North American Operations Vice President

Why Haworth?

At Haworth, we're not just creating office furniture; we're shaping dynamic workspaces. As a global leader in workspace solutions, we're on a journey to redefine the future of work. Our headquarters in Holland, MI, is the hub of innovation, and we're seeking a visionary leader to join us as a North American Operations Vice President.

 
Why Haworth:

Culture of Innovation: Join a company that values innovation and empowers its employees to think outside the box.
Global Impact: Contribute to the global success of a company that is redefining workspaces worldwide.
Career Growth: This isn't just a job; it's a career journey. We provide opportunities for professional development and growth.

HAWORTH is a global leader in office furniture and architectural interiors. As a valued member of our team, you can make your mark on the world and reach your full potential within a culture of connectivity. Since its inception in 1948, our company has revolved around inspiration, originality, advancement, and the people who drive it. At Haworth, you’ll find a family-owned business with a global point of view, and a set of values that define our business behavior, inform our decisions, and communicate our brand. 

We foster an on-site work environment where employees actively engage with our spaces and products. Our headquarters doubles as a dynamic showroom, where many dealers and customers visit to experience our designs firsthand. This unique environment allows you to interact directly with the spaces and furniture you help create, fostering a deeper connection to your work and the impact it has on our clients. 

Here at Haworth, our members enjoy benefits from their first day of employment including:

• 4 weeks paid time off and an option to purchase an additional week
• Priority Health Insurance
• Well equipped on-site gym open 24 hours
• 401k Benefit -  If you contribute 6% of your annual salary, Haworth will contribute up to 7%
• Annual bonus programs
• Company provided Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement program
• 8 hours of paid volunteer time off
• Zero waste to landfill company which provides personal on-site recycling drop-off

Job Summary

Reporting to Haworth’s Vice President of Americas Operations & Engineering and based in Holland, the Vice President of Operations will lead and oversee all aspects of Haworth's manufacturing and logistics operations across North America, ensuring operational excellence, efficiency, profitability, and continuous improvement. 

This critical leadership role will drive strategic initiatives, optimize processes, manage resources effectively, and cultivate a high-performing team to achieve Haworth's business objectives. More specifically, this leader will have direct responsibility for the manufacturing network (9 plants), logistics, distribution, warehousing, transportation, and manufacturing engineering within the $1 billion Commercial Interiors Americas business. This includes a total team size of more than 1,000 team members. Direct reports to this role will include Senior Manufacturing Managers, a Director of Logistics & Distribution, and a Director of Manufacturing Engineering. 

The Vice President of Operations will be a key member of Haworth’s leadership team and is expected to be an important contributor to the strategic direction of the company at the functional and enterprise level. They will display the presence to be effective with both internal and external stakeholders, while maintaining the highest levels of integrity, interpersonal teaming skills, and collaboration. Ultimately, this leader will be responsible for driving sustained competitive advantage through manufacturing excellence. Importantly, this leader will embody purpose, values, and vision in everything Haworth does. 

Job Responsibilities

Financial Management 

• Manage the operations budget and ensure efficient allocation of resources. 
• Track and monitor key operational metrics, including Safety, Quality, Schedule, Cost, and Culture. 

Operational Excellence 

• Lead transformational manufacturing initiatives that have a significant impact on the organization’s competitive advantage, market position, and operational capabilities.
• Work closely with Business Unit Leaders to ensure efficient product launches and ongoing quality and productivity targets are achieved. 
• Drive customer-focused schedule adherence and identify improvement opportunities. 

People Management 

• Develop and implement talent management strategies to attract, retain, and develop top talent. 
• Create a positive and inclusive work environment that fosters collaboration and innovation.

Communication and Collaboration 

• Collaborate with senior management and key stakeholders across the organization and with matrixed support groups to ensure alignment, smooth product launches and ongoing operations. 

Additional Responsibilities

• Performs other duties within scope as assigned.
• Must be able to perform all essential job function with/without accommodation.
• Ability to effectively use office automation, communication, software, and tools used in Haworth office environment.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or similar field of study.
• Education Equivalency: Associate Degree plus 2 additional years of Operational Leadership experience in a lean- and quality-related organization OR 4 additional years of Operational Leadership experience in a lean- and quality-related organization.
• 15 years Operational Leadership experience in a lean- and quality-related organization.
• 10 years supervisory/leadership experience.
• Military Equivalency: https://www.mynextmove.org/vets/find/military
• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time. (Most travel will be to our remote plants)
• Current and continuing right to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Ability to work and commute onsite daily to our headquarters in Holland, MI. This is an on-site position, no remote opportunity. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA)
• Lean manufacturing experience - streamlining processes, reducing waste, and enhancing overall efficiency
• Experience with variant configuration and customization processes
• Experience within the office furniture industry

Ideally you have also demonstrated the following

• Experience with ERP systems (ideally SAP), evaluating make vs. buy decisions, and leading logistics, transportation, distribution, and manufacturing engineering teams.
• Strong understanding of Lean management principles and have a proven track record of leading network/footprint optimization initiatives.
• Proven ability to lead high-performing teams, develop talent, coach and mentor employees, and create a culture of accountability.
• Ability to balance the strategic and hands-on requirements of this role with a flexible and collaborative management style.
• Ability to establish and implement strategies that have mid-term (1-3 years) impact on business results in alignment with Haworth’s strategy.
• Ability to lead multiple teams of directors/senior managers and managers.
• Ability to interact and provide input to executive management.
• Ability to negotiate, persuade and influence on matters of critical importance.

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