Network Optimization Manager Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Location: Mokena, IL (Division U.S. Operations), with regular travel to Richton Park, IL

Team Led: Plant Managers — Mokena, IL and Richton Park, IL — plus supporting U.S. operations functional leaders and professional staff

The Opportunity

Our client is a division of a Fortune 500 diversified industrial manufacturer with roughly $14B in global revenue, operations in 57 countries, and a portfolio of more than 16,000 active patents. Within that global enterprise, this division is a focused business serving major OEMs across North America, engineering and manufacturing housing units, vehicle doors, capless fuel systems, and electric vehicle (EV) charge ports.

The division operates multiple manufacturing locations across the U.S. and Mexico, anchored in the U.S. by its Mokena, IL and Richton Park, IL facilities. This role owns the U.S. operations contribution to the Division's performance, translating business-unit strategy into aligned, scalable execution across both plants and their supporting functions. As the business modernizes its operations and pursues renewed growth, it needs an Operations leader who can run today's network while building tomorrow's.

Set the strategy. Own the network. Build what's next.

This is not a caretaker role — it's the top operations seat over the division's U.S. manufacturing network, with the mandate to convert strategy into aligned execution across both plants and every supporting function. You'll set the operating cadence, sponsor transformation, and build the next generation of plant leadership. If you want a role where your reach spans a full US operation and the impact is systemic, keep reading.

Why This Role Is Different

Network-level ownership — full accountability for the U.S. operations contribution to the Division P&L across both plants, not a single site

Backed by Fortune 500 scale — the resources, capital, and career runway of a global industrial leader, with the mandate to reshape a network

Real transformation mandate — sponsor cross-site initiatives such as network optimization, footprint consolidation, product rationalization, and supply-chain transformation

A proven leadership pipeline — U.S. Operations Manager roles within this organization are a recognized path into senior general management and executive operating roles

A network, not a plant — you'll own strategy, capacity, capital, and talent decisions across the full U.S. footprint, with Plant Managers reporting to you

What You'll Own

Translate Division strategy, growth priorities, customer requirements, and financial objectives into a coordinated U.S. operations roadmap

Integrate priorities, resources, metrics, and operating practices across U.S. plants and supporting operations functions

Establish a consistent operating cadence across sites; challenge recovery plans and hold plant and functional leaders accountable for sustained results

Provide governance for product launches, manufacturing feasibility, capacity readiness, and operational risk

Own the U.S. operations contribution to the Division P&L, including productivity, conversion cost, labor, scrap, freight, inventory, sourcing, and capital effectiveness

Lead capacity, capability, footprint, technology, and capital planning across U.S. operations

Drive consistent use of the division's 80/20 Toolbox and measurable operational and financial improvement

Sponsor complex, cross-functional improvements such as network optimization, facility consolidation, product rationalization, in-lining, launch-system improvement, and supply-chain transformation

Develop Plant Managers and functional leaders; strengthen succession, decision quality, and accountability across the operations network

Align Operations with Sales, Engineering, Product Development, Finance, Human Resources, and Quality to support profitable growth

What Success Looks Like in Year One

U.S. operations are scalable and aligned, visibly supporting Division performance and profitable growth

The U.S. operations P&L contribution, productivity, network economics, and capital returns show clear improvement

Safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance are consistent across both sites

At least one major cross-site transformation, footprint, capacity, or launch priority is executed successfully

Plant Manager capability and succession depth are visibly stronger, with clearer operating accountability across the network

What You Bring

Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, business, or comparable experience required

Ten or more years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including multi-site or major cross-functional operations responsibility

Demonstrated experience leading Plant Managers or senior functional leaders and delivering measurable business-unit financial improvement

Strong business-unit financial acumen, with experience building cross-site operating systems, footprint and capacity strategy, and executive-level influence

A track record of leading complex change — sustained multi-site gains, major network or footprint improvements, scalable launches, and stronger leadership performance across plants

Automotive, plastics injection molding, or complex high-volume manufacturing experience preferred

Ability to travel domestically and internationally as business needs require

Leadership Capabilities We're Looking For

Strategic & Network Leadership

People Development & Succession Planning

Executive Influence & Cross-Functional Partnership

Why You'll Want to Stay

This division offers what's rare in operations leadership today: the backing and stability of a Fortune 500 diversified industrial manufacturer, paired with real ownership of a U.S. manufacturing network's strategy and results. U.S. Operations Manager roles within this organization are a recognized pipeline into senior general management and executive operating roles — and with a mandate this broad, the opportunities to leave your mark span the entire network.

About the Organization

Our client is a Fortune 500 diversified industrial manufacturer delivering specialized expertise and value-added products across a wide range of industries worldwide. With approximately $14 billion in global revenue, operations across 57 countries, roughly 45,000 employees, and a portfolio of more than 16,000 active patents, the company is recognized as a global leader in applied engineering and manufacturing innovation.

Within this global enterprise, the business division supplies products to major automotive OEMs, including housing units, vehicle doors, capless fuel systems, and electric vehicle (EV) charge ports. The division operates a multi-site manufacturing and distribution network across the U.S. and Mexico.

Our client is an Equal Opportunity / and Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.