Operation Excellence Senior Manager

Daikin Applied Americas Inc; Faribault (MN); On-site; USD 101,000 - 172,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance options (multiple) +

Dental and vision insurance

401K with employer match

Paid time off and company holidays

Paid sick time per laws

Tuition Reimbursement after 6 months

Work visa sponsorship not available

Job summary

Daikin Applied Americas Inc is seeking a Senior Manager of Operational Excellence to serve as the strategic Chief of Staff to the Vice President of Manufacturing in Faribault, MN. You will lead cross-functional initiatives, manage key business rhythms, and translate priorities into actionable plans with measurable results across safety, quality, cost, and delivery.

The role drives process improvements, standard work, and performance cadences, ensuring alignment and data-driven decisions.

Qualifications

• 4-year bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• 6–8 years of experience in Operations or a related field.
• 4+ years of people leadership experience.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Familiar with Kaizen improvement processes and the Toyota Production System (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Serve as trusted advisor and extension of the VP of Manufacturing, translating priorities into actionable plans.
• Lead manufacturing operating cadences with KPIs, accountability, and data-driven decisions.
• Drive process-improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations.
• Coordinate cross-functional manufacturing initiatives, removing barriers and mitigating risks.
• Develop executive communications and updates for stakeholders.
• Build relationships across functions to drive collaboration and shared ownership.
• Support change efforts by clarifying roles, processes, and communication.
• Create an organizational training strategy for continuous improvement and workforce development.
• Establish standardized processes for communicating initiatives and conduct periodic audits.
• Utilize Lean, Value Stream Mapping, SIPOC, and RACI to improve processes and lead times.
• Provide leadership support across North America for predictable lead times and best-practices sharing.

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Kaizen

Toyota Production System

Continuous improvement

Job description

Join the world's largest HVAC company! Daikin Applied is seeking a Senior Manager of Operational Excellence who will serve as a strategic Chief of Staff to the Vice President of Manufacturing. Acting as an extension of the VP, the position leads cross-functional initiatives, manages key business rhythms, and ensures priorities are translated into actionable plans and measurable results, enabling Daikin Applied to deliver on its safety, quality, cost, and delivery objectives.

Location: Faribault, Minnesota

Your Responsibilities:

• Serve as a trusted advisor and extension of the VP of Manufacturing, translating strategic priorities into actionable plans while ensuring alignment across manufacturing operations, safety, quality, cost, and delivery objectives.
• Lead and manage key manufacturing operating cadences (e.g., staff meetings, scorecards, performance reviews), ensuring consistent tracking of KPIs, clear accountability, and data-driven decision-making.
• Manage and drive process improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations, championing continuous improvement methodologies and standard work to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, improve quality, and strengthen operational performance.
• Drive and coordinate high-impact, cross-functional manufacturing initiatives, removing barriers, accelerating execution, proactively addressing operational risks, and ensuring measurable outcomes aligned with organizational priorities.
• Develop executive-level communications, presentations, and updates for internal and external stakeholders, ensuring the VP of Manufacturing is prepared, informed, and positioned to effectively lead and influence.
• Build strong relationships across functions and organizational levels to drive collaboration, alignment, and shared ownership of manufacturing performance and operational outcomes.
• Support organizational change efforts by improving clarity of roles, processes, and communication, helping teams adopt new ways of working and sustain performance improvements.
• Create an organizational training strategy that supports a culture of continuous improvement, including foundational manufacturing knowledge, process improvement, root cause analysis, equipment maintenance, and employee skills development programs, providing ongoing management oversight to strengthen workforce capabilities.
• Establish and implement a standardized process for communicating manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives across the organization, performing periodic audits to ensure consistency and effectiveness.
• Utilize Lean methods, Value Stream Mapping, SIPOC, RACI, and other applicable tools to improve manufacturing processes, optimize production flow, reduce waste, and improve lead times across manufacturing operations and the broader Sales-to-Order and Order-to-Delivery processes.
• Provide leadership support in continuous improvement and operational excellence to all Daikin Applied locations in North America, establishing predictable lead times, standardizing processes, and sharing best practices to increase customer satisfaction.

Your Qualifications:

• 4-year bachelor’s degree in a related field
• 6-8 years of experience in Operations or a related field
• 4+ years of people leading experience
• Master’s degree (preferred)
• Familiar with Kaizen improvement processes and the Toyota Production System (preferred)

Your Benefits:

• Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and vision insurance
• 401K retirement plan with employer match
• Paid time off and company paid holidays
• Paid sick time in accordance with the federal, state and local law
• Tuition Reimbursement after 6 months of continuous service
• Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position

The typical annual base salary for this position ranges from $100,800 to $171,700 in MN. The range displayed represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade which this position falls. Individual base pay will depend on a wide range of factors including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements, including verification of employment history, education, background screening, and drug testing where permitted by law. Safety-sensitive positions may require cannabis (marijuana) testing. All testing and employment decisions will comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

If you're looking for an engaging career with growth opportunities in a supportive environment, you'll love a career at Daikin Applied! Building a more sustainable planet. Creating comfortable, healthy spaces for people to connect, live and work. Perfecting the air we share. Daikin Applied is not just an HVAC company. We're part of a global technology powerhouse that uses Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) to transform the world. We're innovators and leaders. Not only as a business, but as individuals. You see, we're not just innovating on the outside. We're innovating on the inside to unlock people's unlimited potential and bring out the diverse and groundbreaking ideas that will help us solve today's most pressing challenges. That's why Daikin offers more than a job. Here's where you'll be heard, be valued, belong -- and be able to make your mark. Over the past several years, we’ve proudly welcomed several organizations into our family, each bringing unique strengths, deep expertise, and talented teams. As we continue to grow, these partners play a vital role in expanding our capabilities and shaping the future of our organization. Whichever Daikin Applied company you join, you’ll be part of a unified, supportive environment where you can make an impact and grow your career.