Vice president of operations Jobs in Joliet, IL

FT Country Manager USA

GEA Group, founded in Germany in 1881, is a global leader in engineering solutions, serving industries such as food and beverage, pharma, dairy, and more. With over 18,000 employees worldwide and a strong U.S. presence since 1929, GEA combines the heritage of a well-established company with the innovation of a forward-thinking industry leader. At GEA, we're not just building equipment, we're building lasting careers with an average employee tenure range from 5 to over 11+ years, reflecting the strong culture, growth opportunities, and support we provide.

Working at GEA Group has significant benefits:

• Start strong Medical, dental, and vision coverage begins on your first day
• Recharge and refresh Enjoy 12 paid holidays, including a flexible floating holiday, and 136 hours of PTO to relax or explore
• Invest in your future A 7% 401(k) employer match helps grow your retirement savings faster
• Keep learning Take advantage of tuition reimbursement to further your education or skillset
• Live well Our wellness incentive program rewards healthy habits
• Get support when you need it Access to a confidential Employee Assistance Program for personal or professional guidance
• Save smart Flexible Health Savings and Spending Accounts to manage out-of-pocket expenses

The FT Country Manager USA leads the Farm Technologies division in the United States and Mexico with full responsibility for sales, service, strategy execution, and business performance. The role serves as Managing Director of the U.S. legal entity, driving profitable growth, customer value, and disciplined execution while ensuring compliance with GEA policies, governance standards, and local legal requirements.

• Lead, manage and develop the dedicated sales and service team / organization for the Farm Technologies division in the USA and Mexico.
• Serve as managing director of the legal entity; foster a culture of collaboration with all departments of the entity
• Act as point of contact for divisions and/or business units
• Support the development and implementation of the division strategy and enrich these with local insights from customers, markets and local knowledge. Ensure implementation of these plans to drive the business results of GEA
• Be responsible for the sales & service activities of the assigned division in the country.
• Build and sustain excellent relationships with customers in a wide spectrum of industries and liaise with various stakeholders to maximize market access
• Actively manage and further develop dealers and key customer accounts to ensure maximum synergies for GEA are achieved in cross selling
• Detail the local division/sales strategy in the country in alignment with the country strategy and in close collaboration with the Division, perform budgeting and execute sales & service activities
• Build and sustain senior level customer relationships; actively manage key accounts and cross divisional opportunities
• Conduct market analyses to identify potential growth opportunities, applications, and competitive positioning
• Define and maintain a clear price/margin strategy and control the sales process
• Ensure compliance with corporate policies, risk management standards, and local law
• Harmonize processes and activities across local sales and service teams
• Perform Commercial and contract negotiations for contracts pertaining to their area of responsibility
• Responsible for the division P&L and Key financial KPIs
• Lead and develop sales channels in alignment with the division and in compliance with GEA policies
• Negotiate significant and contractual agreements within scope of authority

Your Profile / Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering or Business Management and / or technical discipline. MBA strongly preferred
• Internationally experienced expert in sales and service and general management with a special focus on division sales
• Minimum of 5 years relevant work experience
• Strong track record in steering a sales & service organization with a focus on adding sales growth
• Advanced understanding in business development and experience in managing complex Change Processes
• Strong track record in steering an international and a country sales & service organization with a focus on adding sales growth
• Familiarity of working in a manufacturing and engineering company with experience of selling not only complex products but also associated value added services
• Preferably experience with and knowledge about legal procedure for restructuring processes of a specific country and sound knowledge of legal requirements pertaining to labor law, Health & Safety legislation and Commercial regulations
• English, local language and preferably further languages
• Analytical abilities, problem-solving skills and ability to think strategically
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills
• Leadership competencies (ability to lead & develop internationally and/or culturally diverse teams, strong top line and target orientation with a strong people orientation
• Entrepreneurial skills (general manager orientation with a clear drive to strong customer orientation and understanding)
• Interpersonal skills (power of persuasion, conviction and well-argued reasoning, proven to maintain & build up relationships and networks with relevant decision makers and stakeholders, strong communicator

The typical base pay range for this position at the start of employment is expected to be between $275,000-$305,000 per year plus bonus. GEA Group has different base pay ranges for different work locations within the United States. The pay range is not a guarantee of compensation or salary. The estimated range is the budgeted amount for the position. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, location, qualifications, and other job-related reasons. You may be eligible for additional rewards, such as discretionary bonus (based on eligibility) and/or equity awards.

Please note: This position is based in the United States and does not offer visa or work sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future sponsorship.

GEA is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will therefore receive consideration for employment without regard to age, sex, race, color, religion, world view, national origin, genetics, disability, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other protected characteristic required by applicable law. Applicants with disabilities are welcome and will be given special consideration if they are equally qualified.