Job Description
General Manager – Manufacturing & Commercial Operations
Location: Des Plaines, Illinois | 100% Onsite
Hire Type: Direct Hire
Compensation: $170,000–$180,000 base + 20% Bonus
Travel: 15–20%
Schedule: Flexible start times
Hire Type: Direct Hire
Compensation: $170,000–$180,000 base + 20% Bonus
Travel: 15–20%
Schedule: Flexible start times
About the Opportunity
Sterling Engineering is partnering with a leading global manufacturer of engineered components and solutions to hire a North America Business Unit Manager. This is a senior leadership opportunity to oversee manufacturing operations, sales, and commercial strategy across facilities in Wisconsin and Illinois. As a key member of the leadership team, you will take ownership of business unit performance, driving revenue growth, profitability, operational excellence, and long-term strategic initiatives.
The ideal candidate combines hands-on manufacturing leadership with strong commercial and financial acumen. We're looking for a strategic, results-driven leader who understands the business, identifies market opportunities, develops talent, and delivers measurable results.
What You'll Do
- Lead manufacturing operations and commercial/sales activities across multiple facilities in Wisconsin and Illinois.
- Develop and execute business strategies to drive revenue growth, profitability, and market expansion.
- Own business unit financial performance, including revenue, margins, operating costs, and profitability.
- Identify customer needs, market trends, and new business opportunities within engineered products and industrial manufacturing.
- Lead commercial strategy, product portfolio management, and customer development initiatives.
- Drive operational excellence through productivity improvements, cost reduction, quality, and continuous improvement.
- Develop and mentor cross-functional leadership teams across Operations, Sales, Engineering, and other business functions.
- Establish KPIs, monitor financial and operational performance, and drive accountability.
- Partner with global leadership to align regional objectives with broader business strategies.
- Lead organizational change, business transformation, and process improvement initiatives.
- Build strong relationships with customers, internal stakeholders, and international teams.
- Identify opportunities for innovation, product development, and long-term business growth.
What We're Looking For
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, or a related discipline; MBA or Master's degree preferred.
- 5+ years of manufacturing management or business leadership experience.
- 5+ years of global/international business experience, including direct responsibility for multiple sites.
- 5+ years of commercial leadership and product portfolio management experience.
- Proven ability to lead both manufacturing operations and sales/commercial functions.
- Strong financial acumen with experience driving revenue, margins, profitability, and overall business performance.
- Experience developing and executing strategic growth initiatives.
- Demonstrated success leading teams within a decentralized, global manufacturing organization.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement.
- Experience with change management, organizational development, and performance improvement.
- Strong analytical, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills.
- Ability to influence and collaborate across different cultures and organizational levels.
- Willingness to travel 15–20% and work onsite.
Preferred Industry Experience:
- Appliance or electromechanical component manufacturing
- Automotive or industrial component manufacturing
- Engineered products and high-volume manufacturing
- Global OEM or industrial supplier environments
Who Will Succeed in This Role?
- Business-Minded: Curious about markets, customers, and the financial drivers behind business success.
- Strategic: Able to identify long-term opportunities and translate them into actionable growth plans.
- Hands-On: Comfortable engaging directly with manufacturing teams and customers.
- Commercially Focused: Understands sales strategy, product portfolios, customer relationships, and market development.
- Financially Strong: Knows how to improve profitability and drive sustainable business performance.
- Collaborative Leader: Influences through credibility, relationships, and teamwork rather than authority alone.
- Talent Developer: Builds high-performing teams and develops future leaders.
- Globally Minded: Comfortable working across international business environments and interested in future global leadership opportunities.
Why Consider This Opportunity?
- Key leadership role within an established global manufacturing organization.
- Direct responsibility for both manufacturing operations and commercial performance.
- Opportunity to shape business strategy and drive measurable growth.
- Lead multiple manufacturing locations across Wisconsin and Illinois.
- Work with international leadership teams and customers.
- Potential for future advancement and global leadership opportunities.
- Flexible daily work schedule.
Sterling Engineering is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.
Numbers & Facts
| Location | Des Plaines, IL |
| Industry | Staffing/Employment Agencies |
| Salary | $170,000–$180,000 Per Year |
| Company Size | 500 to 999 employees |
| Year Founded | 1969 |
| Website | http://www.sterling-engineering.com |
About Company
Sterling Engineering has been a trusted partner for engineering, project management, and staffing solutions for over five decades. We provide exceptional engineering/technical recruitment and engineering project services to clients nationwide:
- Engineering & Technical Recruitment - With our focus on engineering, technical, and IT, Sterling has the in-depth knowledge, industry expertise, and robust employee pipeline it takes to rapidly find talent for even the most difficult to fill positions. Sterling’s extensive recruitment methodology allows us to engage the most talented employees in the marketplace. We offer exciting work and career-building opportunities for our candidates, along with expert support at every step of the process.
- Engineering Project Services – Our experienced, multi-disciplined team of project managers, engineers, and designers, led by licensed Professional Engineers (PE), provide project management, engineering, design, and Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation (CQV) to manufacturing, OEM, and R&D customers. We work on complex, highly technical projects across a number of industry sectors, and our ability to scale and seamlessly integrate at multiple levels of your organization is what differentiates us.
Sterling offers a unique combination of engineering solutions and Best of Staffing level service to help our clients and talent achieve their goals.
Skills
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