General Manager – Refrigeration Center of Excellence

Description

Location: Greenville, MI 

Reports to: Composition Brands President

Status: Salary Exempt / Permanent / Full-Time

Position Overview:

Composition Brands, including U-Line, Marvel, and Viking Refrigeration, is seeking a highly experienced and strategic General Manager to lead the Refrigeration Center of Excellence. This role is responsible for the overall performance, growth, and operational excellence of the refrigeration business unit across multiple brands and manufacturing sites.

The General Manager will own full P&L accountability and lead cross-functional teams spanning operations, engineering, supply chain, quality, and product management. This leader will drive strategic initiatives, ensure best-in-class manufacturing performance, and align product innovation with operational capabilities to support continued growth in premium refrigeration.

This individual will play a critical role in building a high-performance organization, strengthening operational discipline, and positioning the Refrigeration Center of Excellence as a competitive advantage within the business.

Perks you can expect from us:

• A competitive benefits package including 401(k) matching
• Company provided life insurance, short and long-term disability insurance
• Paid time off at start
• Paid holidays
• Tuition reimbursement
• Employee referral program

Expected Hours of Work:

This position is classified as an executive role. The General Manager is expected to maintain a flexible schedule and work the hours necessary to effectively lead the organization, fulfill the responsibilities of the role, and meet the evolving needs of the business.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership & Business Performance

1. Develop and execute the long-term strategy for the Refrigeration Center of Excellence, driving revenue growth, margin expansion, and market leadership. 
2. Own full P&L accountability, delivering financial commitments and ensuring disciplined cost and capital management. 
3. Translate strategic priorities into actionable operating plans across manufacturing, engineering, and commercial functions. 
4. Establish KPIs and performance management systems to drive accountability, visibility, and data-driven decision-making. 

Operations & Manufacturing Excellence

5. Lead multi-site manufacturing operations with a focus on safety, quality, delivery, and productivity. 

6. Drive Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives across the value stream.

7. Optimize manufacturing footprint, including capacity planning, automation, and make-vs-buy strategies.

8. Build scalable systems, processes, and workforce capabilities to support growth and operational excellence. 

Product & Engineering Alignment

9. Partner with Engineering and Product Management to align product roadmap with manufacturing capabilities and market needs.

10. Ensure robust product lifecycle management, from design through production and service.

11. Champion design-for-manufacturability, cost optimization, and product reliability. 

Financial & Operational Discipline

12. Partner with Finance on budgeting, forecasting, and capital allocation strategies.

13. Monitor performance, identify gaps, and implement corrective actions to protect profitability and cash flow.

14. Evaluate and prioritize capital investments that enhance efficiency, capacity, and long-term value. 

Quality & Customer Experience

15. Ensure all products meet or exceed quality, reliability, and performance expectations.

16. Maintain and enforce strong quality management systems and corrective action processes.

17. Support commercial teams with operational and technical insights to enhance customer satisfaction and market success. 

Leadership & Culture

18. Build, lead, and develop a high-performing leadership team with strong succession planning. 

19. Foster a culture of safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration. 

20. Attract, retain, and develop top talent across all functional areas. 

Governance & Stakeholder Engagement

21. Ensure compliance with all regulatory, safety, and operational standards. 

22. Communicate business performance, risks, and strategic initiatives to executive leadership. 

23. Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and key customers. 

24. Promote transparency, alignment, and effective cross-functional communication. 

25. Foster open communication, transparency, and cross-functional alignment throughout the organization.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, or related field required; MBA or advanced degree preferred. 
• 10 years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, preferably within refrigeration, appliances, or industrial equipment. 
• Proven experience leading multi-site operations with full P&L responsibility. 
• Strong background in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and operational excellence methodologies. 
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive large-scale business transformation. 
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and capital investment analysis. 
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational development skills. 
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment. 
• High level of integrity, accountability, and strategic thinking. 

Working Conditions:

• Full-time, on-site leadership role
• Travel required to manufacturing sites and key business locations as needed
• Collaborative, fast-paced environment focused on operational excellence and growth