Operations Manager, Watertube Boilers

Watts Water; Hutchinson (KS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Watts Water in Hutchinson, KS, is seeking a Value Stream Manager to lead the Superior Boiler value stream, drive Lean initiatives, and deliver safe, efficient production. You will supervise two supervisors and ~20–40 production staff, develop plans with Operations leadership, and implement WPS and Lean tools to improve quality, reduce costs, and shorten lead times.

The role requires a strong manufacturing background, proven leadership, and hands-on problem solving in a lean environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business or Operations.
• 7+ years manufacturing experience across multiple functional areas.
• Experience leading teams and mentoring future manufacturing leaders.
• LEAN manufacturing knowledge and lead Lean improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Value Stream in daily operations and continuous improvements to meet production goals.
• Drive Lean implementation to improve flow, pull systems, and workload leveling.
• Ensure standardized work and safety compliance with auditing and countermeasures.
• Maintain equipment readiness and organize periodic audits of the line.
• Foster a positive team atmosphere, assign tasks, and coordinate cross-functional support.
• Support cross-training and backup coverage to ensure smooth value stream operation.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Leadership

Continuous Improvement

Quality mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business or Operations

Job description

We're Watts. Together, we're reimagining the future of water.

We feel proud every day about what we do. We're all part of the same crucial mission, no matter what function we support -- it's to provide safe, clean water for the world, and to protect our planet's most valuable resource.

What we do:

For 150 years, Watts has built best-in-class products that are trusted by customers in residential and commercial settings across the world. We are at the forefront of innovation, working with cutting-edge technology to provide smart and connected, sustainable water solutions for the future. Watts is a leading brand with a quality reputation - and we have a dynamic future ahead.

Scope of Position:

This highly motivated individual, as part of the Superior Boiler team, will oversee the overall performance of a Manufacturing Unit or Value Stream, defined by Product Line, Group or Family. This individual implements the Watts Performance System (WPS) and Lean Principles & tools to ensure a safe work environment, maximize profitable growth, drive quality improvements, provide premier customer service, develop a technically qualified work force, reduce operating costs, inventories and lead times through continuous improvements.

The Value Stream Manager (VSM) is responsible for managing all aspects of the Value Stream to include: developing associates, ensuring that the team consensus is used to evaluate and rapidly implement decisions, budget planning, production planning, & executing effective performance management and employment decisions for all direct reports, team leaders and associates.

This position will be responsible for supervision of 2 Supervisors, who will be managing approximately 20-40 production employees.

This position reports to the Director of Operations. This role is onsite and based in Hutchinson, KS.

Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Leads the Value Stream in daily operations and continuous improvements which include but are not limited to: meeting production goals and achieve daily production in support of AOP, establishing manufacturing priorities, supply chain production control, coordination of activities with off-shift management and order shipments.
• Successful Lean implementation resulting in productivity gains, emphasizing the creation of continuous product flow, utilize pull systems where flow is not currently possible, and works to level the workload.
• Creates the basis for continuous improvement and employee empowerment by ensuring that standardized work/processes are followed, countermeasures implemented, and the area is compliant with safety requirements. Executes such activities, using the tools of the WPS, 5S, and quality to sustain a visually controlled environment that ensures conformance, improvement, and promotes problem-solving.
• Ensure that standard work is followed, and all equipment is operational, in good working order, and safe through periodic audits and implementation of an auditing system
• Instills and maintains a positive can-do team atmosphere within the Value Stream; holding regular team meetings, assigns team members' tasks, and coordinates support services needed outside the team.
• Facilitates small group activities in support of Lean and meets with the employees regularly, reflecting on problems, solutions, and challenges, thereby creating a culture of continuous improvement and contributing towards becoming a learning organization.
• Ensures effective cross-training for the Value Stream Associates, including backups from other areas, to ensure a continuous smooth-running Value Stream.
• Works cross-functionally to develop the future state value stream map and manages the plans to achieve it.
• Assume responsibility for other projects and duties as assigned by Director of Operations or Superior Boiler management.
• Travel Requirements: 0-10% travel.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business or Operations.
• 7+ years of diverse manufacturing background spanning multiple functional areas such as Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Continuous Improvement, Production, Supply Chain, and Quality.
• 5+ years of leadership developing teams and mentoring future manufacturing leaders.
• Experience working in scaling operations environments (high growth, new product lines or platform-based businesses).
• Proven track record of driving measurable results such as scrap reduction, cost savings, productivity gains, throughput improvements, quality improvement, customer satisfaction enhancement, or supplier performance improvement.
• Knowledge and experience in LEAN manufacturing and able to lead teams in LEAN process improvements/implementation.
• Understanding of and adherence to applicable laws, codes, policies, regulations, and safety practices and procedures, as applicable.
• Must successfully establish employment eligibility and satisfactorily complete background checks and required pre-employment testing as a condition of employme