Manager, Operations Excellence & Engineering

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.

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 and Engineering Manager leads the deployment and sustainment of the Apogee Management System (AMS) across manufacturing operations and is accountable for driving measurable improvements in safety quality delivery and cost through disciplined problem solving standard work and engineering-based solutions.

This role partners closely with Operations Engineering Quality Supply Chain and HR to identify performance gaps prioritize improvement work and embed AMS principles into daily operations while providing technical leadership to ensure ownership and continuous improvement of core manufacturing systems and capabilities.

Success in this role requires strong leadership presence clear prioritization and a hands-on approach to execution that builds credibility with manufacturing leaders and delivers sustained operational results.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the deployment and sustainment of the Apogee Management System (AMS) across assigned manufacturing sites.

• Coach and develop supervisors engineers and operators in continuous improvement behaviors standard work and problem-solving discipline.

• Drive measurable improvements in safety quality productivity throughput scrap reduction and cost through structured improvement initiatives.

• Partner with plant leadership to identify prioritize and execute improvement work aligned with business goals and operational metrics.

• Apply operational excellence methods and structured problem-solving approaches (e.g. Kaizen A3 PDCA DMAIC standard work visual management) to resolve operational issues and embed continuous improvement into daily operations.

• Analyze production quality and labor data to identify trends performance gaps and improvement opportunities.

• Lead change adoption efforts to ensure improvements are implemented consistently and sustained across departments and shifts

• Ensure sustainment and continuous improvement of core manufacturing processes including Assembly Paint Anodize Thermal and Extrusion through standard work performance monitoring and disciplined execution.

• Track communicate and report results of improvement initiatives including performance gains and cost savings.

Engineering & Technical Leadership

• Provide technical ownership and governance of fabrication assembly paint anodize thermal and extrusion processes standards and best practices.

• Lead process capability yield scrap and throughput improvements across these technologies.

• Support new product introductions equipment selection and capital projects related to paint anodize thermal and extrusion operations.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

Core Skills

• Ability to influence without authority and work effectively across all levels of the organization.

• Strong analytical capability with the ability to translate data into clear actionable improvements.

• Effective communication facilitation and coaching skills to drive understanding and adoption.

• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work across operations engineering and support functions.

• Proficiency with standard productivity and data tools (e.g. Excel BI tools manufacturing systems).

Leadership Attributes

• Results-oriented with a strong sense of accountability for outcomes.

• Organized and able to manage multiple priorities and initiatives simultaneously.

• Adaptable and effective in a changing fast-paced manufacturing environment.

• Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

Education and Experience

Education

• Bachelors degree in Engineering Manufacturing Industrial Engineering or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment with demonstrated impact on operational performance.

• Proven experience deploying and sustaining continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives within manufacturing operations.

• Demonstrated success leading cultural change and advancing continuous improvement maturity across teams and leaders.

• Strong working knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles and operational excellence frameworks applied in real operating environments.

• Experience leading Kaizen events and cross-functional improvement efforts from identification through sustained results.

Work Environment/Travel Requirements

• Frequent exposure to manufacturing environment.

• Overnight travel will vary based on projects and business needs and is expected to average up to 10% including approximately one week per quarter and occasional additional travel for corporate meetings or training.

• Physical Requirements

  • Ability to work in both office and manufacturing environments.

  • Lift up to 10 lbs.

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Our Benefits

Apogee and our brands are an Equal Opportunity Employer.