Director - Operations

Job Description:

Are you a seasoned leader with a passion for driving operational excellence and leading high-performing teams? We are seeking dynamic individuals like you to join our organization. As a Director you will be responsible for driving systemic change in plant performance metrics through the appropriate application of continuous improvement methodologies, and root cause and action plan attainment. You will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of multi-plant operations, including production, quality control, safety, and employee development. Your leadership skills will be put to the test as you inspire and motivate teams to achieve operational goals and exceed customer expectations. If you thrive in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment and have a proven track record of successfully managing plant operations, we invite you to apply.

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role

As a Director of Plant Operations, you will:

Provide direct leadership for the Wausau Mine and Plant as well as the other 3 IMPD plants within SIBG USAC operations. Direct reports will be Wausau Operational Leader and 3 plant managers.  This position will be accountable to deliver improved results in EHS, Quality, Value Stream Performance, Cost, Cash, and Employee Relations for the plant teams under their leadership.

The Director of Operations’ pro-active involvement with division personnel, R & D, and business teams will ensure strong alignment of operational goals, metrics, and targets with the business/division objectives. 

Environmental, Health, and Safety, Security compliance and accountability, with active visible leadership / involvement across the sites will be required. This position will set expectations for employee safety, compliance, and environmental stewardship.

The Director of IMPD Operations will provide leadership and set expectations to drive systemic changes in all plant performance metrics through appropriate application of Continuous Improvement and Tier process methodologies. The position will be accountable to Root Cause and Action Plan attainment. The ideal candidate must drive customer focus through excellent first-time quality, prompt complaint resolution and corrective actions and ensure appropriate value stream performance through responsiveness, delivery performance, capacity management, and appropriate inventory management including working and non-working inventory, as well as financial deliverables.

As a Director of Operations, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative and diverse people around the world. Here, you will make an impact by:

• EHS stewardship and compliance to ensure operational Environmental, Health, and Safety compliance and accountability. EHS active visible leadership, ownership, and involvement within all operations.
• Providing leadership by ensuring appropriate resources are deployed to facilitate technology advancement and a vision to factory of the future in impacted sites
• Driving strategic planning and budgeting to drive sustainable improvements in factory cost through application of Lean Six Sigma, entitlement thinking, yield improvement, and plant productivity.
• Deployment of lean manufacturing principles and methodology to drive employee engagement and continuous improvement through principle-based leadership.
• Managing supply chain execution and inventory management to ensure appropriate customer value stream performance through responsiveness, delivery performance, capacity management, supplier management, and appropriate inventory management including working and non-working inventory.
• Implementing/ensuring industry leading quality products through design for manufacturability, error proofing, and a culture of zero defects, creating value for our customers.
• Accelerating value creation for customers through alignment, improved information flow, systematic thinking to increase our overall value stream efficiency through delivery performance and strengthening our focus on continuous improvement.
• Developing manufacturing strategies for Lean Six Sigma, a high-performance workforce, capital equipment planning, technology advancement, and employee and leadership development.
• Supporting facility Strategic and Operational planning activities.
• Developing strong leaders through accountability and a commitment to the leadership behaviors and the EPR process via principle-based leadership and a strong HOO process.

Your Skills and Expertise 

To set you up for success in this role from day one, 3M is looking for candidates who must have the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution
• Ten (10) years of experience in a private, public, government, or military environment in one or more of the following areas: EHS, quality, new product introduction, manufacturing engineering, manufacturing technology, process engineering, manufacturing operations and/or supply chain management.
• Five (5) years Plant Manager or Large Value Stream Manager experience
• Five (5) years of combined experience in a senior management/supervisory position in a manufacturing environment
• Five (5) years' experience managing and/or supervising direct reports and large organizations

Additional qualifications that could help you succeed even further in this role include:

• Demonstrated strong leadership ability and history of leading high-performance teams
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering or supply chain discipline
• Experience and certification with Lean Six Sigma/Lean Manufacturing methodologies
• Experience in leading strategic and organizational development, operational excellence, lean implementation, financial accounting
• Experience in Mining or heavy industrial applications
• Effective communication skills

Work location: On-Site

• Work location: Wausau, WI

Travel: May include up to 60% Domestic

Relocation Assistance: May be authorized

Must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status).

Supporting Your Well-being

3M offers many programs to help you live your best life – both physically and financially. To ensure competitive pay and benefits, 3M regularly benchmarks with other companies that are comparable in size and scope.

Chat with Max

For assistance with searching through our current job openings or for more information about all things 3M, visit Max, our virtual recruiting assistant on 3M.com/careers.

Applicable to US Applicants Only:The expected compensation range for this position is $266,001 - $325,112, which includes base pay plus variable incentive pay, if eligible. This range represents a good faith estimate for this position. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant knowledge, training, skills, work location, and/or experience. In addition, this position may be eligible for a range of benefits (e.g., Medical, Dental & Vision, Health Savings Accounts, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Disability Benefits, Life Insurance, Voluntary Benefits, Paid Absences and Retirement Benefits, etc.). Additional information is available at: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/careers-us/working-at-3m/benefits/.

Good Faith Posting Date Range 01/20/2026 To 02/19/2026 Or until filled

All US-based 3M full time employees will need to sign an employee agreement as a condition of employment with 3M. This agreement lays out key terms on using 3M Confidential Information and Trade Secrets. It also has provisions discussing conflicts of interest and how inventions are assigned. Employees that are Job Grade 7 or equivalent and above may also have obligations to not compete against 3M or solicit its employees or customers, both during their employment, and for a period after they leave 3M.

Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com or on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @3M.

Responsibilities of this position include that corporate policies, procedures and security standards are complied with while performing assigned duties.

Safety is a core value at 3M. All employees are expected to contribute to a strong Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) culture by following safety policies, identifying hazards, and engaging in continuous improvement.Pay & Benefits Overview: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/careers-us/working-at-3m/benefits/

3M does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or any other charac