Director of Tools & Operations

At Vestas we are powered by the dream of changing the world. And to create a sustainable future, we are building a team of motivated visionaries. Would you like to join us?

Vestas is the world's largest wind turbine manufacturing company with significant operations in the United States.

Director of Tools and Operations

The Director of CPX Tools provides strategic, operational, and financial leadership for a department of approximately 90 employees with an annual operating budget of $45 million. This role is accountable for defining long‑term strategy, delivering operational excellence, developing leadership skills, and ensuring effective stewardship of financial and organizational resources. The Director partners closely with senior executives, cross‑functional leaders, and key stakeholders to advance enterprise initiatives and deliver high‑value outcomes. 

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute the plant’s long‑term tooling strategy, including design specifications, procurement, maintenance schedules, calibration standards, and end‑of‑life planning for all critical tooling used in turbine component manufacturing.
• Manage continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen) to enhance productivity, reduce cycle times, minimize waste, and improve throughput across machining, assembly, and testing operations.
• Partner with engineering and product development teams to ensure tooling readiness, manufacturability assessments, process capability analysis, and ramp‑up planning for new turbine models or major design changes.
• Identify, implement, and manage advanced manufacturing technologies—such as CNC automation, robotics, additive manufacturing for tooling, and digital twin capabilities—to improve precision and efficiency.
• Ensure tooling and production operations meet industry standards, internal quality controls, regulatory requirements, and safety standards, while preparing for internal and external audits.
• Select and manage relationships with tooling suppliers, machine vendors, and calibration partners. Oversee capital budgeting, ROI analysis, and procurement for new production equipment and major tooling investments.
• Direct teams in tooling, maintenance, operations engineering, and production support. Implement training programs to enhance technical capability, safety awareness, and operational discipline across the plant.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Management, Operations, or related field (Master's preferred). 
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience, including managing managers and large multi‑functional teams. 
• Experience managing a substantial operating budget ($25M+; ideally $40M+) and the ability to oversee complex portfolios, programs, or enterprise initiatives
• Demonstrates high-level financial and operational management capabilities coupled with keen problem-solving skills
• Skilled communicator who can craft and deliver presentations for executive stakeholders
• Experience in Systems management 
• Certification in Project Management, Change Management, Lean, or related disciplines. 
• Experience leading organizational transformation efforts. 
• Demonstrated skill in cultivating teams that perform reliably across projects

Competencies:

• Decision‑Making & Business Judgment 
• Change Leadership 
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement 
• Risk Management & Governance 
• Customer/Stakeholder Experience Orientation 

What We Offer:

We offer an exciting position with great development opportunities in an inspiring environment at the world's number one wind turbine producer. We value initiative, responsibility, and accuracy. You will become part of an international environment with a commitment to sustainability and safety and you will work among colleagues who support one another.

• Attractive salary and one of the most comprehensive benefits plans in the industry
• Great benefits coverage that includes dental and vision
• Generous Paid Time Off policies 
• Great 401(k) plan (with employer match)
• Tuition assistance

Salary - $143,000-$163,000/year

CCPA Notice for California Applicants

Our commitment to a fair hiring 
At Vestas, we evaluate all candidates solely based on their professional experience, education, and relevant skills. To support a fair recruitment process, we kindly ask that you remove any photos, dates of birth or graduation, gender pronouns, marital status, or other personal information not relevant to the role before submitting your CV/resume. Your CV/resume should focus on your professional and educational background, along with the necessary contact details (email and phone number). We train our hiring teams in inclusive evaluation and regularly review process outcomes to ensure fairness.

DEIB Statement
At Vestas, we recognize the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion in driving innovation and success. We strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, particularly those who may hesitate due to their identity or feel they do not meet every criterion. As our CEO states, "Expertise and talent come in many forms, and a diverse workforce enhances our ability to think differently and solve the complex challenges of our industry". Your unique perspective is what will help us powering the solution for a sustainable, green energy future.

BEWARE – RECRUITMENT FRAUD
It has come to our attention that there are a number of fraudulent emails from people pretending to work for Vestas. Read more via this link, https://www.vestas.com/en/careers/our-recruitment-process

About Vestas
Vestas is the energy industry’s global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We are specialised in designing, manufacturing, installing, and servicing wind turbines, both onshore and offshore. 
Across the globe, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. We consider ourselves pioneers within the industry, as we continuously aim to design new solutions and technologies to create a more sustainable future for all of us. With more than 185 GW of wind power installed worldwide and 40+ years of experience in wind energy, we have an unmatched track record demonstrating our expertise within the field. 
With 30,000 employees globally, we are a diverse team united by a common goal: to power the solution – today, tomorrow, and far into the future. 
Vestas promotes a diverse workforce which embraces all social identities and is free of any discrimination. We commit to create and sustain an environment that acknowledges and harvests different experiences, skills, and perspectives. We also aim to give everyone equal access to opportunity. 
To learn more about our company and life at Vestas, we invite you to visit our website at www.vestas.com and follow us on our social media channels. We also encourage you to join our Talent Universe to receive notifications on new and relevant postings.