The posting
Location: Greater Chicago Area
Compensation: Starting at $120,000 base salary + performance-based bonus
Industry: Industrial Machinery | Automation | Technical Service
Employment Type: Full-Time
About the Opportunity
Lead an established U.S. operation. Strengthen its day-to-day performance. Help shape what comes next.
Are you an experienced operations or technical service leader ready to take on broader responsibility?
We are recruiting on behalf of an established German-owned industrial machinery manufacturer seeking a highly organized, hands-on Operations Manager to lead its U.S. operation in the Chicago area.
In this role, you'll oversee the day-to-day operations of a small U.S. business with approximately five employees, including field service technicians and warehouse support. You'll lead and develop the team while managing service activities, technician scheduling, spare parts operations, customer relationships, and administrative processes.
Your initial focus will be on understanding the business, improving existing workflows, establishing clear responsibilities and accountability, and strengthening communication and reporting between the U.S. operation and its German headquarters.
As the organization develops, you'll help expand the team, strengthen technical service capabilities, and support the development of local project management and business development activities.
If you enjoy staying close to daily operations, solving problems, and making a direct impact, this role offers the opportunity to take on broader business responsibility while working closely with company leadership in Germany.
About the Company
The company is an established German manufacturer of specialized industrial machinery, conveyor systems, and automated material handling solutions.
Its U.S. operation supports customers across North America through technical field service, spare parts, equipment installation, and commissioning. The local team works closely with engineering, service, and management teams at the company's German headquarters.
What You'll Do
- Lead US operations: Oversee daily business activities, establish clear responsibilities, improve workflows, and ensure accountability across the local organization.
- Manage and develop the team: Lead existing employees, coordinate priorities, and support the hiring and onboarding of additional technical and administrative personnel.
- Oversee field service: Coordinate technician scheduling, maintenance, equipment installations, commissioning, and customer service activities.
- Strengthen operational processes: Improve spare parts and inventory management, purchasing, administrative coordination, and operational reporting.
- Build customer relationships: Develop a strong understanding of existing customers, installed equipment, and service needs while maintaining responsive customer support.
- Coordinate internationally: Work closely with management, engineering, service, and project teams in Germany to ensure effective communication and project execution.
- Support future growth: Help expand technical service and aftermarket activities while gradually developing local project management and business development capabilities.
What We're Looking For
- Strong organizational and operational leadership skills, with demonstrated experience establishing processes, defining responsibilities, improving workflows, and driving accountability.
- Experience managing technical service operations, including coordinating field technicians, scheduling resources, and overseeing maintenance, installation, or commissioning activities.
- Proven people management experience, with the ability to lead and develop a small team, set priorities, make independent decisions, and support future hiring.
- Several years of experience in industrial machinery, equipment manufacturing, automation, engineering, or a related technical environment.
- A practical, hands-on leadership style and the ability to manage multiple operational priorities in a smaller organization without relying on extensive support structures.
- Strong customer relationship management skills, commercial awareness, and an understanding of service and aftermarket business opportunities.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with both US employees and international management teams.
- Willingness to travel within the US and occasionally to Germany.
Nice to Have: Experience with European or German-owned companies, conveyor systems, material handling equipment, project management, technical sales, or business development. German language skills are a plus, but not required.
What's in It for You?
- Health & Dental Insurance: Employer contribution toward coverage costs.
- 401(k) Retirement Plan: Company matching contributions of up to 3%.
- Paid Time Off: 20 vacation days annually.
- Paid Holidays: 9 company-observed holidays per year.
- Meaningful Responsibility: Lead an established US operation with the autonomy to improve processes, develop the team, and influence how the business runs.
- Room to Make an Impact: Build on an existing customer base and technical service team while helping shape the next phase of the business.
- International Collaboration: Work directly with leadership and technical teams at the German headquarters.
