Director, Operations - ONSITE in Janesville, WI

Responsibilities / Tasks

Founded in Germany in 1881, GEA Group is a global leader in engineering solutions serving the food & beverage, dairy, pharmaceutical, and related industries. With more than 18,000 employees worldwide and a strong U.S. presence since 1929, GEA blends a proud heritage with forward-thinking innovation.

At GEA, we’re not just building equipment — we’re building lasting careers. Our strong culture, growth opportunities, and employee support are reflected in an average tenure of 5–11+ years.

Why Join GEA?

Start strong – Medical, dental, and vision coverage begins on your first day
Recharge and refresh – 12 paid holidays (including a floating holiday) plus 136 hours of PTO
Invest in your future – 7% 401(k) employer match
Keep learning – Tuition reimbursement to grow your education and skills
Live well – Wellness Incentive Program
Get support when you need it – Confidential Employee Assistance Program
Save smart – Flexible Health Savings and Spending Accounts

The Director of Operations provides strategic and operational leadership across sales support, order management, customer service, forecasting, and cross-functional execution. This role ensures operational excellence, drives revenue performance, enhances customer satisfaction, and aligns operational strategy with company objectives.

The Director will lead a team of Technical Sales Engineers and Customer Service Representatives while partnering with Regional Sales Managers, Finance, and Manufacturing teams to optimize processes, profitability, and customer outcomes.

Your responsibilities:

Operational & Strategic Leadership

• Lead and develop a high-performing team responsible for quoting, order entry, and technical sales support for new applications and spare parts.

• Develop and execute comprehensive operational strategies aligned with revenue targets and growth initiatives.

• Drive monthly sales forecasting and maintain a rolling 3-month outlook.

• Track order fulfillment and billing to ensure revenue commitments are achieved.

• Identify process improvements to enhance efficiency, reduce cycle time, and optimize working capital.

Financial & Commercial Oversight

• Manage pricing strategies, ensuring alignment with factory cost changes, inflation, labor, and foreign exchange impacts.

• Standardize and oversee discount structures for Distributors, Master Distributors, and OEM/Integrators.

• Partner with Finance to manage Accounts Receivable, credit accounts, and working capital performance.

• Ensure operational execution supports revenue growth and margin protection.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate customer requirements with factories to meet delivery expectations.

• Partner with internal sales and technical teams to leverage market intelligence and customer insights.

• Contribute to product roadmap discussions by translating operational and customer feedback into actionable insights.

• Support Regional Sales Managers in identifying new business opportunities and expanding customer accounts.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Coach and mentor Technical Sales Engineers and customer service professionals.

• Build a strong bench of future sales and operational leaders.

• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Lead change management initiatives within a matrix organization.

Your Profile / Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Management, or related field

• 7–10+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations, technical sales, or commercial management

• Experience working with technical or engineered products

• Exposure to multinational, matrix organizations

• Strong financial acumen, including AR and working capital management

• Proven internal and external sales leadership experience

• Demonstrated success leading and developing cross-functional teams

• Experience driving operational efficiency and process optimization

• Strong communication and presentation skills

• Fluent English required

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinking with the ability to simplify complex issues

• High performance under pressure in fast-paced environments

• Detail-oriented with strong process discipline

• Strong planning, scheduling,