Manager, Strategic Initiatives & Operations - US

ABB; Cary (NC); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & disability benefits

401k & retirement plan

Paid holidays

Job summary

ABB is seeking a Manager, Strategic Initiatives & Operations to drive country-wide programs and operational workflows for the Office of the U.S. Country Holding Officer. You will bridge CHO strategy with ABB’s U.S.

business units, leading program management, data-driven performance analysis, and AI-enabled process improvements. The role is hybrid from Cary, NC or New Berlin, WI, requiring strong leadership, PM skills, and a track record of delivering complex cross-functional programs in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, or related field.
• MBA is a plus for leadership roles.
• 10+ years of cross-functional program leadership or operations experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and project-manage high-visibility programs spanning Marketing, HR, Finance, and Legal to ensure unified execution of the CHO’s U.S. objectives and acquisitions.
• Facilitate collaboration across decentralized business units, managing progress on initiatives, site expansions, and regional milestones.
• Synthesize operational metrics, program performance, and facility data into dashboards and concise briefings for CHO and U.S. leadership.
• Architect and scale AI-enabled workflows, data pipelines, and governance to improve reporting and decision-making.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional leadership

Data-driven analysis

AI & Digital Transformation

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or engineering

MBA preferred

Tools

CRM optimization

Data pipelines

Generative AI applications

Job description

At ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.

This position reports to:

US Country Holding Officer
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The Manager, Strategic Initiatives & Operations drives the execution of country-wide programs, manage/support acquisitions, drive cross-functional alignments, and operational workflows for the Office of the U.S. Country Holding Officer (CHO). Acting as a key bridge between the CHO and ABB’s U.S. Business Areas (Electrification, Motion, and Process Automation), this role focuses on translating high-level country strategy into operational reality.
The ideal candidate will leverage deep experience in process transformation, data-driven performance analysis, and emerging technologies to optimize country-level operations, track milestone execution, and keep diverse stakeholders aligned on major domestic initiatives.
The work model for the role is hybrid out of either our Cary, NC or New Berlin, WI office locations.

You will be mainly accountable for:

Program Management & Cross-Functional Alignment

• Country Strategy Execution: Lead and project-manage high-visibility programs spanning Marketing, HR, Finance, and Legal to ensure unified execution of the CHO’s U.S. objectives, as well as manage acquisitions.
• Stakeholder Synchronization: Facilitate collaboration across decentralized business units, managing progress on corporate initiatives, manufacturing site expansions, and regional footprint milestones.
• Executive Briefings: Synthesize complex operational metrics, campaign performance, and facility data into clear dashboards and concise briefings for the CHO and U.S. leadership team.

Process Optimization & Technology Integration

• AI & Digital Transformation: Architect, pilot, and scale modern workflows, including AI agent integration and advanced prompting logic to automate market benchmarking and optimize corporate reporting pipelines.
• System & Data Pipeline Governance: Oversee the secure orchestration of data pipelines and platform ecosystems to safeguard data integrity and enhance executive pipeline visibility.
• Continuous Improvement: Utilize Lean methodologies, root-cause analysis, and standardized playbooks to eliminate operational bottlenecks and streamline corporate onboarding or cross-business workflows.

Operations & Milestone Tracking

• Structured Project Assurance: Deploy structured projects and milestone-tracking methodologies to manage operational launch metrics, capital project timelines, and country-level KPIs.
• Sustainability Programs: Partner with operational leaders to track and report on the deployment of ABB’s domestic sustainability infrastructure (e.g., net-zero manufacturing, green facilities).
• Employer Branding Alignment: Support corporate talent framework alignments, ensuring internal communications and employee engagement initiatives mirror ABB's culture goals.

Qualifications for the role:

• Bachelors Degree in business, engineering, or related is required. Masters/MBA is preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience leading cross-functional programs, digital transformations, or business operations, preferably within an industrial technology or manufacturing environment.
• Technical Stack Expertise: Demonstrated hands‑on management of complex enterprise ecosystems, including advanced CRM optimization, data pipeline infrastructure, and Generative AI application design.
• Possession of strong Project Management and performance analysis skills, strong presentation capabilities, and the diplomatic agility required to move initiatives forward across matrixed business lines.
• Candidates must already have authorization to work for ABB in the US.

What's in it for you:

We empower you to take the lead, share bold ideas, and shape real outcomes. You’ll grow through hands‑on experience, mentorship, and learning that fits your goals. Here, your work doesn’t just matter, it moves things forward
ABB is an Equal Employment Opportunity and affirmative action employer for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities at ABB.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their-sex (gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation), marital status, citizenship, age, race and ethnicity, inclusive of traits historically associated with race or ethnicity, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles, color, religious creed, national origin, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal and state law.
For more information regarding your (EEO) rights as an applicant, please visit the following websites: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf
As an Equal Employment Opportunity and affirmative action employer for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, applicants may request to review the plan of a particular ABB facility between the hours of 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. EST Monday through Friday by contacting an ABB HR Representative at 1-888-694-7762.
Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access ABB’s career site as a result of your disability. You may request reasonable accommodations by calling an ABB HR Representative at 1-888-694-7762 or by sending an email to [e-mail]. Resumes and applications will not be accepted in this manner.

ABB Benefit Summary For Eligible US Employees

[excludes ABB E-mobility, Athens union, Puerto Rico]
Go to MyBenefitsABB.com and click on “Candidate/Guest” to learn more

Health, Life & Disability

• Choice between two medical plan options: A PPO plan called the Copay Plan OR a High Deductible Health Plan (with a Health Savings Account) called the High Deductible Plan.
• Choice between two dental plan options: Core and Core Plus
• Vision benefit
• Company paid life insurance (2X base pay)
• Company paid AD&D (1X base pay)
• Voluntary life and AD&D – 100% employee paid up to maximums
• Short Term Disability – up to 26 weeks – Company paid
• Long Term Disability – 60% of pay – Company paid. Ability to “buy-up” to 66 2/3% of pay.
• Supplemental benefits – 100% employee paid (Accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Health Advocate support resources for mental/behavioral health, general health navigation and virtual health, and infertility/adoption
• Employee discount program

Retirement

• 401k Savings Plan with Company Contributions
• Employee Stock Acquisition Plan (ESAP)

Time off

ABB provides 11 paid holidays. Salaried exempt positions are provided vacation under a permissive time away policy.
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