Director of Production

Summary (Position Description): Bitzer US is seeking a highly experienced and dynamic Director of Production to oversee and manage all aspects of our production operations. The ideal candidate will be responsible for ensuring efficient production processes, maintaining high-quality standards, follow all safety protocols and driving continuous improvement initiatives. This role requires strong leadership skills, strategic thinking, a customer focused mindset and a deep understanding of manufacturing processes. Oversees the development and implementation of production processes and equipment to maintain proper product functionality, quality and cost efficiency. Manages the leaders that supervise Compressor assembly, Pressure Vessels (PV), Value Add (VA) and Remanufacturing areas of production to ensure production and quality metrics are achieved. Provides input to strategic decisions that affect the functional areas of responsibility. Give input into developing the budget for expenses and capital investments. Capable of resolving escalated issues arising from operations and requiring coordination with other departments.

Reports To: VP of Operations

Status: Full time, Salary Exempt

Duties & Tasks:

• Lead and mentor the production team, fostering a culture of teamwork, excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Direct priorities and daily activities of production areas through effective communications with supervisors and managers of these areas and people.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and implement best practices to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and increase productivity. Create and lead a continuous improvement culture focused on eliminating defects through robust root cause and corrective action activities.
• Ensure all products meet the highest quality standards and comply with industry regulations and company policies.
• Use effective management and communication skills to create a cohesive team that is able to meet daily objectives.
• Overall management of departmental expense and capital plans. Monitor quality and production performance and adjust annual plans to meet forecast.
• Prepare and present regular reports on production performance, including key metrics (KPI’s) on a daily weekly and monthly basis, and improvement initiatives.
• Develop and implement production plans to meet customer demand, ensuring optimal use of resources and timely delivery of products.
• Ensure compliance of BITZER policies detailed in our handbook fairly with all employees.
• Develop and manage the production budget, ensuring cost-effective operations while maintaining high-quality standards. Lead major capital equipment projects and plan equipment installations and building improvement projects.
• Ensure all production activities comply with safety regulations and promote a safe working environment.
• Work with other Bitzer Operations to determine and adopt best in class working practices
• Work closely with other departments, including R&D, Supply Chain, and Sales, to align production goals with overall business objectives.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Management.

Who We Are:

Bitzer Us Inc. is a leading manufacturer of key components used in commercial and industrial refrigeration and air conditioning systems. These key components include compressors, pressure vessels such as condensers and evaporators, compressor packages, and condensing units. Other products include waste heat-to-power equipment that converts excess heat to low-cost electricity.

You partner with others to get work done while gaining insight into customers' needs and deliver solutions that exceed customer expectations. You create Raving Fans. You set objectives aligning with organization and prioritize accordingly.

Conveniently located in Flowery Branch, Georgia 5 minutes off I-985 The Company is wholly owned by Bitzer SE (located in Germany), the Company is a private company and serves as Bitzer SE’s flagship North American subsidiary. On a global basis, Bitzer SE has 3,900 employees at 72 sites in 38 countries, including 20 production facilities.

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities):

• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and equipment, quality control, and lean manufacturing principles.
• Advanced knowledge of root cause and corrective action methodologies.
• Advanced project management skills.
• Intermediate knowledge (advanced knowledge preferred) of lean methodologies including but not limited to TPM, 5S, and Visual factory concepts.
• Knowledge of EH&S and OSHA requirements.
• Management and leadership experience.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven track record of driving process improvements and achieving operational excellence.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency in production management software and tools.
• Accounting and capital planning knowledge.
• Automation experience preferred.

Requirements:

• BS in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering or Engineering Technology.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in a production management role, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership position.
• Ability to respond to and prioritize manufacturing operation issues as they arise.
• Ability to effectively meet and communicate with employees, the public and vendors.
• Daily contact requires courtesy, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Advanced PC skills using Microsoft Office software, and strong presentation skills and experience.
• Good written communication skills and effective organizational skills.

Work Environment:

• This job is performed in a manufacturing Assembly and Machining environment. Communication is constant with Assembly, Machining, Material Control, Quality, and Engineering groups. This role routinely uses computers and a smartphone along with using designated BITZER and SAP business software systems.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to be available or on call at all times. Operations Manager is occasionally asked to travel to attend meetings, conferences, and annual operation reviews.

Other Duties:

• Manage and lead EH&S building committee.
• International travel required.

Employee Benefits:

• Medical Insurance (heavily subsidized by the Company)
• Dental Insurance
• Company paid Vision Insurance, $50,000 life insurance and Short and Long-Term Disability
• 2 Weeks Paid Vacation and 5 Paid Personal Days
• Education Reimbursement (must be approved by manager)
• 401(k) Plan where it matches dollar-for-dollar up to 4% of compensation; 100% vested immediately.
• Company Long Term Incentive Plan based on the profitability of the Company; 100% vested after 6 years on a graded scale)

Other Information

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Employees are required to follow any job-related instructions and to perform job-related duties requested by management. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.

This Job Description does not imply an employment contract. BITZER US is an at-will employer.

BITZER US is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such we recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristics protected by law.