability, coaching, approachability, effective listening, and timely conflict resolution. Encourage diverse ideas, develops team strengths, and facilitate open communication. Strategic Visionary: Combine business acumen and long-term strategy execution while anticipating change implications. Demonstrate original thinking, generate ideas, and implement innovative process improvements. Financial Strategy: Bring proven P&L expertise with strong budgeting, planning, and inventory management capabilities. Customer-Focused: Understand how marketing, engineering, supply chain, sales, and service functions connect to deliver customer value. Project Management: Manage and prioritize multiple projects in a fast-paced environment. Lead cross-functional improvements by applying strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Growth-Oriented: Invest in developing self and others to prepare for future organizational opportunities. Strong Communicator: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with advanced Microsoft Office knowledge. Qualifications Must have a bachelor’s degree in a related field. 10+ years related experience in operations and supply chain management is required. Prior people leadership experience required, preference of 5 or more years. Company Description Comprised of a market-leading portfolio of best-in-class brands, the businesses of ITW Welding work together to provide premium performance delivered through a breadth of solutions encompassing welding, cutting, consumables, and accessories.  ITW Welding North America represents Miller Electric Welding Equipment, Safety & Accessories, Hobart Filler Metals, and Bernard / Tregaskiss MIG Guns. Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, is headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, and wholly owned by Illinois Tool Works (NYSE: ITW). The company maintains its industry leadership by setting the standard for reliability, quality and responsiveness. Our tagline, “The Power of Blue®,” is inspired by the blue color of Miller equipment. The company began with an innovation that responded to customer needs, growing from a one-man operation in 1929, to the world’s largest manufacturer of arc welding products. Miller keeps the tradition alive by focusing on its top priority: people. Additional Information ITW Welding is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. Why ITW Welding? Here’s what we offer to help you build the future you want: Generous Retirement Benefits – 401(k) match PLUS an additional retirement contribution to help you plan for the future. Paid Time Off – 11 paid holidays, 5 sick days, and vacation time to take time for what matters. Company-Paid Insurance – Life, AD&D, Short-Term & Long-Term Disability insurance to give you peace of mind. Family-Friendly Benefits – 4 weeks of paid parental leave and adoption reimbursement to support your family journey. Education Assistance – tuition reimbursement because we believe in investing in your personal and professional development.   At ITW Welding, we’re not just a place to work – we’re a community that empowers you to grow and make a real impact. Join us and build a career that makes a difference!   ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential. As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.