For over 48 years, Massman Companies, Inc. (Massman) has provided automated packaging solutions. The company develops new solutions that drive organic growth and has made six strategic acquisitions to expand its product line offering.
The company is searching for a Vice President & General Manager (VP & GM) to work with and succeed the current leader of Massman Automation. Massman Automation is the original acquired portfolio company acquired by Granite Partners in 2016; it's focus is on case packaging, palletizing, in-line pouch filling, and several specialty packaging lines. Massman Automation is also the largest business in Massman, serving as the integration hub for acquired technologies and operating out of two facilities: Massman's Campus in Alexandria, MN, and the original company home office in Villard, MN (15 minutes south of Alexandria). The VP & GM has an exceptional opportunity to build upon the company's long history at an exciting time, leveraging the technology and strength of Massman Automation and the broader Massman Companies. The VP & GM will lead the business with true, full multi-site and P&L accountability.
This is a significant opportunity for a proven General Manager to lead Massman Automation by overseeing the design, manufacture, and full customer experience of the company's case packing, palletizing and full line automation solutions. This opportunity would be well suited to an experienced General Manager or a high potential division manager. This role benefits from the autonomy of site leadership and collaboration with peer General Managers. Reporting to the CEO, the VP & GM is a member of the executive leadership team and participates fully in the Board of Directors meetings.
The VP & GM will appreciate the entrepreneurial environment surrounding Massman Automation as well as the benefits and support associated with being part of the Granite community. Granite Partners is committed to strategic and long-term decision-making, with a 100-year sustainability objective. The right candidate will be attracted to Massman's values, people, products, and high growth. This is an exceptional opportunity to rapidly grow revenue at a strong performing business with healthy financials and business system maturity that punches above its weight class.
The Position
Reporting to Massman Companies' President and CEO, the successful candidate will be responsible for leading Massman Automation's commercial and operational activities and driving a high performing organization to produce high value, consistent products. The VP & GM will have full P&L responsibility for the Massman Automation business unit. The VP & GM is a key member of the Massman leadership team and serves as a strategic partner to the CEO and other executives, pursuing the company's growth and value creation objectives.
The Massman Automation organization includes more than 170 employees and operates a 75,000-square-foot facility in Alexandria, Minnesota, and a 55,000-square-foot facility in Villard, Minnesota. The Alexandria site includes engineering, machine assembly, and customer testing and shares the facility with Massman Companies functions, including finance, marketing, HR, and IT. The Villard site has a fabrication center of excellence for all metal working and provides aftermarket service fulfillment and retrofits for existing customers.
The VP & GM is responsible for all functions, including sales proposals, product and specification reviews, design, fabrication, assembly, customer testing, installation, and lifetime equipment support. The VP & GM embodies Massman's customer-centricity and fulfills our mission of being the best running machine in the factory. The individual in this role will lead the strategic actions of Massman Automation, including identifying target markets and opportunities to increase the sale of Massman Automation's products to Massman's customer base and creating new-to-Massman accounts. This position requires a strong, interactive leader who is fully competent across a broad range of business activities.
Candidate Profile
The VP & GM must be a high integrity person who values employee wellbeing and is committed to long-term versus short-term success. We seek a highly effective leader with strong commercial, business, and operational skills. This key position requires a minimum of 10 years of people leadership experience in a custom or non-repetitive manufacturing environment, preferably in major capital equipment manufacturing with a project work orientation. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated track record of success and accomplishment in positions of increasing managerial responsibility, including proven results in driving strategic decisions that create value and enhance the overall success of a business.
Qualified candidates will possess a background in engineering and manufacturing environments with an understanding of engineering design, customer relations, and operations. The right candidate will have a particularly strong commercial background with a broad-based understanding of sales, marketing, operations, and finance. The successful candidate will likely be technically oriented and inclined to maximize his or her contribution to the company. An undergraduate degree is required; an advanced degree or MBA is desired.
Prior general management is preferred, including profit and loss accountability. Exceptional leadership skills are essential, characterized by a drive to succeed through staff development. Experience in an industry related to Massman, or with a similar business model, is a definite advantage. Additionally, this individual must have the capacity to collaborate with other leaders within Massman and Granite Partners, taking advantage of resources throughout the organization and becoming an integral part of the team.
Additional qualifications include:
Excellent people and organizational development skills, including recruiting, objective setting, performance management, and employee communication.
Strategic thinking and planning skills, with the ability to construct and execute a 3 to 5-year plan.
Outstanding communication skills, including the ability to translate operating and strategic concepts into clear and concise language for implementation at all levels.
Ability to lead a product development and technology roadmap aligned to attractive market opportunities.
Demonstrated success implementing continuous improvement concepts to achieve operational excellence. Knowledge of today's best practices is beneficial, particularly in lean manufacturing and 5S concepts.
Experience in and/or demonstrated knowledge of supply chain functions from procurement to distribution.
Financial skills, with the ability to identify areas of opportunity and make bottom line-oriented decisions to improve results and support long- and short-term planning.
An understanding of manufacturing systems including modern MRP / ERP systems with preference for ability to optimize work flows through modern, digital toolsets.
A proven ability to prioritize and drive a proactive safety culture.
The ideal candidate will have a balanced management approach capable of leading change and driving an already successful company to a higher level of potential.