Job Description
Job Title:  Director of Operations, Plate Heat Exchangers
Req ID:  47418
Job Location (Short):  Louisville, KY, USA
Employment Type:  Full Time
Segment:  Danfoss Climate Solutions Segment
Job Category:  Supply Chain and Operations
Work Location Type:  On-site

The Impact You'll Make

Join us in leading the future of manufacturing at our Louisville Operations facility, home to our Gasketed Plate Heat Exchanger (GPHE) production. In this pivotal role, you will be the driving force behind a €40M operation, guiding a talented team of 15 salaried and 40 hourly employees. You’ll bring our globally aligned manufacturing strategies to life locally—ensuring safety, quality, and efficiency—while spearheading North America’s site development.

 

This is your opportunity to shape operational excellence, foster innovation, and make a lasting impact on a high‑performing team, all while collaborating with colleagues across the globe. If you’re ready to lead with vision, deliver results, and help us build the next chapter of our manufacturing success story, we’d love to have you on board.

What You’ll Be Doing

Operational Leadership

  • Direct all GPHE production processes, including pressing, gasketing, assembly, inbound/outbound warehousing, and shipping.
  • Ensure safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives are consistently met.
  • Translate and execute global manufacturing strategies in alignment with Plate Heat Exchanger (PHEX) goals.
  • Lead the improvement of production processes to achieve optimal performance.
  • Drive site development and capacity improvement initiatives for North American operations.
  • Implement warehouse management improvements, ensuring stock accuracy and enhanced performance.

Strategic Execution & Performance

  • Align local operations with global KPIs and lean manufacturing principles.
  • Champion automation, digitalization (SAP, no-touch processes), and process standardization.
  • Track, analyze, and report on key performance metrics, including OEE, cost efficiency, delivery performance, and customer satisfaction.

People & Capability Development

  • Build and sustain a high-performing, cross-functional team.
  • Develop leadership talent and close skill gaps to support innovation and growth.
  • Promote a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

  • Serve as the primary representative of Louisville operations to internal and external stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with global supply chain, engineering, procurement, logistics, and finance teams to ensure seamless execution.
  • Support customer projects and new product introductions from an operational perspective

What We're Looking For

Education

  • Technical background combined with a Financial or Business degree (BA, MA, or MBA).

Experience

  • 3–5 years in a manufacturing environment, ideally with experience leading leaders.
  • Customer-focused mindset with an “outside-in” approach.

Preferred Skills & Experience

  • Experience working within a complex global matrix organization.
  • Strong communication skills, both locally and globally.

Personal Attributes

  • Resilient under pressure, with the ability to deliver on defined objectives.
  • Strong leadership presence and ability to inspire teams.

What You'll Get from Us

 

  1. We promote from within and support your learning with mentoring, training, and access to global opportunities.
  2. You’ll have flexibility, autonomy, and support to do your best work while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Your well-being matters to us.
  3. We strive to create an inclusive work environment where people of all backgrounds are respected, and valued for who they are.
  4. You’ll receive benefits like annual bonus, paid vacation, retirement plans, personal insurance, and more. These vary by country and contract, but they’re worth asking about—we think they’re pretty great.

Ready to Make a Difference?

 

If this role excites you, we’d love to hear from you! Apply now to start the conversation and learn more about where your career can go with us.

 


 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected category.

Information at a Glance

 

Danfoss engineers solutions that increase machine productivity, reduce emissions, lower energy consumption, and enable electrification.

Our solutions are used in such areas as refrigeration, air conditioning, heating, power conversion, motor control, industrial machinery, automotive, marine, and off- and on-highway equipment. We also provide solutions for renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, as well as district-energy infrastructure for cities.

Our innovative engineering dates back to 1933. Danfoss is family-owned, employing more than 39.000 people, serving customers in more than 100 countries through a global footprint of 95 factories.

 

Danfoss engineers solutions that increase machine productivity, reduce emissions, lower energy consumption, and enable electrification.

Our solutions are used in such areas as refrigeration, air conditioning, heating, power conversion, motor control, industrial machinery, automotive, marine, and off- and on-highway equipment. We also provide solutions for renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, as well as district-energy infrastructure for cities.

Our innovative engineering dates back to 1933. Danfoss is family-owned, employing more than 39.360 people, serving customers in more than 100 countries through a global footprint of 95 factories.