Senior Manager - Operational Excellence

Join the world's largest HVAC company, named by Forbes as one of America's Best-In-State Employers 2025!

Senior Manager - Operational Excellence– Plymouth, MN – Hybrid

Make your mark at the world’s largest HVAC company

Daikin Applied is seeking a Senior Manager - Operational Excellence who will serve as a strategic Chief of Staff to the Vice President of Safety, Quality, Cost, and Delivery (SQCD). This role drives organizational alignment, operational excellence, and execution across the SQCD organization. Acting as an extension of the VP, the position leads cross-functional initiatives, manages key business rhythms, and ensures priorities are translated into actionable plans and measurable results, enabling Daikin Applied to deliver on its safety, quality, cost, and delivery objectives.

Come be a part of an exciting journey at Daikin Applied, where innovation and excellence drive our every endeavor!

Location: Plymouth, MN – Hybrid

What you will do:

• Serve as a trusted advisor and extension of the VP of SQCD, translating strategic priorities into actionable plans while ensuring alignment across safety, quality, cost, and delivery objectives.
• Lead and manage key operating cadences (e.g., staff meetings, scorecards, reviews), ensure consistent tracking of KPIs, clear accountability, and data-driven decision-making.
• Manage process improvement through all activities of the SQCD team.
• Drive and coordinate high-impact, cross-functional initiatives, removing barriers, accelerating execution, and ensuring measurable outcomes aligned to organizational priorities.
• Champion continuous improvement methodologies and standard work, identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and improve performance across the SQCD organization.
• Develop executive-level communications, presentations, and updates for internal and external stakeholders, ensuring the VP is prepared, informed, and positioned to effectively lead and influence.
• Manage and continuously refine the SQCD initiative portfolio, ensuring resources are focused on the highest-impact activities and aligned with strategic priorities.
• Build strong relationships across functions and levels to drive collaboration, alignment, and shared ownership of SQCD outcomes.
• Proactively identify operational risks and performance gaps, partnering with leaders to develop mitigation plans and ensure sustained execution.
• Support organizational change efforts by improving clarity of roles, processes, and communication, helping teams adopt new ways of working and sustain performance improvements.

What’s in it for you:

• The ability to make an impact and shape your career with a company that is passionate about growth
• The support of an organization that believes it is vital to include and engage diverse people, perspectives, and ideas to achieve our best

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, or a related field from a four-year college or university is required.
• 5+ years of applicable experience in Engineering, Manufacturing, Commercial Operations, Supply Chain Management & Quality.
• Willingness to operate in an ambiguous and solve challenging problems with urgency
• Ability to communicate in a clear and concise manner
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite of tools (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, etc…)
• Track record of successful project management and team leadership experience.
• Ability to travel to Daikin’s key sites throughout the U.S & Mexico.
• Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA or MS Finance or similar in Business, Finance, Engineering, or related technical field
• 7+ years of experience in Engineering, Manufacturing, Commercial Operations, Supply Chain Management & Quality. With experience reporting to senior level management.
• Deep understanding of Safety, Quality, Cost, and Delivery (SQCD) principles, with the ability to connect strategy to execution in a complex operational environment.
• Demonstrated ability to translate high-level strategy into actionable plans, drive alignment, and deliver measurable business results.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills, with experience managing multiple high-impact initiatives simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience leading or supporting organizational change efforts, with the ability to drive adoption and sustain new ways of working.

Benefits:

• Daikin Applied offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:
• Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and vision insurance 
• 401K retirement plan with employer match
• Paid time off and company paid holidays
• Paid sick time in accordance with the federal, state and local law
• Tuition Reimbursement after 6 months of continuous service

The typical hourly rate for this position ranges from $100,800/ yr. to $171,700 / yr. plus a 15% bonus in Minnesota. The range displayed represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade which this position falls. Individual base pay will depend on a wide range of factors including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.  

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