| Location | Mokena, IL |
U.S. Operations Manager
Position Title: U.S. Operations Manager
Reports to: Division General Manager
Location: Mokena, IL (Division U.S. Operations), with regular travel to Richton Park, IL
Team Led: Plant Managers — Mokena, IL and Richton Park, IL — plus supporting U.S. operations functional leaders and professional staff
The Opportunity
Our client is a division of a Fortune 500 diversified industrial manufacturer with roughly $14B in global revenue, operations in 57 countries, and a portfolio of more than 16,000 active patents. Within that global enterprise, this division is a focused business serving major OEMs across North America, engineering and manufacturing housing units, vehicle doors, capless fuel systems, and electric vehicle (EV) charge ports.
The division operates multiple manufacturing locations across the U.S. and Mexico, anchored in the U.S. by its Mokena, IL and Richton Park, IL facilities. This role owns the U.S. operations contribution to the Division's performance, translating business-unit strategy into aligned, scalable execution across both plants and their supporting functions. As the business modernizes its operations and pursues renewed growth, it needs an Operations leader who can run today's network while building tomorrow's.
Set the strategy. Own the network. Build what's next.
This is not a caretaker role — it's the top operations seat over the division's U.S. manufacturing network, with the mandate to convert strategy into aligned execution across both plants and every supporting function. You'll set the operating cadence, sponsor transformation, and build the next generation of plant leadership. If you want a role where your reach spans a full US operation and the impact is systemic, keep reading.
Why This Role Is Different
Network-level ownership — full accountability for the U.S. operations contribution to the Division P&L across both plants, not a single site
Backed by Fortune 500 scale — the resources, capital, and career runway of a global industrial leader, with the mandate to reshape a network
Real transformation mandate — sponsor cross-site initiatives such as network optimization, footprint consolidation, product rationalization, and supply-chain transformation
A proven leadership pipeline — U.S. Operations Manager roles within this organization are a recognized path into senior general management and executive operating roles
A network, not a plant — you'll own strategy, capacity, capital, and talent decisions across the full U.S. footprint, with Plant Managers reporting to you
What You'll Own
Strategy & Network Leadership
Translate Division strategy, growth priorities, customer requirements, and financial objectives into a coordinated U.S. operations roadmap
Integrate priorities, resources, metrics, and operating practices across U.S. plants and supporting operations functions
Establish a consistent operating cadence across sites; challenge recovery plans and hold plant and functional leaders accountable for sustained results
Provide governance for product launches, manufacturing feasibility, capacity readiness, and operational risk
Financial & Capital Ownership
Own the U.S. operations contribution to the Division P&L, including productivity, conversion cost, labor, scrap, freight, inventory, sourcing, and capital effectiveness
Lead capacity, capability, footprint, technology, and capital planning across U.S. operations
Drive consistent use of the division's 80/20 Toolbox and measurable operational and financial improvement
Transformation & Continuous Improvement
Sponsor complex, cross-functional improvements such as network optimization, facility consolidation, product rationalization, in-lining, launch-system improvement, and supply-chain transformation
People Leadership & Growth Partnership
Develop Plant Managers and functional leaders; strengthen succession, decision quality, and accountability across the operations network
Align Operations with Sales, Engineering, Product Development, Finance, Human Resources, and Quality to support profitable growth
What Success Looks Like in Year One
U.S. operations are scalable and aligned, visibly supporting Division performance and profitable growth
The U.S. operations P&L contribution, productivity, network economics, and capital returns show clear improvement
Safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance are consistent across both sites
At least one major cross-site transformation, footprint, capacity, or launch priority is executed successfully
Plant Manager capability and succession depth are visibly stronger, with clearer operating accountability across the network
What You Bring
Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, business, or comparable experience required
Ten or more years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including multi-site or major cross-functional operations responsibility
Demonstrated experience leading Plant Managers or senior functional leaders and delivering measurable business-unit financial improvement
Strong business-unit financial acumen, with experience building cross-site operating systems, footprint and capacity strategy, and executive-level influence
A track record of leading complex change — sustained multi-site gains, major network or footprint improvements, scalable launches, and stronger leadership performance across plants
Automotive, plastics injection molding, or complex high-volume manufacturing experience preferred
Ability to travel domestically and internationally as business needs require
Leadership Capabilities We're Looking For
Strategic & Network Leadership
Financial & Capital Ownership
Change Leadership & Transformation
People Development & Succession Planning
Executive Influence & Cross-Functional Partnership
Why You'll Want to Stay
This division offers what's rare in operations leadership today: the backing and stability of a Fortune 500 diversified industrial manufacturer, paired with real ownership of a U.S. manufacturing network's strategy and results. U.S. Operations Manager roles within this organization are a recognized pipeline into senior general management and executive operating roles — and with a mandate this broad, the opportunities to leave your mark span the entire network.
About the Organization
Our client is a Fortune 500 diversified industrial manufacturer delivering specialized expertise and value-added products across a wide range of industries worldwide. With approximately $14 billion in global revenue, operations across 57 countries, roughly 45,000 employees, and a portfolio of more than 16,000 active patents, the company is recognized as a global leader in applied engineering and manufacturing innovation.
Within this global enterprise, the business division supplies products to major automotive OEMs, including housing units, vehicle doors, capless fuel systems, and electric vehicle (EV) charge ports. The division operates a multi-site manufacturing and distribution network across the U.S. and Mexico.
Our client is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.