Sr. Operational Manager

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Sr. Operational Manager Location: Whitsett, North Carolina

Job Type: Full-Time

Position Overview Lenovo is seeking a highly experienced and results-driven Senior Manager, Manufacturing Operations to lead manufacturing operations and drive operational excellence onsite at our Whitsett, North Carolina facility.

This role is responsible for overall manufacturing performance across production, quality, delivery, inventory, cost, safety, workforce leadership, operational execution, process optimization, and financial performance. The successful candidate will ensure alignment with customer commitments, business objectives, operational targets, and long-term manufacturing strategy.

The ideal candidate has successfully led manufacturing operations within complex electronics manufacturing environments and has direct experience supporting server, enterprise hardware, data-center infrastructure, networking equipment, storage systems, high-performance computing platforms, AI/GPU-based systems, rack-scale solutions, or comparable technology hardware products .

Candidates should possess a strong understanding of the operational challenges associated with high-volume electronics manufacturing , complex assembly, systems integration, manufacturing test, product configuration, rack integration, production ramp-up, new product introductions (NPI), and large-scale manufacturing operations.

Experience within OEM, ODM, EMS, or other technology-focused manufacturing organizations is strongly preferred.

This position works closely with Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Finance, Program Management, and executive leadership to deliver manufacturing efficiency, scalability, customer satisfaction, and sustainable business results.

Experience with Lenovo DWC products is preferred; however, equivalent experience with direct liquid cooling, direct water cooling, liquid-cooled servers, high-density computing, AI/GPU systems, high-performance computing (HPC), rack-scale systems, thermal-management solutions, or other complex data-center hardware solutions will also be considered.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead all manufacturing operations to achieve production, quality, delivery, inventory, cost, and safety objectives while meeting customer and business requirements.
• Direct daily production execution, including manufacturing schedules, staffing, equipment, materials, capacity, and resource allocation across complex assembly, integration, configuration, and test operations.
• Serve as the senior operational leader for the facility, establishing manufacturing standards, driving accountability, and ensuring disciplined execution across production teams.
• Lead and develop managers, supervisors, engineers, technicians, and production personnel through coaching, performance management, leadership development, succession planning, and workforce planning.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other continuous improvement initiatives to improve OEE, yield, throughput, productivity, quality, labor efficiency, inventory performance, and operating costs.
• Establish, monitor, and improve KPIs and performance metrics through data-driven reviews, including productivity, quality, safety, delivery, cost, inventory, yield, labor efficiency, and OEE.
• Identify production constraints, process inefficiencies, capacity limitations, and cost-reduction opportunities and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Partner with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Maintenance, Finance, and Program Management to support manufacturing readiness, new product introductions, product launches, process changes, and operational scalability.
• Manage operational budgets, forecasts, capital initiatives, resource plans, and cost-improvement programs while supporting long-term manufacturing strategy.
• Communicate operational performance, financial results, program status, business risks, and improvement opportunities to executive leadership and key stakeholders.
• Maintain compliance with OSHA requirements, environmental regulations, quality standards, company policies, and applicable industry requirements while promoting a strong EHS and operational discipline culture.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, production, or plant operations management.
• Experience managing large production organizations within technology, electronics, server, enterprise hardware, data-center infrastructure, or related manufacturing environments.

Preferred Qualifications Manufacturing Operations Leadership

• Demonstrated success leading manufacturing operations with accountability for safety, quality, delivery, cost, inventory, productivity, labor efficiency, and customer commitments.
• Experience leading managers, supervisors, engineers, technicians, and production teams within complex manufacturing organizations.
• Experience managing organizations of 50+ employees within a manufacturing environment preferred.

Electronics Manufacturing Experience

• Recent experience leading manufacturing operations within:

• Server manufacturing

• Enterprise hardware manufacturing

• Data-center infrastructure manufacturing

• Manufacturing Storage Systems

• Networking and telecommunications hardware manufacturing

• High-performance computing platforms

• AI/GPU systems

• Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS)

• Complex electronics assembly and integration environments

Assembly, Integration Test

• Experience with:

• Complex assembly operations

• Systems integration

• Product configuration

• Manufacturing test operations

• Rack integration

• Debug and rework operations

• Functional testing

• Production ramp-up activities

New Product Introduction

• Proven experience leading:

• New Product Introduction (NPI)

• Manufacturing readiness

• Product launches

• Factory transfers

• Capacity expansion

• Production scaling initiatives

Continuous Improvement

• Strong Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, KPI improvement, process optimization, and operational excellence experience with measurable business results.
• Demonstrated improvement in OEE, yield, throughput, quality, productivity, inventory performance, and delivery performance.

Technology Systems

• Experience with SAP, ERP, MES, and other manufacturing planning and execution systems.
• Strong leadership, communication, stakeholder management, problem solving, change management, and executive communication skills.

Preferred Certifications

• MBA preferred
• Lean Manufacturing Certification
• Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or Master Black Belt
• Operational Excellence Certification

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any federal, state, or local protected class.