Operations Manager

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.

Flygt, a Xylem brand

The Operations Manager will lead all operational functions at our Pewaukee, WI facility for our engineered-to-order (ETO) large custom pump business, including aftermarket, service/repair operations, and related pump product lines. This role has full responsibility for shipping, receiving, production, and manufacturing engineering, ensuring operational excellence across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and continuous improvement.

The successful candidate will bring strong leadership, proven experience in a Lean manufacturing environment (Xylem Production System), and a track record of driving performance in a complex, high-mix, low-volume operation. This position offers broad responsibility, greater strategic impact, and direct leadership of cross-functional teams. The incumbent will be responsible for ensuring safety, quality, cost and delivery objectives are met in accordance with company policies and procedures while nurturing a positive work atmosphere. 

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:  To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.   

Leadership & People Development - 21 Direct Reports

• Lead, coach, and develop a team across production, shipping/receiving, and manufacturing engineering to meet and exceed performance targets.

• Foster a positive, respectful, and inclusive work environment that encourages engagement, teamwork, and high performance.

• Own all people leadership responsibilities, including recruiting, onboarding, performance management, training, and succession planning.

Operational Excellence & Lean (Xylem Production System)

• Champion the Xylem Production System (Lean), embedding continuous improvement practices (5S, SEQDIP, Kaizen, Standard Work, Problem Solving) across the operation.

• Lead efforts to improve material flow, reduce waste, and enhance productivity for both new build and repair operations.

• Ensure adherence to ISO 9001 standards and EHS&S policies, leading by example in safety.

Execution & Performance

• Own operational KPIs for safety, quality, on-time delivery, and cost.

• Oversee daily operations to ensure customer requirements are met for both original equipment and aftermarket/service orders.

• Manage production scheduling, resource allocation, and prioritization to balance workload across teams and meet delivery commitments.

• Direct resolution of technical and process issues in collaboration with engineering and supply chain.

Process & Continuous Improvement

• Identify and close process gaps that affect efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction.

• Ensure processes are well-documented, staff are trained, and metrics are in place to measure and report performance.

• Collaborate with other Xylem facilities and functions to share best practices and align with global standards.

Cross-Functional & Strategic Support

• Partner with Planning, Supply Chain, Engineering, Field Service, and other stakeholders to drive business results.

• Support budget development, manage departmental spend, and optimize use of resources.

• Contribute to long-term operational strategy for the Pewaukee Custom Pump Transport business.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field and 5+ years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment; or High School Diploma/GED and 10+ years of relevant industry experience with at least 5 years in a leadership role.

• Demonstrated success managing high-mix, low-volume manufacturing operations (ETO preferred).

• Strong mechanical aptitude, blueprint reading, and working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems.

• Proven ability to lead in a Lean environment and implement sustainable process improvements.

• Excellent interpersonal, communica