GE Vernova

Automation Operations Leader (f/m/d)

GE Vernova$122K — $204K *
Baden, PA 15005In-Person
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Engineering, or related field; MBA preferred
  • Significant experience in financial analysis, operations, investment/capital planning, or program management
  • Ability to translate operational data into financial insights
  • Hands-on experience with NPV, payback period, IRR, and ROI analysis
  • Experience designing or implementing stage-gate/tollgate frameworks for governance
  • Proficient in building dashboards and visualization tools for KPI reporting
  • Experience in Center of Excellence (COE) models or matrixed organizations

Responsibilities

  • Serve as the link between operational teams and financial reporting
  • Partner with operational leaders to reflect accurate automation business cases
  • Build methodologies to standardize operational performance reporting
  • Own end-to-end financial evaluation of automation investments
  • Consolidate and report the health of the global automation investment portfolio
  • Design and implement COE service offerings for projects
  • Drive accountability by enforcing tollgate discipline

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage
  • Access to a 24/7 nurse-based resource and Health Coach
  • Access to Employee Assistance Program for counseling services
  • Retirement Savings Plan with company matching contributions
  • Tuition and adoption assistance
  • Paid parental leave and disability benefits
  • 12 paid holidays and permissive time off
Full Job Description
Job Description Summary
GE Vernova is seeking a Global Automation Operations & Performance Leader to own the financial performance and investment governance of our global automation portfolio. This individual will be the key connector between the Automation Center of Excellence (COE), business units, and senior leadership — translating operational realities into rigorous financial insight, and ensuring automation investments are evaluated and tracked using disciplined metrics such as NPV, payback period, and ROI.
A core focus of this role is to take complex, technical, and operational data (production metrics, downtime, throughput, quality/scrap rates, labor efficiency) and translating them into clear financial terms that leadership can act on. This individual will also implement the COE service offerings to govern automation projects through defined stage-gates, significantly reducing the risk of project failure and ensuring disciplined, high-quality execution across the global portfolio.

Job Description

Roles and Responsibilities

Operational-to-Financial Translation

  • Serve as the critical link between operational teams and financial reporting, converting operational KPIs (throughput, downtime, scrap/quality rates, labor productivity) into financial impact metrics (cost savings, NPV contribution, payback impact)
  • Partner with business unit operational leaders to ensure automation business cases accurately reflect real-world operational data and constraints
  • Build repeatable methodologies/tools to standardize how operational performance is converted into financial language across business units

Investment Analysis & Financial Performance

  • Own the end-to-end financial evaluation of automation investments across business units, includingNPV, payback period, IRR, and ROIcalculations
  • Build and maintain standardized financial models/templates for business units being able to clearly segment investments and returns.
  • Consolidate and report the health of theglobal automation investment portfolio, highlighting high-performing initiatives and underperforming/at-risk investments
  • Develop benchmarks and hurdle rates for automation investment approval in partnership with COE and business units stakeholders

COE service offerings and projects tollgate framework

  • Design, implement, and own the COE service offeringfor automation projects, establishing clear swim lanes between the COE and the business units.
  • Enable consistentKPI reporting through dashboards and visualization, giving stakeholders real-time visibility into tollgate status, project health, and portfolio performance
  • Define criteria and deliverables required at each tollgate (e.g., business case approval, technical readiness, financial validation, go-live readiness, post-implementation review)
  • Use the tollgate framework to proactively identify and mitigate risks, reducing the likelihood of project delays, cost overruns, or failure to achieve projected returns
  • Drive accountability across business units by enforcing tollgate discipline, ensuring projects only progress when key operational and financial criteria are met
  • Continuously refine the tollgate framework based on lessons learned and evolving best practices across the global automation portfolio

Executive Communication & Reporting

  • Prepare and deliver leadership-ready presentations summarizing automation investment performance and value unlocked (NPV realized, payback trends, ROI) and tollgate/project health across the portfolio
  • Translate complex operational and financial data into clear, decision-ready insights for senior leadership
  • Provide leadership with visibility into investment risk, project execution status, and value realization to inform future capital allocation decisions

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Engineering, or related field (MBA a plus)
  • Significant experience in financial analysis, operations, investment/capital planning, or program management, ideally within industrial, energy, or manufacturing sectors
  • Demonstrated ability totranslate operational data into financial insights(e.g., converting downtime, scrap, or throughput data into cost/ROI impact)
  • Strong hands-on experience withNPV, payback period, IRR, and ROI analysisfor capital investments
  • Experiencedesigning or implementing stage-gate/tollgate frameworksfor project governance and risk mitigation
  • Experience building or leveragingdashboards/visualization toolsfor KPI and performance reporting
  • Experience working within or alongside a Center of Excellence (COE) model or matrixed organization
  • Proven track record presenting financial/investment performance to senior/executive leadership
  • Must be fully authorized to work in the nation of the applicable work location
  • English language proficiency, written and verbal, is required to successfully perform the duties of this role.

Desired skills

  • Strong understanding of manufacturing/operational KPIs (OEE, downtime, scrap rate, throughput, labor efficiency) and how they translate into financial outcomes
  • Ability to "speak both languages" 6 operations and finance 6 and act as a translator between technical/operational teams and leadership
  • Experience building tools/frameworks that standardize operational-to-financial reporting

Relocation Assistance Provided: Yes

For candidates applying to a U.S. based position, the pay range for this position is between $122,600.00 and $204,400.00. The Company pays a geographic differential of 110%, 120% or 130% of salary in certain areas. The specific pay offered may be influenced by a variety of factors, including the candidates experience, education, and skill set.

Bonus eligibility: discretionary annual bonus.

This posting is expected to remain open for at least seven days after it was posted on August 18, 2026.

Available benefits include medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage; access to Health Coach from GE Vernova, a 24/7 nurse-based resource; and access to the Employee Assistance Program, providing 24/7 confidential assessment, counseling and referral services. Retirement benefits include the GE Vernova Retirement Savings Plan, a tax-advantaged 401(k) savings opportunity with company matching contributions and company retirement contributions, as well as access to Fidelity resources and financial planning consultants. Other benefits include tuition assistance, adoption assistance, paid parental leave, disability benefits, life insurance, 12 paid holidays, and permissive time off.

GE Vernova Inc. or its affiliates (collectively or individually, GE Vernova) sponsor certain employee benefit plans or programs GE Vernova reserves the right to terminate, amend, suspend, replace, or modify its benefit plans and programs at any time and for any reason, in its sole discretion. No individual has a vested right to any benefit under a GE Vernova welfare benefit plan or program. This document does not create a contract of employment with any individual.

About GE Vernova

GE Vernova is an energy business company. They provide digital, energy consulting, energy financial services, gas power, grid solutions, nuclear energy, power conversion, renewable energy, steam power, and so on.

GE Vernova Careers

There has never been a more opportune time to join GE Vernova, a leader in innovative energy solutions. As a pivotal player in the energy sector, GE Vernova offers a plethora of job opportunities that cater to a diverse range of skills and professional aspirations.

Work You’ll Do

Embark on a career at GE Vernova and contribute to the transformation of the energy landscape. GE Vernova’s team is at the forefront of innovation, driving growth and sustainability with cutting-edge technology. Lead in a unique role where industry expertise meets leadership in energy innovation. GE Vernova provides a platform where professionals can leverage their skills to influence global energy solutions. Engage with a team of experts dedicated to pioneering developments in the energy sector. GE Vernova is home to a dynamic team focused on creating impactful solutions that address global energy challenges.

Introducing the GE Vernova Professional Growth Path

GE Vernova is committed to fostering professional growth through comprehensive career development opportunities. The company supports its team members' career trajectories with robust training programs, including leadership development and diversity training.

Innovate and Lead

Join GE Vernova to work on transformative projects at the intersection of energy, technology, and sustainability. The company’s commitment to innovation is reflected in its continuous pursuit of next-generation energy solutions.

Cultivate Your Career

At GE Vernova, career advancement is a priority. The company offers a range of positions that encourage professional growth and skill enhancement. GE Vernova’s supportive culture and commitment to professional development make it an ideal place to advance your career.

Explore Job Opportunities and Internships

GE Vernova is actively hiring and offers various positions and internships that cater to a wide range of professional interests and expertise. From engineering to project management, GE Vernova provides a fertile ground for professionals and interns to thrive.

The GE Vernova Commitment to Diversity and Innovation

GE Vernova is dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. The company values diversity as a source of innovation and competitive advantage. By fostering an inclusive culture, GE Vernova attracts top talent from diverse backgrounds, enhancing creativity and driving innovation.

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