Senior Operations Manager

Why join us? Knoll uses modern design to connect people to their work, their lives, their world. Since 1938, we have been recognized internationally for creating workplace and residential furnishings that inspire, evolve, and endure. Our purpose is design for the good of humankind. It’s the ideal we strive toward each day in everything we do. Being a part of Knoll means being a part of something larger than your work team, or even your brand. We are redefining modern for the 21st century. And our success allows Knoll to support causes that align with our values, so we can build a more sustainable, equitable, and beautiful future for everyone. Position Summary Responsible for the overall results of multi-shift manufacturing operation. Conducts activities to establish and achieve operational objectives in areas of safety, quality, reliability, cost, continuous improvement, employee engagement and talent management. Ensure alignment with operations and corporate business strategy and goals while promoting great places to work initiatives. Oversee the development and implementation of programs and practices that ensure the successful achievement of these objectives; monitor progress through measurement systems and ensure corrective action as needed. Leads and collaborates with various functional groups including manufacturing, engineering, planning/scheduling, information systems, supply management and HMPS to deliver results. Drives results and manages change through successful leadership and team development, as well as effective planning, organization, implementation, and execution. Essential Functions

• Communications: Develop and lead organizational communication plans including setting expectations for effective information exchange in shift meetings, MBX, plant-wide quarterly and annual meetings
• Cost/Financial Management: Responsible for planning and managing capital and expense dollars for the plant and driving EVA. Manage to business conditions (vs. to budgets)
• Herman Miller Performance System (HMPS): Champion HMPS/Lean manufacturing principles and methods to drive continuous improvement, eliminate waste, and create value for customers and shareholders. Working with corporate resources, establish strategic directions for plant; designing and implementing action plans and initiatives; drive results. Develop and implement strategies (training and development, rewards and recognition, etc.) that build a continuous improvement culture throughout the plant
• Human Resources: Effectively plan for, lead, and develop the workforce. Includes ensuring appropriate staffing levels, performance management, training and development, rewards and recognition, application of policy in a manner consistent with HM values (Things That Matter) and applicable federal and state laws. Responsible for creating a 'community' of engaged employees who drive improvements that better serve customers and shareholders. Provides mentoring and coaching of operations managers and WTL.
• New Product Development: Provide leadership/oversight to the manufacturing side of new product development/introductions. Influence the design of new products to ensure 'manufacturability.' Oversee the development and implementation of plans that ensure systems, processes, equipment, employees, etc. are in place to successfully manufacture new products.
• Quality: Responsible for the successful implementation and management of the quality program to ensure product quality. Includes establishing goals and measurements (e.g., PPMs, FTQ, etc.) and ensuring performance and accountability to those goals. Partners with customer service and corporate quality to ensure the identification of quality issues and their root causes and to design and implement solutions. Interacts with design and development to influence product development/redesign
• Reliability: Ensure corporate on-time delivery reliability goals are achieved. Involves proactive planning and control (e.g., forecasting, capacity planning, etc.) as well as daily problem-solving (e.g., resolving issues with materials, equipment down time, etc.). Ensure Operational Availability (OA) targets are achieved.
• Safety: Ensure a safe working environment for all employees. Responsible for the overall plant safety program including establishing and meeting annual goals and objectives, ensuring employee training and development, administration of policies and procedures, and compliance with state and federal legislation
• Manage and monitor the achievement of corporate and plant environmental goals.
• Shop Floor Focus: Responsible for ensuring that Work Team Leaders spend 80% of their time directly on the shop floor where the key value-added activities take place.
• Additional responsibilities as requested by Management to achieve business objectives.

Minimum Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Operations Management, Engineering discipline or related areas.
• 8 - 10 years successful management experience with primary focus in operations and manufacturing-related processes; 4 of these at a senior level leading salaried employee.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Demonstrated coaching and change management skills.
• Ability to express ideas effectively (verbally and nonverbal)
• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills and demonstrate professionalism
• Adapt at resolving conflict in a team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to establish strategic direction and lead the development and implementation of objectives, plans, and initiatives designed to achieve that direction.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully initiate and lead change initiatives in a manufacturing environment through an in depth understanding and successful application of principles of lean manufacturing.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills; presentation skills with demonstrated ability to successfully interact with and influence members of the Executive Leadership Team, senior leadership as well as production-floor employees
• Proven understanding of business principles and dynamics with the ability to add value through successful financial management.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively use office automation/communication software and tools currently being used in the HMI office environment.
• Demonstrated leadership competence as defined in HMI's Leadership Skills and Behavior Model.

PHYSICAL WORK ENVIRONMENT The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions Must be able to perform all essential functions of the position with or without accommodations. Physical Demands

• Must be able to complete work tasks that require strong manual dexterity
• Must be able to stand while working for long durations of time, up to three (3) hours at a time
• Physical lifting ability - up to 50 lbs.
• Must be able to work under pressure and within time constraints
• Must be able to perform duties while wearing all necessary Personal Protective Equipment as determined by MillerKnoll’s Health and Safety department
• Must be able to perform in an environment with high levels of exposure to manufacturing noise, dust and heat
• Ability to work in a multi-shift environment including flexible hours and weekends, as required
• Must be able to perform all essential functions of the position with or without accommodations.

Teamwork and Leadership

• Willingness to cross-train in various areas and/or department as required
• Able to work in a team environment and support a culture of respect and trust
• Ability to adapt to a changing environment and lead others through change

Authority and Decision Making

• Must have the ability to diligently follow processes and procedures with minimal supervision
• Able to take initiative to solve complex problems
• Must be able to make independent judgements to determine best solution and obtain appropriate approvals before acting

Who We Hire? Simply put, we hire qualified applicants representing a wide range of backgrounds and abilities. Knoll is comprised of people of all abilities, gender identities and expressions, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, veterans from every branch of military service, and more. Here, you can bring your whole self to work. We’re committed to equal opportunity employment, including veterans and people with disabilities. Compensation range for this role is $130,000.00 - $145,000.00. Relevant salary considerations will include candidate qualifications and experience, other business/organizational needs and market factors. The company offers a full spectrum of benefits including Health, Dental, Health Care Spending Account, Life Insurance, Disability and Other Insurance Plans, Paid Time Off (including Vacation, Sick time, and Parental Leave), Holidays, Retirement, Employee Stock Purchase in addition to other special perks reserved for our associates. This posting is for a newly established position that is currently open. MillerKnoll complies with applicable disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact MillerKnoll Talent Acquisition at careers_help@millerknoll.com.