Manager, Operations/Production

Whirlpool • Cleveland, TN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading home appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. As the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances, the company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2024, the company reported approximately $17 billion in annual sales - close to 90% of which were in the Americas - 44,000 employees, and 40 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

The Operations/Production team plans, directs and monitors all production activities within an assigned area or unit to maximize the use of the organization's resources and meet established production specifications, schedules and quality standards. Liaise with functional or operational area managers to understand their current and future product needs and develop plans, cost estimates, and schedules for integrating these needs into existing manufacturing activities.

Currently, we are seeking qualified candidates for an Operations Manager to join our manufacturing organization in Cleveland, TN. Cleveland, Tennessee is the North American location where Whirlpool’s premium cooking products are built. The successful candidate will have an exciting opportunity to lead a team of hourly and salary employees to achieve operational excellence utilizing the tools of World Class Manufacturing (WCM) to improve Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost. Reporting to the Site Leader, day to day activities for the role will include: providing leadership and decision making to the many diverse product lines to achieve operational goals, collaborating with Engineering with new product launches and changes, and participating in a WCM pillar to improve operational performance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• 5+ years leadership experience in a manufacturing environment
• 5+ years Lean principles and methodologies.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to work autonomously with little oversight and make prudent and informed decisions, often quickly and with limited information
• Proven ability to grow individual and organization competency through proactive coaching and mentoring
• Outstanding communication, interpersonal and facilitation skills
• Demonstrated problem solving, conflict resolution and team building skills
• Must value the diversity of ideas, opinions, experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives needed to foster a competitive global business environment
• Strong computer skills including MS Office, Google Suite, Kronos, and SAP preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead a team consisting of up to 400+ operators with the support of Salary and Hourly associates across 2 shifts.
• Assist the Operations Management team and other Plant Staff Members in the development and formulation of long and short-range planning, policies, programs, and objectives.
• Provide direction to salaried People Leaders in the accomplishment of manufacturing plant goals consistent with Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost expectations.
• Excellent problem solving skills to identify root cause failure analysis
• Provide coaching and developmental guidance and direction to immediate direct reports to assist with their continued development and progress of self-directed work teams through capacity building.
• Lead, coach & develop others on problem-solving activities to drive continuous improvement activities in key areas.
• Work cross-functionally with team members from all areas to remove barriers and collaborate on issue resolution.
• Coordinate activities to support new product implementation, quality improvements, engineering projects, and manufacturing needs
• Maintain a dependable and dedicated workforce through open communications and the ability to drive and sustain change
• Manage department budget and expenditures
• Drive continuous improvement utilizing lean manufacturing problem-solving tools(WCM/Kaizen)
• Lead/participate in the expansion of the Whirlpool World Class Manufacturing (WCM) methodologies as a core pillar team member
• Manage & schedule all assembly operations

Benefits

• Always On Flexibility - You will have the autonomy to manage personal, family, and outside-of-work commitments as needed.
• Sabbatical - Four weeks paid leave after every five years of service.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager