Digital Operations Manager (Manufacturing)

A.O. Smith is a global leader applying innovative technologies and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. The company is one of the worlds leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment products for residential and light commercial applications. A. O. Smith is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with approximately 12,000 employees at operations in the United States, Canada, China, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

The Digital Operations Manager will play a key role in optimizing and scaling digital processes across the organization. This role will focus on facilitating workshops to gather business requirements, supporting digital technology launches, driving process documentation, and identifying areas for automation and efficiency improvements. The position will also conduct audits for cost savings, research and document emerging technologies, and conduct site visits to assess and implement digital solutions.

Are you ready to help shape the digital future of manufacturing at a global company? We're building a brand-new Digital Operations team, and we're looking for a bold, curious, and collaborative leader to help us chart the course.As our Digital Operations Manager, you wont just manage projects youll help design the playbook. This is a rare opportunity to be on the ground floor of a digital transformation journey, working hand-in-hand with manufacturing teams, technology experts, and business leaders to reimagine how work gets done.In this role, youll facilitate dynamic workshops to uncover operational challenges and opportunities, launch cutting-edge digital tools, and drive process improvements that deliver real, measurable impact. Youll travel to manufacturing sites to uncover untapped potential, audit for efficiency gains, and experiment with emerging technologies to future-proof our operations.If youre passionate about bridging the worlds of manufacturing and digital innovation and youre excited by the chance to help build something new wed love to meet you.

Digital Transformation & Implementation:

• Facilitate workshops with cross-functional teams to gather requirements for new digital tools and process improvements.
• Support technology launch and hyper care phases, ensuring smooth adoption and troubleshooting issues as needed.
• Conduct site visits to assess opportunities for digital technology implementation and support rollouts.
• Collaborate with IT, operations, and business units to drive seamless integrations of digital solutions.
• Develop and manage a SharePoint site to facilitate collaboration and communication across projects, ensuring the site is regularly updated with project progress, success stories, and relevant documentation.

Process Documentation & Standardization:

• Create and maintain process documentation in SharePoint to ensure standardization and accessibility.
• Lead development of training materials and user guides for new digital tools and processes.
• Establish best practices for digital operations, ensuring alignment with company goals and compliance requirements.

AI & Automation Strategy:

• Assist in the development and execution of an AI launch process, identifying opportunities for automation and digital efficiency gains.
• Research emerging AI and digital technologies and assess their potential business impact.
• Conduct audits to evaluate cost savings and efficiency improvements from digital implementations.

Continuous Improvement & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Analyze key metrics and KPIs to measure the effectiveness of digital operations and recommend improvements.
• Gather feedback from stakeholders to refine digital solutions and ensure continuous enhancement.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration to align digital operations with company objectives and strategic goals.

Additional Potential Responsibilities:

• Develop and manage a digital project dashboard to track progress, key metrics, and risks.
• Identify and advocate for change management strategies to support digital transformation.
• Lead proof-of-concept (PoC) projects to test and validate new technologies.
• Support cybersecurity and data governance initiatives related to digital tools.
• Assist in vendor selection and management for digital technology solutions.
• Monitor industry trends and competitive benchmarks to inform the companys digital strategy.

• Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering or related disciplinary field.
• 5+ years overall related experience
• 3+ years experience in Manufacturing System Processes, or SMART technology
• Project Management Professional Certification preferred
• Sharepoint Experience
• Ability to effectively communicate highly technical concepts to management.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with all levels to support teamwork, facilitation, and negotiation.
• Capability to support end users with program training
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Travel will vary, expect 20% depending on business needs.

Competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plans which include medical and dental insurance, company-sponsored life insurance, retirement security savings plan, short- and long-term disability programs and tuition assistance.

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In developing this job description care was taken to include all competencies needed to successfully perform in this position. However, for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) purposes, the essential functions of the job may or may not have been described for purposes of ADA reasonable accommodation. All reasonable accommodation requests will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, marital or military status. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local law.