VP Operational Excellence, North America

Socomec Group (Socomec) is a global leader in electrical equipment engineering and manufacturing, specialized in low voltage energy performance.

Socomec North America (NAM) is Socomec’s organization overseeing all operations in North America.

VP OpEx (Operational Excellence) is responsible for leading and implementing operational excellence strategies across Socomec NAM operations to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase customer satisfaction.

VP OpEx, with a focus on quality and safety, is responsible for ensuring that the company's operations are not only efficient and cost-effective but also meet and exceed safety and quality standards and maintain a safe work environment for employees.

VP OpEx, with a focus on localizing manufacturing in North America, is responsible for reducing costs and improving service levels to customers by leveraging the benefits of localized operations. This involves analyzing customer demand patterns, supply chain efficiencies, and local regulatory requirements to develop and implement a strategy that optimizes the company's manufacturing operations in North America.

Key Responsibilities And Accountabilities

General

• Lead Operational Excellence programs across all North American factories and Business lines to achieve targeted improvements in operational performance. This may include Lean Manufacturing, process mapping, and other OpEx tools.
• Report regularly to NAM CEO on the progress of OpEx programs and present the findings of data analysis to stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Develop and implement strategies that enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and drive continuous improvement.
  
  

Safety Focus

• Ensure that the company is complying with all safety regulations and standards to maintain a safe work environment for employees.
• Responsible for developing and implementing safety training programs to ensure that employees are aware of safety procedures and protocols.
• Conduct safety audits to identify potential safety hazards and recommend solutions to mitigate risks.
• Works closely with the Local & Corporate Safety team to ensure that operational excellence programs are integrated into the company's overall safety strategy.
• Manage projects related to safety improvement to ensure that objectives are met and timelines are adhered to.
  
  

Manufacturing Localization

• Collaborate with BL Leaders to develop a localization strategy to ensure that the company's manufacturing operations are aligned with customer demand and supply chain efficiencies.
• Analyze customer demand patterns, supply chain costs, and local regulatory requirements.
• Conduct feasibility studies to determine the cost-effectiveness of localizing manufacturing operations in North America, including analyzing labor costs, transportation costs, and tax incentives
• Manage the implementation of local manufacturing projects, including identifying suitable locations, securing necessary permits, and managing the construction and equipment installation process.
• Monitor manufacturing performance to ensure that local operations meet or exceed customer demand and quality requirements.
• Manage cost reduction initiatives associated with localizing manufacturing operations, including identifying cost-saving opportunities and implementing cost reduction projects.
• Work closely with local stakeholders, such as government officials, suppliers, and customers, to ensure that local operations are aligned with local requirements and expectations.
  
  

Quality

• Develop a deep understanding of the company's quality control systems and processes to ensure that products and services meet or exceed quality standards.
• Monitor quality metrics to ensure that quality standards are being met or exceeded and recommend improvements where necessary.
• Collaborate with all Local & Corporate Quality departments to ensure that operational excellence programs are integrated into the company's overall quality strategy.
• Manage projects related to quality improvement to ensure that objectives are met and timelines are adhered to.
  
  

Transversal Collaboration

• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including senior executives, to ensure that operational excellence programs are integrated into the Socomec NAM overall business strategy.
  
  

Essential Qualifications, Experience, And Skills

• Minimum of 15 years of successful leadership experience within the electrical manufacturing industry, with particular emphasis on low voltage devices
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or business
• Masters of Business Administration preferred or equivalent experience
• High degree of comfort in analyzing and presenting business and financial information
• Ability to analyse data and metrics to identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement in the company's operations.
• Full understanding of accounting and financial aspects of the operations
• Strong and successful experience leading and motivating a team of cross-functional professionals
• Experience working successfully in matrix context
• Mentoring, collaboration, influencing, and negotiation skills
• Encourages and demonstrates accountability; focused on meeting business goals
• Successfully establishes and maintains long-term relationships
• Result oriented and hands on
• Entrepreneurial, resourceful, innovative and energetic; demonstrates a passion for results and a winning outlook
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the business acumen to clearly present concepts and ideas to a wide audience
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a high level of emotional intelligence, with the ability to work effectively with all levels of the organization and customers; able to quickly gain credibility and trust
• Consistently demonstrates the highest level of integrity in all interactions and decision-making.
• Proactively anticipates and actions business needs
  
  

Additional Specific Requirements

• Must possess and maintain an unrestricted valid driver’s license.
• Ability to travel to international destinations; must possess and maintain a valid passport for international travel.
• Must be available for business travel to international locations.
  
  

Upon request, we will provide reasonable accommodation for disabilities to support participation of candidates in all aspects of the recruitment process. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

We thank all those who apply. However, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.