Value Stream Manager

Role Overview

The Value Stream Manager (VSM) – University Park, IL is a crucial leadership role within the organization. The individual in this position will be responsible for leading the Manufacturing Management Team, including Production Supervisors, Team Leads, and Direct Labor. They will oversee production operations, ensure safety and compliance with health and environmental regulations, manage budgets, and develop and implement plans for the business unit, which comprises multiple value streams.

The Value Stream Manager will also identify and eliminate waste, continuously monitor and improve the flow of materials and information, and lead the team to achieve safe production of high-quality products on-time and at the lowest possible cost. Additionally, the position requires significant inter-departmental collaboration and communication, assigning duties and coordinating activities of supervisors or employees engaged in production. The ideal candidate will have experience in both production management and value stream management, strong leadership skills, and a proven track record of success in implementing continuous improvement in a manufacturing or production environment.

The University Park site employs approximately 200 people and operates from a single 160,000 sq ft facility at 25150 S Governors Hwy, University Park, IL, housing all activities including Operations, Manufacturing, Assembly, Testing, Quality, R&D, Product Design Engineering, Supply Chain, Sales, Customer Service, and Administration.

The business specializes in the design, manufacture, testing, and sale of valves, actuators, fittings, cylinders, and highly engineered customer-specific solutions serving the Industrial Automation market.

• Own value stream financial performance, including cost control, productivity, inventory, and contribution margin
• Develop and execute annual operating plans for the value stream (production, labor, material cost, inventory, and capital)
• Drive cost reduction, productivity improvement, and waste elimination to support margin expansion
• Partner with Finance and site leadership to ensure accurate forecasting, reporting, and financial discipline

• Lead all value stream production activities to deliver best-in-class safety, quality, delivery, cost, and inventory
• Drive lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives, including waste elimination and flow optimization
• Ensure effective production planning, material flow, and inventory control to meet customer demand
• Champion standard work, visual management, and KPI-driven performance to sustain operational discipline
• Drive continuous improvement in product quality, process capability, and waste reduction

• Support customer satisfaction through reliable on-time delivery, high-quality output, and responsiveness
• Partner with Sales, Customer Service, and Planning to align production with customer requirements
• Support new business wins and customer-specific requirements through operational readiness and execution

• Lead and develop the Manufacturing Management Team, including Production Supervisors, Team Leads, and Direct Labor
• Build a high-performance culture focused on accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement
• Set clear goals and expectations aligned to value stream and site objectives
• Drive talent development, capability building, and succession planning within the value stream
• Partner with Engineering to ensure manufacturability, cost efficiency, and scalable production processes
• Support new product introduction (NPI) through strong cross-functional coordination and execution
• Ensure smooth product transitions into production with minimal disruption to safety, quality, and delivery

• Lead a strong safety culture with the objective of zero incidents
• Ensure full compliance with all health, safety, and environmental standards
• Support broader company ESG, ethics, and compliance initiatives

• Proven leadership experience in a manufacturing environment (e.g.,…