Operations Director

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 employeesoperating 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.

Evoqua, part of Xylem—powering the world’s most trusted water and wastewater solutions

The Operations Director provides end-to-end leadership for a high-mix, low-volume Engineer-to-Order (ETO) manufacturing site. This role is accountable for driving operational excellence across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people development, while ensuring alignment with Xylem’s Lean Production System and broader continuous improvement strategy.

With full site responsibility & oversite of a 17 million dollar budget. The Operations Director leads strategy deployment, oversees daily operational execution, ensures regulatory and corporate compliance, and fosters a high-performance, continuous improvement culture.

Position is onsite, relocation assistance can be considered

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Leadership & Strategy

• Own all site operations, including manufacturing, quality, materials, and logistics for ETO products.

• Lead and embed Xylem’s Lean Production System, including standardized work, visual management, flow, and pull systems.

• Develop and execute site transformation and strategy deployment aligned with Xylem’s global manufacturing vision.

• Establish and sustain a structured problem‑solving culture using A3, PDCA, 8D, DMAIC, Kaizen, and related methodologies.

• Own and drive performance against key KPIs: safety, quality, on‑time delivery (OTD), lead time, cost, and productivity.

• Ensure compliance with ISO and other applicable regulatory quality standards.

2. Continuous Improvement & Lean Management

• Champion Lean and Six Sigma practices, including Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, and 5S.

• Improve operational flexibility to support complex ETO requirements while maintaining cost competitiveness.

• Lead cost‑reduction initiatives leveraging Lean tools, automation, and digital manufacturing solutions.

• Partner cross‑functionally with Engineering, Supply Chain, and Product Management to optimize lead times, inventory, and process efficiency.

3. People Leadership & Cultural Development

• Provide strategic leadership, coaching, and mentorship to direct reports and broader site leadership.

• Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, and disciplined execution.

• Drive a strong safety culture with the objective of zero harm.

• Develop and deploy training programs to strengthen Lean, problem‑solving, and leadership capabilities.

• Promote continuous learning, employee engagement, and cross‑functional collaboration.

• Partner with senior leadership on site growth strategy, succession planning, and talent development.

4. Financial & Business Performance - 17 million dollar budget

• Own the site operating budget, cost controls, and CAPEX planning.

• Identify and execute strategies to reduce operating costs while protecting customer experience and product quality.

• Deliver operational financial targets through efficiency gains and disciplined capital investment.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field (advanced degree preferred).

• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing operations leadership experience, preferably in a high‑mix, low‑volume ETO environment.

• Proven experience implementing Lean Production Systems and building a problem‑solving culture.

• Deep knowledge of Lean and CI methodologies (TPS, Kaizen, Standard Work, 5S, VSM, PDCA, 8D, DMAIC, etc.).

• Strong experience with supply chain integration, production planning, and quality management systems.

• Solid financial acumen, including budgeting, cost management, and CAPEX planning.

• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder‑influencing skills.

Preferred

• ERP/MRP system experience (SAP).

• Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt).

• Experience with ISO, FDA, or other regulated manufacturing environments.

Benefits

Xylem offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Flexible Time Off (FTO) for salaried roles

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage

• Investment and savings plans

• Additional elective and wellness benefits

The estimated salary range for this position is $150,000 to $160,00 and annual bonus target of 15%.

 Starting pay is dependent on multiple factors, such as skills, experience and work location, and is not typically at the top of the range.  At Xylem we offer a competitive compensation package with a generous benefit package, including Medical, Dental, Vision plans, 401(k) with company contribution, paid time off, paid parental leave and tuition reimbursement. 

Xylem does not provide visa sponsorship for this position

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Join the global Xylem team to be a part of innovative technology solutions transforming water usage, conservation, and re-use. Our products impact public utilities, industrial sectors, residential areas, and commercial buildings, with a commitment to providing smart metering, network technologies, and advanced analytics for water, electric, and gas utilities. Partner with us in creating a world where water challenges are met with ingenuity and dedication; where we recognize the power of inclusion and belonging in driving innovation and allowing us to compete more effectively around the world.