Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: APOG), founded in 1949 and headquartered in Minneapolis, MN designs and delivers architectural products and services that enclose and enhance commercial buildings. www.apog.com
Apogee Architectural Metals is a segment of Apogee specializing in aluminum framing, windows, storefront, curtainwall, and entrance systems. We provide integrated capabilities, including design, engineering, extrusion, finishing, fabrication and assembly, across North America. Through our brands including Alumicor, EFCO, Linetec, Tubelite, and Wausau, we deliver quality, consistency, and value-added services throughout our portfolio.
Position Summary
The Operational Excellence Specialist Senior serves as a strategic leader, responsible for driving transformational change and fostering a culture of continuous improvement across the organization. This role involves the development and execution of high-impact initiatives aimed at enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and improving overall operational performance. Drawing on extensive experience in AMS methodologies, the Senior OE Specialist provides mentorship to cross-functional teams, manages interns, ensures alignment of improvement efforts with organizational goals, and delivers strategic insights to leadership. The role emphasizes a proactive approach to identifying opportunities, implementing solutions, sustaining improvements to SQDCP, and champions the AMS culture.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the planning and execution of Ops initiatives, driving significant impact on operational performance.
- Create new AMS standards and drive culture change across the organization.
- Lead large-scope initiatives across manufacturing and non-manufacturing functions by applying advanced problem-solving methodologies.
- Serve as a subject matter expert and coach in structured problem-solving, training and mentoring teams in a variety of tools while ensuring rigor, consistency, and sustainable results.
- Lead collecting and analyzing operational and process data to identify inefficiencies, constraints, and performance gaps; conduct research on best practices, technologies, and methods to inform solution development and investment decisions.
- Research, propose, lead and execute the creation of projects, defining timelines with safety, quality, and cost in mind.
- Work with the team to meet the service needs/requirements for each project.
- Serves as a trusted partner to all areas of the organization—leveraging real-time data, root cause analysis, and standard work optimization to resolve chronic issues, reduce variability, and enhance throughput. Trains frontline leaders in problem-solving tools and ensures improvement initiatives are tightly aligned with plant priorities and performance goals.
Experience & Skills
- Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
- Experience:
- Experience leading cross-functional project teams (required).
- 7+ years in continuous improvement or lean manufacturing deployment (preferred).
- Lean/Six Sigma deployment (preferred).
- Project management (preferred).
Work Environment/Travel Requirements
- Frequent exposure to manufacturing environment with potential exposure to confined space.
- Extended periods of office work on a computer and in team meetings.
- Regional day travel is expected with this role.
- Overnight travel requirements will be variable based on projects and business activities, expected up to 10%
- Physical Requirements
- Ability to work in both office and manufacturing environments.
This job description outlines the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.
Our Benefits
We care about and invest in our employees. We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support their well-being and foster professional development. Here is a glimpse of what you can look forward to if you join our team.
Competitive Benefits Package for employees and their dependents (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability)
Incentive Plans
401(k) with employer contribution and match
Employee Stock Purchase Plan with employer match
Paid Time Off (Vacation and Sick Time)
Paid Holidays
Tuition Reimbursement Program
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Wellness Program
Training and Career Progression
Apogee and our brands are an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
- Experience leading cross-functional project teams
- 7+ years in continuous improvement or lean manufacturing deployment
- Lean/Six Sigma deployment experience
- Project management experience
- Ability to work in both office and manufacturing environments (onsite)
Apogee Enterprises Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Apogee Enterprises and has not been reviewed or approved by Apogee Enterprises.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Ownership via an Employee Stock Purchase Plan with a company match is positioned as a core element of total rewards, enhancing long‑term value beyond base pay. Plan updates and corporate materials emphasize this equity component as a meaningful part of compensation.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with employer contribution and match is consistently highlighted, signaling solid support for long‑term savings. Job materials and corporate content frame retirement plans as a key pillar of the package.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellness and mental‑health resources include screenings, flu shots for employees and dependents, and an EAP with multiple counseling visits plus an online CBT tool. These offerings indicate tangible investment in wellbeing beyond core medical coverage.
Apogee Enterprises Insights
What We Do
By definition, Apogee means "highest point." It's no coincidence that it's also the name of our company. For over 70 years it is a name that has inspired and driven us to achieve a higher level of excellence in all we do. We are not satisfied with the status quo. We aim higher, think bigger, and endeavor to create even more value for every Apogee stakeholder. We strive to create peak value. Apogee is a leader in architectural products and services. Our glass and aluminum window, storefront and curtainwall systems make buildings look great, reduce energy consumption, and protect occupants and property. Our highly skilled team designs glass and metal building façades, completes massive orders for skyscrapers on time, and manages complex window, curtainwall and storefront installation projects. We are also a leader in the protection and conservation of all things framed and displayed. Our Tru Vue business provides high-performance glass and acrylic products for the custom framing, fine art, and technical glass markets.
