DENSO TEN AMERICA Limited provides a working environment where ambitious individuals grow and teamwork flourishes. We invest in our people because our success depends on their personal and professional development. DENSO TEN management is committed to respecting each employee while nurturing both individual and team capabilities. We seek to put people first, encourage participative decision making by all members, foster collaborative teamwork and support career development.

Comprehensive Benefits Package (offered to direct hire full time teammates):

• Health & Wellness: Health, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Plans, Wellness Program
• Financial Security: 401(k) with 5% Company Match, Life & Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance, Flexible Spending Account
• Professional Development: Tuition Reimbursement, Career Development & Ongoing Training
• Work-Life Balance: Paid Holidays & Vacation, Volunteer Opportunities
• Employee Recognition: Recognition Programs for Achievements & Milestones

Position Summary

The Vice President, Operations provides strategic and operational leadership across warehouse, logistics, purchasing, and continuous improvement functions. This role drives operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and the integration of smart warehouse and factory technologies to enable sustainable growth, efficiency, and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Direct day-to-day operations across warehouse, logistics, purchasing, and improvement teams, ensuring seamless execution and collaboration.
• Lead a multi-shift operation in a fast-paced and rapidly changing environment, ensuring consistency in standards, communication, and accountability across all shifts.
• Develop and implement strategies to optimize efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance processes across all functions.
• Lead enterprise-wide initiatives to adopt automation, data analytics, and digital tools that improve visibility and decision-making.
• Ensure strong coordination between TNAM and TNMX Mexico operations to maintain smooth flow of materials, finished goods, and information.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure operations comply with company policies, regulatory standards, and industry best practices (safety, environmental, labor, quality).
• Establish and track compliance metrics; oversee audits and drive corrective actions to mitigate risk.
• Ensure all operations comply with company policies, industry standards, and legal/regulatory requirements (e.g., OSHA, environmental, labor, IATF 16949, ESD controls).
• Oversee compliance with JSOX (Japanese Sarbanes-Oxley) internal controls, ensuring operational processes meet financial reporting and control requirements.
• Ensure alignment of safety and security standards across all operational areas, including external transportation partners and cross-border logistics.

Smart Warehouse & Digital Transformation

• Champion the deployment of advanced technologies (IoT, robotics, AI, WMS) to increase productivity, traceability, and quality.
• Partner with IT and engineering to integrate digital systems across manufacturing, warehousing, and business operations.
• Manage change adoption to ensure smooth implementation of smart factory initiatives.

Continuous Improvement

• Build and sustain a culture of continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, and other proven methodologies.
• Set measurable performance targets, track progress, and communicate results.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, root cause analyses, and cross-functional improvement projects.

Strategic Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Oversee purchasing strategies to ensure cost-effective sourcing, supplier reliability, and on-time delivery.
• Develop strong supplier partnerships, negotiate contracts, and manage performance to align with business goals.
• Ensure procurement practices meet company standards and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain supply chain risk mitigation strategies, including alternative sourcing, inventory buffers, contingency planning for disruptions.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop managers in warehouse, logistics, purchasing, and continuous improvement.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Identify skill gaps and implement development programs to build future leadership capacity.
• Ensure leaders are trained in emergency response, crisis leadership, and decision-making under pressure.
• Build leadership capability to operate calmly and decisively during high-risk or disruptive situations.

Strategic Planning & Reporting

• Align operational strategies with company objectives, market trends, and growth initiatives.
• Deliver regular reports on performance, compliance, improvement initiatives, and strategic projects to executive leadership.
• Represent operations in cross-functional projects and company-wide initiatives.
• Provide executive leadership with regular updates on operational risk exposure, emergency readiness, and business continuity status.
• Incorporate safety, security, and continuity risks into long-range operational planning.

Safety, Security & Business Continuity Leadership

·Own site emergency preparedness and response planning, including severe weather (tornado warnings, flooding), evacuation, shelter-in-place, and business continuity procedures.

·Ensure crisis response plans are tested through drills, tabletop exercises, and cross-functional coordination.

·Partner with Safety, Security, HR, and Facilities to ensure physical security, access control, visitor safety, and asset protection.

·Lead post-incident reviews and corrective actions following safety events, weather disruptions, or security concerns.

·Ensure safe material flow across high-risk areas, including bridge crossings and finished goods transfers from Mexico.

·Maintain operational continuity during disruptions through contingency planning and rapid response leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field; MBA strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in operations leadership, including warehouse, logistics, purchasing, and process improvement.
• Demonstrated experience managing operations in high-risk, fast-paced environments with exposure to emergency response, business continuity planning, and cross-border logistics in Mexico.
• Proven success implementing smart warehouse/factory technologies and driving compliance.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and change management skills with a track record of building high-performing teams.