Operations Associate Director

nVent; Anoka (MN); On-site; USD 146,000 - 272,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Disability insurance

Life insurance

401(k) with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Well-being program

Job summary

nVent seeks an Associate Director of Operations to lead the Hoffman Business in Anoka, Minnesota, overseeing a 700+ workforce and a $500M revenue engine. The role emphasizes TPS, Lean leadership, and daily management systems to optimize safety, quality, delivery, cost, and cash.

You will report to the Senior Operations Director and drive strategic transformation across high-volume and custom production lines while fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• BS/BA in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or related field
• 10+ years of dynamic leadership in large-scale manufacturing (> $100M revenue)
• Deep Lean & TPS expertise with experience in VSM, TPM, and Poka-Yoke
• Proven ability to lead large, multi-layered teams and drive culture of continuous improvement
• Strategic agility in supply chain, capacity planning, and executive communication

Responsibilities

• Lead 700+ associates and 4 direct reports with clear objectives
• Collaborate with Engineering, Supply Chain, Finance, and HR to execute site strategy
• Drive SQDCC metrics and embed Toyota Production System across the plant
• Implement Daily Management Systems and visual controls for real-time problem solving
• Foster a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement

Skills

TPS (Toyota Production System)

Lean leadership

Value Stream Mapping

TPM

Poka-Yoke

Daily Management Systems

Gemba leadership

Education

BS/BA in Engineering or related field

Job description

We’re looking for people who put their innovation to work to advance our success – and their own. Join an organization that ensures a more secure world through connecting and protecting our customers with inventive electrical solutions. Are you a top-tier operations leader ready to drive operational excellence within a cornerstone business unit? nVent is seeking a strategic and high-impact Associate Director, Operations to lead our Hoffman Business in Anoka, Minnesota. As a key leader within our ~$500M Hoffman business, you will report directly to the Senior Operations Director and lead all aspects of a large-scale manufacturing operation, leading a team of 700+ associates. This is a vital opportunity to drive comprehensive operational transformation, optimize high-end custom and high-volume production, and champion a world-class culture of safety and continuous improvement. We are looking for a visionary leader who can implement the strategic vision set by senior leadership while maintaining the meticulous "boots-on-the-ground" presence required to lead a large workforce to success.

WHAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE IN THIS ROLE;

• Operational Excellence & Execution (SQDCC): Partner with the Senior Operations Director to implement the site’s strategic roadmap. Take full ownership of site performance, ensuring meticulous adherence to metrics across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Cash (SQDCC) for a $500M revenue engine.
• Toyota Production System & Lean Leadership: Act as the primary change agent by deeply embedding the Toyota Production System (TPS) philosophy across the plant. Champion core Lean methodologies—including Value Stream Mapping (VSM) to identify and eliminate end-to-end waste, lead-time reduction, and flow optimization across complex manufacturing lines.
• Daily Management Systems & Visual Controls: Lead the establishment, cascading, and meticulous execution of Daily Management Systems (DMS). Drive visual factory standards and visual controls down to the shop floor so that every team member can instantly assess safety, quality, and output status, enabling real-time problem solving and rapid escalation.
• Built-In Quality & Error-Proofing (Poka-Yoke): Foster a zero-defect culture by deploying robust Poka-Yoke (error-proofing) mechanisms and standardized work audits. Ensure that quality is engineered and built into the process rather than inspected out.
• Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) & Asset Reliability: Drive Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) initiatives to enhance equipment availability, minimize unplanned downtime, and champion a culture of autonomous maintenance where operators take direct ownership of machine health and minor upkeep.
• Strategic & Cross-Functional Leadership: Lead and mentor a team of 4 direct reports, setting clear objectives and encouraging a culture of accountability and high performance across 700+ associates. Collaborate seamlessly with Engineering, Supply Chain, Finance, and HR to execute site strategy and drive the SIOP process.
• Talent Development & Governance: Cultivate a hard-working organization by prioritizing talent acquisition, retention, and structured professional development. Lead facility investments, equipment upgrades, and resource allocation to ensure the plant remains at the groundbreaking of manufacturing efficiency.

YOU HAVE;

• Education: BS or BA degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field is required.
• Experience: 10+ years of dynamic leadership experience in a large-scale, complex manufacturing environment (>$100M+ revenue or high-volume facilities preferred).
• Deep Lean & Operational Expertise: Advanced command of the Toyota Production System (TPS), Value Stream Mapping, TPM, and Poka-Yoke. You have a consistent track record of designing and sustaining Daily Management Systems and 5S visual factory frameworks that yield measurable, bottom-line results.
• People Leadership & Cultural Transformation: Confirmed ability to lead large, multi-layered teams. You are an active mentor who leads from the shop floor (Gemba) and builds a sustainable culture of trust, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Strategic Agility: Demonstrated success in leading complex supply chain dynamics, capacity planning, and navigating changing business environments to meet customer demands.
• Executive Communication: Ability to translate corporate strategy into actionable operational plans and provide clear, data-driven reporting to the Senior Operations Director.

WE HAVE;

A dynamic global reach with diverse operations around the world that will stretch your abilities, provide plentiful career opportunities, and allow you to make an impact every day nVent is a leading global provider of electrical connection and protection solutions. We believe our inventive electrical solutions enable safer systems and ensure a more secure world. We design, manufacture, market, install and service high performance products and solutions that connect and protect some of the world's most sensitive equipment, buildings and critical processes. We offer a comprehensive range of systems protection and electrical connections solutions across industry-leading brands that are recognized globally for quality, reliability and innovation. Our principal office is in London and our management office in the United States is in Minneapolis. Our robust portfolio of leading electrical product brands dates back more than 100 years and includes nVent CADDY, ERICO, HOFFMAN, ILSCO, SCHROFF and TRACHTE. Learn more at www.nvent.com. Commitment to strengthen communities where our employees live and work We encourage and support the philanthropic activities of our employees worldwide Through our nVent in Action matching program, we provide funds to nonprofit and educational organizations where our employees volunteer or donate money Core values that shape our culture and drive us to deliver the best for our employees and our customers. We’re known for being: Innovative & adaptable Dedicated to absolute integrity Focused on the customer first Respectful and team oriented Optimistic and energizing Accountable for performance.

Benefits to support the lives of our employees;

Pay Transparency nVent’s pay scale is based on the expected range of base pay for this job and the employee’s work location. Employee pay within this range will be based on a combination of factors including knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, education, and performance. Where federal, state, or local minimum wage requirements exist, employee pay will comply. Compensation Range: $146,300.00 - $271,700.00 Depending on the position offered, employee may be eligible for other forms of compensation, such as annual incentives.

Benefit Overview;

• Medical, dental, and vision plans along with flexible spending accounts
• Short-term and long-term disability benefits
• Critical illness
• Accident insurance
• Life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan and an employee stock purchase plan — both include a company match.
• Tuition reimbursement
• Caregiver
• Personal and parental leave
• Back-up care services
• Paid time off including volunteer time
• A well-being program
• And/or legal & identity theft protection

Inclusion and diversity means that we celebrate and encourage each other’s authenticity because we understand that uniqueness sparks growth.

#LI-Onsite #LI-AL1

At nVent, we are committed to equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by national, federal, state or local law.