Director, Operations - ONSITE in Janesville, WI

GEA Group•Janesville, WI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Founded in Germany in 1881, GEA Group is a global leader in engineering solutions serving the food & beverage, dairy, pharmaceutical, and related industries. With more than 18,000 employees worldwide and a strong U.S. presence since 1929, GEA blends a proud heritage with forward-thinking innovation. At GEA, we’re not just building equipment — we’re building lasting careers. Our strong culture, growth opportunities, and employee support are reflected in an average tenure of 5–11+ years. The Director of Operations provides strategic and operational leadership across sales support, order management, customer service, forecasting, and cross-functional execution. This role ensures operational excellence, drives revenue performance, enhances customer satisfaction, and aligns operational strategy with company objectives. The Director will lead a team of Technical Sales Engineers and Customer Service Representatives while partnering with Regional Sales Managers, Finance, and Manufacturing teams to optimize processes, profitability, and customer outcomes.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Management, or related field
7–10+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations, technical sales, or commercial management
Experience working with technical or engineered products
Exposure to multinational, matrix organizations
Strong financial acumen, including AR and working capital management
Proven internal and external sales leadership experience
Demonstrated success leading and developing cross-functional teams
Experience driving operational efficiency and process optimization
Strong communication and presentation skills
Fluent English required
Strategic thinking with the ability to simplify complex issues
High performance under pressure in fast-paced environments
Detail-oriented with strong process discipline
Strong planning, scheduling, and delegation skills
Ability to balance commercial goals with operational execution
Change leadership and continuous improvement mindset

Responsibilities

Operational & Strategic Leadership Lead and develop a high-performing team responsible for quoting, order entry, and technical sales support for new applications and spare parts.
Develop and execute comprehensive operational strategies aligned with revenue targets and growth initiatives.
Drive monthly sales forecasting and maintain a rolling 3-month outlook.
Track order fulfillment and billing to ensure revenue commitments are achieved.
Identify process improvements to enhance efficiency, reduce cycle time, and optimize working capital.
Financial & Commercial Oversight Manage pricing strategies, ensuring alignment with factory cost changes, inflation, labor, and foreign exchange impacts.
Standardize and oversee discount structures for Distributors, Master Distributors, and OEM/Integrators.
Partner with Finance to manage Accounts Receivable, credit accounts, and working capital performance.
Ensure operational execution supports revenue growth and margin protection.
Cross-Functional Collaboration Coordinate customer requirements with factories to meet delivery expectations.
Partner with internal sales and technical teams to leverage market intelligence and customer insights.
Contribute to product roadmap discussions by translating operational and customer feedback into actionable insights.
Support Regional Sales Managers in identifying new business opportunities and expanding customer accounts.
Leadership & Talent Development Coach and mentor Technical Sales Engineers and customer service professionals.
Build a strong bench of future sales and operational leaders.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Lead change management initiatives within a matrix organization.