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 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 improvement, and strategic investment aligned with business priorities.

What You Bring

A successful candidate brings at least 10 years of progressive manufacturing operations leadership experience, ideally within a high‑mix, low‑volume CTO/ETO environment. A bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field is required; an advanced degree is preferred.

This role requires demonstrated success leading Lean transformations at the site level, with deep working knowledge of Lean production systems, structured problem solving, and continuous improvement methodologies. Strong experience in supply chain integration, production planning, and quality systems is essential.

The ideal candidate brings strong financial acumen, including experience managing operational budgets, cost reduction initiatives, and capital investments. Exceptional leadership, communication, and influencing skills are required, along with the ability to engage teams at every level of the organization.

Experience with ERP/MRP systems (such as SAP or Oracle), Lean or Six Sigma certification, and familiarity with ISO or regulated manufacturing environments are preferred.

Why Xylem

The compensation range for this position is $175,000-$215,000 and is based on multiple factors. Xylem offers the opportunity to lead meaningful transformation in a purpose‑driven organization that values operational excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement. The role includes a competitive compensation and benefits package, including Flexible Time Off (FTO), comprehensive health benefits, retirement savings plans, and relocation support.

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.

At Xylem, you'll not only contribute to solving water issues but also have the chance to make a difference through our paid Volunteer Program, Xylem Watermark. We prioritize our employees' well-being through inclusion and belonging as well as our Employee Resource Groups (ERG). Proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (including disability and veterans) and Affirmative Action workplace, Xylem fosters an inclusive environment free from discrimination or harassment. 

Please note that the information in this job description outlines the general nature of the position and is not an exhaustive list of duties. Xylem is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to enable all employees to perform their essential job functions. We reserve the right to modify this job description and assign additional duties as needed. Embrace the opportunity to be part of Xylem's transformative journey in shaping the future of water technology! #XylemCareers #GlobalImpact #WaterInnovation