Director-Production Operations

As an S&C Electric team member, you’ll work on projects that have real-world impact. You’ll help transform the grid for resilient and reliable power worldwide. S&C has more than a 100-year history of innovation and has been 100% employee-owned since 2012. We continue this legacy as a trusted, forward-thinking leader in the electrical industry. You will advance a safer, more reliable, and more resilient electrical grid. Our products help the grid adapt to severe weather and transition to clean energy. We’re big enough to be a respected industry leader but small enough for you to impact our company directly. Our commitment gives you opportunities to impact on and off the job positively. 

Join S&C to make an impact on tomorrow’s energy challenges and become an employee-owner

Hours 

• 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (Mon-Fri) On-Site Chicago

Compensation

At S&C, we are dedicated to providing competitive and equitable compensation for all our team members, and we are committed to transparency in our pay practices. The estimated annual base salary range for this position is $187,341 - $248,229. Individual pay within this salary range is determined by several compensable factors, including performance, knowledge, job-related skills and experience, and relevant education or training. This role is also eligible for S&C’s annual incentive plan (AIP), subject to eligibility criteria.

Join Our Team as Director-Production Operations!

Are you passionate about Production Operations? S&C Electric Company is seeking a dynamic individual to join our PMG production team. As Director-Production Operations, you’ll be crucial in ensuring continued innovation and supporting our diverse team.

The Director-Production Operations is responsible for leading Assembly and Weld operations within the Switchgear Value Stream.  This leader is a member of the Switchgear Value Stream leadership team and reports to the Senior Director-Production Operations, Switchgear.  The role is accountable for building and sustaining a safe, high-performing operation that delivers on Safety, Quality, Delivery, Productivity, Cost and Human Development objectives while supporting continued business growth.  

The Director must be a strategic thought partner with a strong floor presence, hands-on leadership style and disciplined approach to management operations systems, visual management, KPI ownership, and continuous improvement.  This individual must demonstrated strong change leadership, structured problem-solving, accountability, coaching capability, communication skills, and a proven record of developing leaders and team members in alignment with the Career Framework. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute operating plans and budgets that support the strategic vision for Assembly and Weld operations within the Switchgear Value Stream. 
• Drive operational discipline, efficiency, and quality management practices that support corporate quality expectations and strengthen first-pass yield, rework reduction and customer satisfaction. 
• Champion safety awareness, 5S, and proactive risk reduction across Assembly and Weld areas; investigate safety incidents, identify root causes, and implement sustainable corrective actions. 
• Own operational expenses and resource plans, with the exception of delivering budget commitments while improving labor utilization, material flow and overall productivity. 
• Lead process improvement in Assembly and Weld to ensure safe, high-quality and efficient production as S&C's Metal-Enclosed Gear and related Switchgear products continue to grow. 
• Create and sustain a positive work environment by applying Job Relations best practices, reinforcing respect and accountability and strengthening engagement across multiple shifts.  
• Develop team resilience and strengthen acceptance of change by coaching leaders and team members through ambiguity, operational challenges and evolving business priorities. 
• Maintain strong delivery performance and on-time shipments to internal and external customers by improving schedule adherence, constraint management and cross-functional coordination. 
• Run the day-to-day Assembly and Weld operations across two shifts with strong ownership, urgency and floor presence; lead managers, supervisors and team leaders to maintain and improve performance in Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and Human Development. 
• Continuously improve the business by identifying operational opportunities, removing constraints, simplifying processes, improving productivity, and delivering measurable impact to safety, quality, delivery, cost, employee engagement and customer performance. 
• Own the function's KPIs and management operating systems, including production status, daily accountability, visual KPI boards, escalation routines, and executive-level reporting on performance and strategic progress. 
• Coach and mentor direct reports in problem-solving and other LPS/CI activities. 
• Make decisions regarding hiring, promotions, corrective action and terminations. 
• Serve as a change agent by influencing, communicating and institutionalizing a culture of simplification, standard work, process improvement, and lean manufacturing principles. 
• Understand and comply with all applicable Company Policies and Rules. 

What you’ll Need to Succeed:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Technology, Business or a related technical discipline. 
• 8+ years of progressive production leadership experience in complex assembly, welding, and/or fabrication environments with multiple shifts and high-mix, low-volume operations. 
• Demonstrated track record of lean manufacturing leadership, sustained improvements, and KPI attainment. 
• Proven experience leading multiple complex product teams within a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment. 
• Strong technical aptitude in assembly and weld operations, including production flow, capacity planning, quality controls, standard work and weld best practices. 
• Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal, listening, and presentation skills; able to liaise with internal and external stakeholders at all levels, from leadership to support staff and present effectively to gain buy-in from executives, managers and team members. 
• Sound analytical skills with the ability to use and analyze data to drive informed decision, problem-solve difficult issues, and leverage data and learning to drive continuous improvement. 
• Excellent leadership skills with a track record of developing managers, supervisors and team members; building bench strength; improving team capability and creating a culture of accountability, inclusion and performance. 
• Strong organization, planning, and project management skills, with the ability to coordinate internal and external resources, solve problems creatively when obstacles arise and manage a heavy volume of diverse projects, including both strategic and tactical assignments. 
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish meaningful relationships built on mutual trust and respect, navigate and resolve conflict, model appropriate behaviors, and foster collaborative working relationships across diverse audiences. 
• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect operational performance to financial outcomes, customer delivery, workforce planning and long-term capacity needs.  
• Proven success partnering across teams, creating effective partnerships at all levels, and collaborating at an operational level. 
• Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook) project management tools, process mapping programs and data visualization tools. 

Major Physical Demands:

• Standing: Occasionally required to sit in a stationary position for hours at a time throughout the work day
• Walking: Frequently walking throughout the facility
• Carrying: Occasional carrying of light objects
• Pushing: Infrequent pushing of objects
• Observation/Eyesight: Frequently required to observe details at close range including depth perception, peripheral vision and the ability to differentiate between colors 
• Environment:  Standard office 

Ready to make an impact and become an employee-owner? Apply now to join our inclusive and innovative team! Explore open positions.

S&C Electric is committed to equal-opportunity employment. All employees and applicants will be considered without regard to age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to complete the application, please email us at TAsupport@sandc.com. 

No fixed deadline

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In 1909, S&C Electric Company transformed the delivery of safe, reliable electricity with the invention of the Liquid Power Fuse. Today, as the world faces extreme weather events and the demand for electricity grows, S&C continues to innovate and advance the electrical grid, ensuring reliable and resilient power for homes, communities, and critical infrastructure around the world.

With a diverse, global workforce and core values around integrity, safety, and quality, S&C is a trusted industry leader and top workplace that offers meaningful careers to more than 3,500 team members. As a people-first organization, S&C is committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative workplace where team members advance their careers through robust talent-development programs and involved leadership. 

S&C’s deeply rooted belief diversity fosters greater creativity, innovation, and success guides the company to advance and sustain a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace culture. 

S&C provides a comprehensive and competitive benefit package that includes the following (eligibility requirements apply):

• Health and Welfare Benefits:  Medical & Prescription, Dental, Vision, Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, , Health Savings Account (HSA), Group Life Insurance, optional Supplemental Life and AD&D Insurance, Wellbeing Resources including Employee Assistance Program and Family Forming Benefits (i.e., Adoption and Fertility support)
• Leave Benefits:  Vacation Time, Sick Time, Paid Holidays and Company Shutdown days, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Other Leaves, Paid Parental Time and Military Leave

Retirement Benefits: 401(k) Retirement Savings and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (KSOP) offering traditional and Roth 401(k) options and an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) component; KSOP participants can receive annual ESOP company contributions of over 11% of eligible earnings (3% Core, up to 3.5% Match, Variable Periodic).