Description

Benefits:
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 401k Employer Match
• Bonus Incentives
• Extensive Training & Career Development Programs
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Medical, Dental and Vision plans
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• And more!

Pay Rate Details: $150,000 - 180,000 (Depending on experience)

Responsibilities & Expectations:

The Area General Manager - Distribution Transformers is responsible for leading one of IPS' premier transformer operations, driving profitable growth, and building a world-class manufacturing organization that delivers unmatched customer experience, operational excellence, and industry-leading safety performance in Farmington, MN. This leader is responsible for driving profitable growth by owning full P&L while delivering operational excellence across safety, quality, customer satisfaction, financial performance, and employee engagement through the IPS operating system (CIPS - Continuous Improvement Process Solution).

The AGM provides strategic and operational leadership for the following primary value streams:
• In-shop transformer repair and remanufacturing
• New transformers manufacturing
• Sales/distribution of new and surplus transformers

The AGM builds and sustains a culture rooted in the IPS Values of Safety, Integrity, Teamwork, Accountability, Customer Focus, and Entrepreneurial Spirit through servant leadership while developing a high-performing organization capable of supporting future growth.

Strategic Leadership
• Develop and execute long-term business strategies that position the operation for sustainable and profitable growth.
• Understand market dynamics, customer requirements, competitive positioning, and industry trends to identify growth opportunities.
• Design and implement strategic initiatives that expand capabilities, improve profitability, and strengthen IPS' market leadership.
• Develop business plans aligned with corporate objectives while driving execution across all functional areas.

Operational Excellence
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives utilizing CIPS principles to transform the operation into a best-in-class manufacturing and remanufacturing facility.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, waste elimination, visual management, standard work, and operational discipline throughout the organization.
• Improve productivity, throughput, quality, safety, and cost performance while maintaining exceptional customer service.
• Initiate and effectively lead the execution of major CAPEX projects, on-time, on-quality and on-budget.
• Empower employees to make data-driven decisions and continuously improve processes.

Sales & Customer Leadership
• Establish sales strategies and partner with commercial leadership to grow market share and profitability.
• Build and maintain executive-level customer relationships.
• Ensure exceptional customer responsiveness and deliver an Unmatched Customer Experience.
• Identify market trends and customer needs while aligning operations to support future business growth.

Operations Leadership
• Lead all manufacturing, remanufacturing, engineering, supply chain, quality, production planning, maintenance, and field support functions.
• Drive execution to achieve on-time, on-quality, on-margin, and safe delivery performance.
• Manage operational priorities while balancing customer commitments, capacity planning, and financial objectives.
• Foster collaboration across cross-functional teams to maximize operational effectiveness.

Tactical & Project Leadership
• Lead execution of key operational initiatives and strategic projects that improve customer service, operational performance, profitability, and quality.
• Ensure projects are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and aligned with business objectives.
• Coordinate cross-functional resources to deliver complex manufacturing and remanufacturing initiatives.
• Remove organizational barriers that impede execution while promoting accountability throughout the organization.

Financial Leadership
• Own the site's Profit & Loss performance.
• Develop annual operating plans, forecasts, capital investment plans, and growth strategies.
• Drive revenue growth while improving margins, productivity, inventory performance, and overall financial results.
• Monitor key business metrics and proactively implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Ensure compliance with corporate financial policies and industry best practices.

Safety Leadership
• Promote an uncompromising safety culture.
• Ensure compliance with all corporate HS&E policies and regulatory requirements.
• Lead proactive safety initiatives that protect employees, customers, contractors, and the environment.

Quality Leadership
• Ensure compliance with the IPS Quality Management System, ISO standards, customer specifications, and industry requirements.
• Lead continuous improvement of quality systems and manufacturing processes.
• Drive standardization, process discipline, and root cause corrective actions.

People Leadership
• Build and develop a resilient, high-performing organization capable of supporting long-term business growth.
• Recruit, coach, mentor, and develop future leaders.
• Drive employee engagement, accountability, collaboration, and professional development.
• Ensure alignment with IPS Values while fostering a culture where the organization is recognized as "the experts who are easy to do business with."
• Lead organizational design initiatives that optimize structure while maintaining organizational agility.

Additional Responsibilities
• Solve complex operational and business challenges through data-driven decision making.
• Communicate effectively with executive leadership, employees, customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain key customer relationships.
• Lead change initiatives that improve organizational performance.
• Leverage best practices across IPS to continuously improve operational capability.
• Demonstrate strong emotional intelligence and servant leadership while developing future leaders.
• Drive excellence across all aspects of the business.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role will be measured by the leader's ability to:
• Improve financial performance by increasing EBITDA, operating margin, and overall business profitability while effectively managing costs and resources.
• Drive world-class safety performance by strengthening the site's safety culture, reducing incidents, and maintaining compliance with all IPS and regulatory HS&E standards.
• Increase operational throughput by improving manufacturing and remanufacturing capacity, productivity, and process efficiency through Lean and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Improve on-time delivery performance while maintaining high quality standards and delivering an unmatched customer experience.
• Build a strong leadership pipeline by developing talent, strengthening succession plans, and creating a resilient organization prepared for future growth.
• Strengthening strategic customer relationships by increasing customer engagement, improving responsiveness, and expanding business opportunities with existing and prospective customers.
• Execute strategic growth initiatives that expand capabilities, increase market share, improve competitive positioning, and support the long-term growth objectives of the business.

Qualifications and Competencies:

Required
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Business, or related technical field.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, industrial services, transformer manufacturing/remanufacturing, or related heavy industrial environments.
• 7+ years of experience with full operational or general management responsibilities, including Profit & Loss ownership.
• Experience leading manufacturing, operations, engineering, quality, supply chain, and customer-facing organizations.
• 5+ years leading large-scale operational or capital projects.
• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence, or Six Sigma methodologies.
• Demonstrated success leading business transformation and organizational growth.
• Strong financial acumen with experience developing budgets, forecasting, and improving operational profitability.
• Excellent leadership, communication, organizational, and strategic planning skills.

Preferred
• Experience in liquid-filled distribution transformer manufacturing and/or remanufacturing strongly preferred.
• Experience with dry-type transformer manufacturing or repair is a plus.
• Experience within electrical power equipment, transformers, utility, OEM, or industrial manufacturing industries.
• MBA preferred.
• Lean Manufacturing Certification or Six Sigma Certification preferred.

You'll thrive at IPS if you...
• Lead with integrity and prioritize safety. You demonstrate high standards and commit to a safe, ethical workplace.
• Value teamwork and accountability. You work well with others, take responsibility, serve others, and deliver on your commitments.
• Focus on the customer. You are dedicated to providing an unmatched customer experience and exceeding expectations.
• Have an entrepreneurial spirit. You're proactive, innovative, and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Communicate effectively and with purpose. You keep everyone informed with clear, concise communication.
• Stay curious and love to learn. You continuously seek new knowledge and grow personally and professionally.

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