Operations Director at Xylem in Holland, MI

Job description

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions. Operations Director – Site Leadership & Transformation Location: Holland, MI (relocation support available) Reports to: Vice President of Operations The Opportunity Xylem is seeking a senior, hands‑on Operations Director to lead site operations for a complex, high‑mix, low‑volume manufacturing facility supporting Configure‑to‑Order (CTO) and Engineer‑to‑Order (ETO) products. This role is designed for a proven operations leader who has successfully led transformational change , built strong problem‑solving cultures, and delivered measurable improvements in safety, delivery, quality, and cost. This is a true end‑to‑end site leadership role. The Operations Director owns operational performance and culture, leads strategy deployment, and works directly with teams on the floor to turn improvement plans into sustainable results. Success requires a leader who is comfortable at both the strategic and tactical levels , and who leads by presence, action, and accountability. What You Will Do The Operations Director has full responsibility for site operations, including manufacturing, quality, materials, and logistics. The role leads daily execution while shaping the long‑term operational strategy, ensuring alignment with Xylem’s Lean Production System and enterprise objectives. A major focus of the role is driving site transformation —standardizing processes, improving flow, reducing lead times, and strengthening execution in a highly customized CTO/ETO environment. The Operations Director plays a visible, hands‑on role in embedding Lean principles such as standard work, visual management, and disciplined performance management. This leader establishes and sustains a culture of structured problem solving, ensuring teams use tools such as A3 Thinking, PDCA, Kaizen, 8D, and DMAIC to address root causes and prevent recurrence. Operational KPIs—including safety, quality, on‑time delivery, productivity, cost, and lead time—are actively owned, reviewed, and improved. The role partners closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, and Product Management to balance complexity, responsiveness, and cost competitiveness. Continuous improvement efforts focus on increasing production flexibility, strengthening planning and material flow, and selectively leveraging automation and digital tools where they add value. People Leadership & Culture Developing people and culture is central to success. The Operations Director leads, coaches, and mentors the site leadership team, building a strong pipeline of problem solvers and future leaders. Clear expectations, accountability, and engagement are reinforced at every level. Safety leadership is non‑negotiable. The Operations Director sets the standard for a zero‑harm culture through visible leadership, disciplined processes, and employee involvement. The role builds an environment of continuous learning and collaboration, strengthening Lean capability and ownership across hourly, professional, and leadership teams. The Operations Director partners with senior leadership on talent development, succession planning, and site growth initiatives. Financial & Business Ownership The Operations Director owns site financial performance, including operating budgets, cost control, and capital investment planning. This leader identifies and executes opportunities to improve cost efficiency while maintaining a strong customer experience and product quality. Operational and financial targets are achieved through a combination of disciplined execution, process improv