The posting
Every day, we get opportunities to make a positive impact – on our colleagues, partners, customers and society. Together, we’re pioneering the solutions of the future and unlocking the full potential of precious resources. Trusted to act on initiative, we challenge conventional thinking to develop world-leading technologies that inspire progress in vital areas, including energy, food, water and shipping.
As we push forward, the innovative, open spirit that fuels our 140-year-old start-up culture and rapid growth also drives our personal growth. So, as we shape a more resourceful, less wasteful world, we build our careers too.
About the job:
As a Factory Manager, you will lead the end-to-end operations of the Richmond manufacturing site. This role provides the opportunity to lead a large-scale operation with a high impact on global supply chains. This includes full ownership of supply chain, safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance, along with continuous improvement initiatives. Leader will play a critical role in strengthening the factory's capabilities and supporting Alfa Laval Richmond's ambitious growth goals.
Team: Directly managing 9 key leaders:
- Unit Managers for Engineering & Maintenance, PHE Manufacturing, and ALPS
- Managers for Purchase, Warehouse, Inventory, Projects, and Quality
Responsible for 200+ team members at the Richmond facility.
This is an onsite position located in Richmond, VA.
As a part of the team, you will:
- Create a culture of zero harm by driving people safety, process discipline, and product
- quality—while delivering on time, cost-effective manufacturing outcomes that meet global
- standards.
- Provide strategic leadership to a 300+ member factory workforce, including 9 direct reports,
- by fostering a culture of ownership, collaboration, and continuous development.
- Have a full end-of-end supply chain responsibility and accountability for the factory’s
- performance and development
- Embed a performance-focused culture by deploying Lean, ALPS, TPM, and Six Sigma
- principles to achieve year-on-year improvements in productivity, quality, and resource
- efficiency.
- Translate Alfa Laval’s global values, operational policies, and compliance frameworks into
- local execution while maintaining cultural alignment and integrity.
- Own key performance metrics—such as productivity, inventory turns, OTD (on-time
- delivery), and cost optimization—to drive business results and stakeholder confidence.
- Oversee the full supply chain lifecycle, including strategic procurement, inventory
- management, and warehouse optimization to enable agility, quality, and cost leadership.
- Build and sustain a reliable, compliant, and ethical local supplier base that supports long
- term business scalability and aligns with Alfa Laval’s sourcing vision.
- Act as an enabler for New Product Introductions (NPI) by collaborating closely with R&D,
- sales, and global support functions—ensuring operational readiness and seamless
- integration.
- Maintain strong and proactive industrial relations by engaging constructively with employees promoting transparent communication and supporting a healthy workplace culture.
We care about diversity, inclusion and equity in our recruitment processes. We also believe behavioral traits can provide important insights into a candidate's fit to a role. To help us achieve this we apply Pymetrics assessments, and upon application you will be invited to play the assessment games. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
What you know:
A Bachelor’s in Engineering (preferably Mechanical or Production) and;
- 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in complex manufacturing environments, ideally within multinational or matrix organizations, with a demonstrated ability to manage scale, complexity, and global interfaces.
- Deep expertise in driving Lean Manufacturing, TPM, or Six Sigma initiatives to enhance operational agility, performance, process discipline, and long-term cost competitiveness.
- Proven capability in managing both standardized high-volume production and customized project-based manufacturing, ensuring delivery excellence across diverse product portfolios.
- Strong command over factory financials, including standard product costing, project-based costing, and budgetary control—enabling data-driven decisions and sustainable cost leadership.
- Known for leading organizational change through a collaborative and empowering leadership style that fosters innovation, accountability, and cultural alignment.
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with a track record of influencing and aligning cross-functional teams across geographies and cultural contexts.
- Prior experience working with international teams and global supply chains, with the ability to translate global priorities into effective local execution.
At Alfa Laval, we pride ourselves on creating an inclusive and dynamic workplace that values diverse perspectives and experiences. While we typically welcome applicants from all locations, currently, we are prioritizing candidates who reside in the US or have an established presence in the area.
What’s in it for you?
We offer a challenging position in an open and friendly environment where we help each other to develop and create value. Your work will have a true impact on Alfa Laval’s future success. Our benefits-eligible associates enjoy healthcare, dental and vision plans, a robust wellness program, generous 401(k), paid holidays, paid time off benefits, and more. At Alfa Laval, we carefully consider a wide range of factors to determine your total compensation package. We rely on market indicators and consider your specific job, background, skills, and experience to get it right. The base salary for this role is typically $170,000 - $195,000.
Alfa Laval is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, or business need, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
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