Operations Project Leader

Job Description:

Position Overview:

The Operations Project Leader – Manufacturing Strategy leads development and deployment of key operations-wide, strategic initiatives.  The Project Leader leads and directs cross-functional team members throughout the project(s) which typically have a 6-18mo. duration. This role is responsible for creating business case proposals for strategic projects, requiring a strong understanding of how the business works, identifying opportunities, exploring alternatives and sensitivity analysis leading to providing recommendations to senior leadership.

This position is a fundamental part of our cross-functional team located in a fast-paced environment with remote manufacturing locations globally. The ideal candidate will be a strong leader with proven “big picture” vision, problem solving, critical thinking, financial acumen and change management experience. This candidate will also have a well-rounded work experience in operations, supply chain, analysis, quality, project management, and execution of new product development (operations-focused). Additionally, this position will be an integral part of the strategic planning process for the company's operations. Many of the projects will be strategic in nature and highly visible across the organization, requiring excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.

Duties, Responsibilities, & Objectives:

• Partner with international site leaders to facilitate and create the strategic plan for each facility, identify barriers to success, and pitching projects to overcome these barriers.

• Leverage analytical mindset and business data to identify strategies to improve operational KPI’s across Milwaukee Tool’s supply chain network, and conduct research to support business proposals.

• Capability to quickly establish credibility with different business functions, influence project teams and persuade professionals at all levels and collaborate as one team

• Develop complex business and/or financial models in excel with assumptions, drivers, and measurable outputs to help drive scenario planning and data driven decision making at the executive level.

• Visualize entire scope of a project or business proposal with minimal guidance, while having the ability to step back to evaluate against business and departmental big picture.

• Schedule, develop agendas for, and facilitate project meetings. Document discussion with action items to effectively capture meeting topics and drive actions to closure.

• Actively drive project schedules keeping visibility to team members and stakeholders, to ensure adherence to timelines, holding teams accountable.

• Establish appropriate metrics and report on progress, achievements, and results.  This includes executive level reporting, management updates, and best practice sharing throughout the global organization.

• Provide multiple “what-if” scenarios to find best solution to achieve future state. Well-rounded understanding of financial and operational impacts of these scenarios and recommendations based on experience.

• Perform detailed ad-hoc analysis to support data driven decisions and insights throughout the supply chain.

• Ensure changes are fully integrated through follow-up communication, perseverance, and consistency. Ability to think several steps ahead using change management methodologies.

• Provide options to risk mitigation and escalate (when needed) key project hurdles or roadblocks

• Periodic international travel may be required up to 25%+

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Engineering, Finance or equivalent years of directly related experience in Operations or Lean/Continuous Improvement roles

• Minimum 7+ years related Operations, Engineering or Supply Chain experience

• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills

• Previous facilitator and coaching experiences where problem solving, process development and/or behavior change methods and tools have been used

• Proficient project management skills

• Advanced data analysis and scenario modeling skills

• Demonstrate analytical mindset and “big picture” strategic thinking

• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel & PowerPoint

• Previous experience distilling complex problems into concise executive presentations.

• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills

• Possess strong written and verbal communication and collaboration skills in an executive setting

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s Degree pertinent to any cross functional business interactions

• Previous experience in database management and SQL programming is a plus, desire to grow into this space to also be considered.

• Previous experience in a manufacturing environment is a plus.

• Success in managing multiple, complex projects and changing priorities, making sound decisions, and working effectively in a matrix environment.

• Track record of success with cross functional teams, driving change and implementing new processes

• International work experience and exposure

• Effective written and oral communication skills, ability to establish rapport and credibility.

Milwaukee Tool is an equal opportunity employer.