--- title: 'Director of Operations at Industrial Electric Manufacturing' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/director-of-operations-industrial-electric-manufacturing-united-states-5yhkh61kwk32' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-06' --- # Director of Operations at Industrial Electric Manufacturing - **Company:** Industrial Electric Manufacturing - **Location:** United States - **Posted:** 2026-08-20 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-06 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/industrialelectricmanufacturing/jobs/4377408009 ## Job description At IEM, we’re not just building innovative electrical distribution systems, we’re shaping the future. IEM is dedicated to delivering world-class solutions for complex power needs. After 75 years, we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Whether you’re an experienced professional or just starting out, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute, grow, and make a lasting impact on industries that power the world’s most dynamic markets. IEM is seeking a Director of Operations to lead Medium Voltage Switchgear, Integrated Products, and Small Panels manufacturing in Jacksonville, Florida. This role owns safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, capacity, and team development across the assigned product lines. The ideal candidate is a hands-on operations leader with experience scaling complex, high-mix manufacturing environments, building strong leaders, implementing Lean operating systems, and ensuring disciplined daily execution. Please note: This position requires 100% in-office presence in our Jacksonville offices and does not offer remote work. ## Key Responsibilities - Set and execute the operating strategy for Medium Voltage Switchgear, Integrated Products, and Small Panels. - Align production, capacity, labor, scheduling, materials flow, maintenance, and support priorities with business objectives and customer commitments. - Translate backlog and forecasted demand into practical labor, equipment, facility, material, and production capacity plans. - Lead critical customer deliverables, production recovery plans, new-product introductions, and major internal initiatives. - Provide timely operational updates, risk assessments, and recovery plans to the Vice President of Operations and Executive Leadership Team. - Champion a culture where safety is a core operating value and leadership responsibility. - Improve safety performance through hazard reduction, employee engagement, and proactive risk mitigation. - Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, internal, and customer requirements, including OSHA, ISO, UL, and product-specific quality standards. - Drive root-cause analysis and corrective action for nonconformances, defects, and recurring operational issues. - Maintain readiness for customer audits, regulatory reviews, certifications, and changing compliance requirements. - Build a continuous-improvement culture grounded in operational discipline, accountability, and fact-based problem-solving. - Champion Lean practices such as daily management, visual management, standard work, takt alignment, flow, pull systems, workplace organization, and structured problem-solving. - Establish and monitor KPIs for safety, quality, delivery, cost, labor productivity, yield, schedule attainment, throughput, work-in-process, and asset utilization. - Use real-time operating data and visual management to identify risks, prioritize resources, and accelerate decisions. - Reduce manufacturing costs through effective use of labor, equipment, facilities, materials, and capital. - Partner with Finance on operating plans, budgets, variances, and cost-improvement commitments. - Lead and develop Value Stream Managers, Operations Managers, and senior manufacturing leaders across the assigned product lines. - Build a high-performing organization through selection, onboarding, coaching, performance management, succession planning, and leadership development. - Strengthen frontline leadership through clear expectations, management routines, decision rights, and accountability. - Foster teamwork, engagement, and ownership through visible leadership and consistent involvement. - Lead organizational and cultural changes needed to support IEM’s growth and increasing operational maturity. - Partner with EHS, Planning, Engineering, Quality, Process Improvement, Supply Chain, Procurement, Human Resources, Finance, and other support teams. - Coordinate cross-functional priorities to remove production barriers, improve manufacturability, resolve quality issues, and maintain production flow. - Work with Engineering and Quality on new-product introductions, design changes, process qualification, corrective actions, and manufacturing readiness. - Align production requirements with material availability, supplier performance, inventory objectives, and customer demand. ## Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Business, or a related field required; master’s degree, MBA, or equivalent advanced education preferred. - 15+ years of progressive manufacturing or operations experience, including 5+ years in senior leadership roles. - Experience leading large-scale, high-mix, multi-stage, engineered-to-order, configure-to-order, or vertically integrated manufacturing operations. - Background in medium-voltage switchgear, electrical distribution equipment, integrated power systems, industrial controls, panel manufacturing, or a comparable technical manufacturing environment strongly preferred. - Proven success improving safety, quality, delivery, productivity, throughput, cost, and employee engagement. - Strong knowledge of Lean manufacturing, daily management systems, visual management, standard work, capacity planning, production flow, and plant layout optimization. - Experience scaling operations, leading plant-wide initiatives, implementing automation, and introducing digital performance-management tools. - Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, cost management, capital planning, and operational performance analysis. - Ability to lead through complexity, set priorities, manage change, communicate effectively, and hold teams accountable for measurable results. - Demonstrated career progression and potential to assume broader leadership responsibilities in a fast-paced, growth-oriented organization. Compensation actually offered for this role will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. ## Why Join IEM At IEM, you’ll join a team that powers some of the world’s most ambitious projects. We’re engineers, makers, and problem-solvers who thrive on tackling complex challenges and delivering solutions that keep industries moving forward. If you’re driven, collaborative, and ready to make an impact, we’d love to hear from you. Your creativity and passion can help us achieve great things—come be part of the journey. Learn more about IEM at https://www.iemfg.com We offer comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support our employees' well-being, growth, and long-term success. View a snapshot of our benefits at https://www.iemfg.com/careers Recruiting Scams Beware of recruiting scams. IEM never charges candidates fees, and all recruiter emails come from an @iemfg.com address. If you suspect fraudulent activity, do not share personal information and report it to us at [iemfg.com/contact](https://www.iemfg.com/contact/) Non-Discrimination Statement IEM does not discriminate against any applicant based on any characteristic protected by law. Privacy Information collected and processed as part of your IEM Careers profile, and any job applications you choose to submit is subject to IEM's [Workforce Member Privacy Policy.](https://www.iemfg.com/ccpa/) ## About Industrial Electric Manufacturing ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: IEM designs and manufactures custom low- and medium-voltage electrical power distribution equipment, switchgear, and integrated power infrastructure at scale for critical industries. - **Entity Type**: Private (Privately held corporation) - **Headquarters**: Fremont, California, United States - **Founded**: 1950 - **Founders**: Not publicly available (founded on a family ranch in Fremont, CA) ## Core Business - **Primary industry/industries**: Industrial electrical manufacturing, power distribution equipment, switchgear, and critical power infrastructure. - **Target customers**: B2B, serving large-scale enterprises and institutions across Technology & Data Centers, Commercial & Real Estate, Energy & Utilities, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Industrial & Manufacturing, and Infrastructure & Public Services. - **Mission or purpose statement**: "We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all." IEM partners with customers to plan, engineer, and deliver the future of power, offering the flexibility to meet complex technical requirements and the scale to support ambitious projects. [iemfg.com](https://www.iemfg.com/) ## Products & Services - **Low Voltage Switchboards (UL 891)**: Customizable electrical distribution boards for commercial and industrial applications. - **Low Voltage Switchgear (UL 1558)**: Robust, fully-rated switchgear for critical power distribution. - **Low Voltage Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) (UL 1008)**: Reliable power switching for backup generator systems. - **Low Voltage Fully Integrated Switchboards**: Combined switchboard and distribution solutions. - **Panelboards (UL 67)**: Standard and custom panelboard solutions. - **Medium Voltage Metal-Clad Switchgear**: High-reliability switchgear for medium voltage applications. - **Medium Voltage Metal-Enclosed Switchgear**: Durable, enclosed switchgear for demanding environments. - **Medium Voltage Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS)**: Medium voltage power switching solutions. - **Medium Voltage 38 kV Switchgear**: High-voltage switchgear for utility and large-scale applications. - **Unit Substations**: Integrated substation solutions for power distribution. - **VESTA Arc-Resistant Switchgear**: Arc-resistant medium voltage switchgear for enhanced safety. - **Integrated Products (PDU, RPP, Walk-In Enclosures, Custom Assemblies)**: Power distribution units, remote power panels, and custom enclosures for data centers and critical facilities. - **Field Services**: On-site startup, commissioning, and emergency repair services for power systems, supported by a dedicated team of 100+ field service technicians. [iemfg.com](https://www.iemfg.com/system/uploads/fae/file/asset/134/IEM_Corporate_Brochure_Long_2025-09-02-compressed.pdf) ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (privately held) - **Key Metric**: Over $1 billion in annual sales (as of 2025/2026). [iemfg.com](https://www.iemfg.com/system/uploads/fae/file/asset/134/IEM_Corporate_Brochure_Long_2025-09-02-compressed.pdf) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Privately held; key customers include Hewlett-Packard, Amazon, Apple, and NASA. [iemfg.com](https://www.iemfg.com/careers/) - **Growth Signals**: - Approximately 4,800 employees in North America, a 340% increase since 2022. - Quadrupled North American manufacturing footprint since 2022, investing over $100 million in advanced manufacturing equipment. - 21 major locations in the U.S., Canada, and Belgium. - No. 50 on the 2026 Inc. Regionals list (Pacific). - No. 1: First Coast’s Largest Manufacturing Companies (Jacksonville Business Journal). - Top 30: Largest Manufacturers in the Greater Bay Area (San Francisco Business Times and Silicon Valley Business Journal). [iemfg.com](https://www.iemfg.com/system/uploads/fae/file/asset/202/IEM_Company_Brief_2026.pdf) ## Competitive Advantages - **Custom at Scale**: Combines the flexibility to meet unique technical requirements with the capacity and experience to support demanding project schedules at scale, a rare combination in the industry. - **75+ Year Track Record**: A proven history of reliability and innovation, including pioneering work in CAD/CAM systems and commercial switchgear, and powering the rise of Silicon Valley. - **Deep Industry Partnerships**: Strong, long-term relationships with commercial and industrial tech leaders like Hewlett-Packard, Amazon, Apple, and NASA. [iemfg.com](https://www.iemfg.com/careers/) - **Superior Quality & Testing**: Products are rigorously tested beyond industry standards (UL, ANSI, IEEE, NEMA, seismic) to guarantee long-term reliability. - **Massive Scale & Capacity**: 1.5M+ square feet of production capacity, 21 major locations, and over $1 billion in annual sales, enabling them to handle the largest and most complex projects. ## Strategic Focus - **Rapid Expansion**: Aggressively scaling manufacturing capacity and headcount (340% increase since 2022) to meet surging demand from data centers, energy, and infrastructure sectors. - **Field Service Network Growth**: Expanding a network of field service offices across North America to provide faster, local support for customers. - **Innovation in Power Infrastructure**: Continuing to develop advanced products like arc-resistant switchgear and integrated power solutions for next-generation data centers and critical facilities. - **Talent Acquisition**: Actively hiring across engineering, field service, and manufacturing roles to support growth, with a focus on building a skilled workforce through "IEM University" for continuous learning. [iemfg.com](https://www.iemfg.com/careers/) ## Why Work Here - **Impactful Work**: Employees contribute to powering the world’s most critical infrastructure, including data centers for tech giants like Amazon and Apple, and projects for NASA. - **Strong Benefits**: 100% coverage of employee-level medical, dental, and vision benefits; 401(k) with employer match (no vesting schedule); HSA contributions; tuition reimbursement; and opportunity for quarterly bonuses. [iemfg.com](https://www.iemfg.com/careers/) - **Growth & Development**: "IEM University" provides continuous learning resources, personalized development plans, and role-specific programs. The company promotes from within and offers clear career paths. - **Culture**: Described as a collaborative community where "listening works" and success comes through teamwork. Emphasizes curiosity, diverse perspectives, and an inclusive, forward-thinking workplace. - **Work Policy**: Roles range from on-site (manufacturing, engineering labs) to remote (e.g., Power Solution Architect, Lead Electrical Design Engineer). Flexible shifts are available in some locations. [iemfg.com](https://www.iemfg.com/careers/) - **Notable Perks**: 100% coverage of employee-level medical, dental, and vision; quarterly bonus opportunity; tuition reimbursement; on-the-job training. [iemfg.com](https://www.iemfg.com/careers/) ## Sources 1. [IEM Corporate Website](https://www.iemfg.com/) 2. [IEM Careers Page](https://www.iemfg.com/careers/) 3. [IEM Company Brief (PDF)](https://www.iemfg.com/system/uploads/fae/file/asset/202/IEM_Company_Brief_2026.pdf) 4. [IEM Corporate Brochure (PDF)](https://www.iemfg.com/system/uploads/fae/file/asset/134/IEM_Corporate_Brochure_Long_2025-09-02-compressed.pdf) 5. [IEM Job Board (Greenhouse)](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/industrialelectricmanufacturing) ## Other roles at Industrial Electric Manufacturing - [Production Planner/Scheduler](https://feeny.ai/job/production-planner-scheduler-industrial-electric-manufacturing-fremont-8w01e7cfz6h4) — Fremont California, United States - [Medium Voltage Mechanical Design Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/medium-voltage-mechanical-design-manager-industrial-electric-manufacturing-kf7c777jwgdj) — Jacksonville Florida, United States - [Medium Voltage Mechanical Design Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/medium-voltage-mechanical-design-manager-industrial-electric-manufacturing-9rf65kxjmhm4) — Surrey British Columbia, Canada - [Strategic Procurement Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/strategic-procurement-manager-industrial-electric-manufacturing-franklin-b2eg91mfarye) — Franklin Tennessee, United States - [Sourcing Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/sourcing-specialist-industrial-electric-manufacturing-franklin-tennessee-pfa7t0mtmw6m) — Franklin Tennessee, United States - [Order Entry Administrator](https://feeny.ai/job/order-entry-administrator-industrial-electric-manufacturing-fremont-california-j4pcx4gwt72y) — Fremont California, United States - [San Antonio Talent Community](https://feeny.ai/job/san-antonio-talent-community-industrial-electric-manufacturing-san-antonio-texas-kt3fp808h6zh) — San Antonio Texas, United States - [Test Engineer - Electrical Systems](https://feeny.ai/job/test-engineer-electrical-systems-industrial-electric-manufacturing-jacksonville-mwcz4zjk3dnw) — Jacksonville Florida, United States - [Powder Coat and Fabrication Lead (Third Shift)](https://feeny.ai/job/powder-coat-and-fabrication-lead-third-shift-industrial-electric-manufacturing-dnfj2qfmbj2v) — Jacksonville Florida, United States - [Powder Coat and Fabrication Lead (Second Shift)](https://feeny.ai/job/powder-coat-and-fabrication-lead-second-shift-industrial-electric-manufacturing-vrmpwmr3zdz9) — Jacksonville Florida, United States