Senior Manager, Operational Excellence & Manufacturing Strategy

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance

401K with employer match

Paid time off and holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Daikin Applied, the world's largest HVAC company, in Faribault, MN, seeks a Senior Manager of Operational Excellence to act as Chief of Staff to the VP of Manufacturing. You will lead cross-functional initiatives, manage key rhythms, and translate priorities into actionable, measurable plans across safety, quality, cost, and delivery.

The role drives process improvements, standard work, and collaboration to strengthen operational performance and customer satisfaction in North America.

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

• Act as an extension of the VP of Manufacturing, translating strategic priorities into actionable plans
• Lead manufacturing cadences (staff meetings, scorecards, reviews) with KPI tracking and data-driven decisions
• Drive process improvement across manufacturing, championing standard work to improve efficiency and quality
• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives, remove barriers, and address operational risks with measurable outcomes
• Develop executive communications and updates for stakeholders to inform leadership
• Foster cross-functional relationships to drive collaboration on performance
• Support change management and establish training strategies for continuous improvement
• Standardize communication of initiatives and audit for consistency across the organization

Skills

People leadership

Continuous improvement

Lean manufacturing

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

TPS (Toyota Production System)

Job description

Daikin Applied, the world's largest HVAC company, in Faribault, MN, seeks a Senior Manager of Operational Excellence to act as Chief of Staff to the VP of Manufacturing. You will lead cross-functional initiatives, manage key rhythms, and translate priorities into actionable, measurable plans across safety, quality, cost, and delivery.

The role drives process improvements, standard work, and collaboration to strengthen operational performance and customer satisfaction in North America.