Value Stream Leader

Winco is a veteran- and family-owned power generation manufacturer dedicated to exceeding customer expectations and fostering opportunities for our team. Located just 30 minutes from Mankato, MN, we provide a collaborative environment where innovation meets reliability in designing and producing high-quality generator sets. 

Position Summary

The Value Stream Leader (VSL) is accountable for the end-to-end performance of an assigned manufacturing value stream (e.g., Paint, Assembly, Test). This role owns safety, quality, delivery, cost, efficiency, and people performance within the area and ensures production objectives are met through effective leadership, standardized processes, and continuous improvement.

The VSL provides daily leadership to production personnel, maintains safe and efficient work environments, manages schedules and resources, and drives improvements in flow, productivity, and quality while ensuring compliance with company policies and applicable regulatory and ISO standards.

Key Responsibilities

Safety & Environmental Stewardship

• Own and drive safety performance for the assigned value stream
• Ensure compliance with all safety policies, OSHA requirements, and environmental regulations
• Lead hazard identification, risk mitigation, and corrective actions
• Promote a strong safety culture through training, audits, and employee engagement

Quality & Compliance

• Ensure products meet defined quality standards and customer requirements
• Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for nonconformances
• Maintain compliance with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 requirements as applicable
• Partner with Quality and Engineering to implement process controls and improvements

Production & Delivery

• Own production schedules and execution to meet delivery commitments
• Balance labor, materials, and equipment to meet output targets
• Monitor and manage key production metrics (SQDC)
• Escalate risks to delivery or capacity and implement recovery plans

Continuous Improvement & Efficiency

• Lead lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives
• Optimize area layout, material flow, and workstation design
• Reduce waste, improve cycle times, and increase overall efficiency
• Standardize work and sustain improvements through visual management and audits

People Leadership & Development

• Directly lead supervisors and/or hourly personnel within the value stream
• Set expectations, provide coaching, and conduct performance evaluations
• Support hiring, onboarding, training, and workforce planning
• Foster engagement, accountability, and teamwork

Area Ownership & Housekeeping

• Maintain ownership of the physical condition of the area
• Ensure equipment, tooling, and workspaces are safe, organized, and well maintained
• Support TPM and preventive maintenance activities

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field or equivalent experience
• 2 years of experience in manufacturing leadership roles
• Demonstrated experience leading people and managing production operations
• Strong understanding of safety, quality systems, and production controls

Preferred Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in manufacturing leadership roles 
• Experience in generator manufacturing, heavy equipment, or similar industrial environments
• Lean manufacturing or value stream management experience
• ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and/or ISO 45001 working knowledge
• Proven track record of driving measurable operational improvements

Key Competencies

• Leadership and accountability
• Problem-solving and root cause analysis
• Communication and cross-functional collaboration
• Data-driven decision making
• Change management and continuous improvement mindset

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Safety incident rate and corrective action closure
• First-pass yield and defect rates
• Schedule adherence and on-time delivery
• Labor productivity and efficiency
• Employee engagement and turnover

Working Conditions

• Manufacturing environment with exposure to machinery, noise, and industrial conditions
• May require extended hours to support production needs

Who You Are

• Dependable and collaborative; you do what you say and communicate clearly when obstacles arise.
• Motivated to learn, grow, and improve professionally.
• Value open and honest communication with co-workers.
• Take responsibility for your work and support your team.

What We Offer
Winco is committed to supporting our team both professionally and personally:

• Four-Day Work Week: 4 x 10-hour days (Monday-Thursday).
• Career Growth: Stable environment with opportunities for development and advancement.
• Tuition Assistance: Support for education and continuous learning.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, vision, retirement plan, paid time off, and holidays.
• Profit Sharing Bonus: Eligible for a bonus based on company profitability.