Vice President of Operations Excellence and Technology

Watlow is a global technology and manufacturing leader who provides world class engineering expertise through innovative thermal products and systems, enabling our customers to thrive. We are making a positive impact every day as our solutions enrich the lives of people everywhere. We have been providing breakthrough thermal solutions for nearly a century. Our corporate values guide us uncompromisingly to always do the right thing, continually learn and improve, respect everyone, and lead with service and humility.

About Watlow

Watlow is a global technology and manufacturing leader who provides world class engineering expertise through innovative thermal products and systems, enabling our customers to thrive.

Guided by our values:
Do what is right, Always learning and improving, Respect everyone, and Lead with service and humility - we empower our people to turn ideas into real impact. Joining Watlow means becoming part of a team that embraces challenges, grows together, and shapes the future of technology, while making a real difference in the world.

At Watlow's Global Headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, we combine a rich legacy with forward-thinking innovation. Founded in 1922 in the heart of St. Louis, Watlow has grown from a small heating element manufacturer into a global leader in thermal systems. Our headquarters is more than just an office, it's a hub for collaboration, advanced engineering, and customer-focused solutions.

We are hiring a: Vice President, Global Operations Excellence and Technology

In this role, you will be responsible for setting the strategic direction and driving the execution of world-class operational capabilities across the global enterprise. This leader oversees process engineering, Lean transformation, supplier development, digital operations strategy, and new product introduction (NPI) enablement. The role ensures operational scalability, agility, and competitiveness by integrating advanced technologies, best-in-class methodologies, and high-performance talent development across a global footprint.

What you'll do:

• Lead Global Operational Excellence: Define and execute a worldwide operations excellence roadmap aligned to performance, quality, speed, and cost goals.
• Drive Enterprise Transformation: Oversee major improvement initiatives across manufacturing, supply chain, and engineering, including process optimization and automation.
• Standardize Operating Models: Develop and implement scalable, standardized operating frameworks across business units and global regions.
• Build World-Class Manufacturing Systems: Lead global process engineering teams to design innovative, efficient, and robust manufacturing systems and practices.
• Champion Lean Culture & Continuous Improvement: Sponsor Kaizen events, operational assessments, and COE (center-of-excellence) development while establishing benchmarks and maturity models.
• Strengthen and Optimize the Global Supply Base: Develop strategies to improve global manufacturing footprint, enhance supplier quality and innovation, and strengthen long-term supplier partnerships.
• Lead Digital & Smart Manufacturing Transformation: Drive adoption of digital tools including MES, IoT, smart factory technologies, automation, AI, and predictive analytics in operations.
• Ensure NPI Readiness & Technology Scale-Up: Own operational readiness for new product introductions, collaborating with R&D and engineering to ensure manufacturability, cost, scalability, capacity planning, and global tech transfer.
• Build & Inspire High-Performing Global Teams: Develop, mentor, and elevate a global team of operations and technical leaders while fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and learning.

What youll need to succeed?

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Industrial Engineering or related engineering field required
• 15+ years of operations leadership, engineering, or related functions within a global manufacturing environment
• Proven track record of leading global Lean transformations and operational turnarounds
• Deep experience in digital operations, advanced manufacturing, and supplier development
• Strong background in leading complex NPI or…