Vice President/General Manager – Strategic Deployment

Join the world's largest HVAC company, named by Forbes as one of America's Best-In-State Employers 2025!

Daikin Applied Americas is seeking a dynamic VP/GM, Strategic Deployment. This role has full accountability for the leadership and business performance of a business unit or acquired company.Responsible for the strategic direction and commercial growth of the business unit’s product portfolio, ensuring alignment with DAA’s growth, innovation, and sustainability objectives.Will lead and drive the development of the go-to market strategies to exceed our financial objectives. Responsible for executing operational performance at all levels of the business unit, managing all functions and operations including safety, quality, engineering, sales, marketing, customer experience, and cost, supporting financial objectives.Sets strategies and priorities to achieve DAA financial, performance and people goals for their organization in support of DAA’s Fusion 30 Strategy. Is intended to be a “utility player” role with the leader deployable across business units, acquired companies or business functions as needed.Will embrace the People Centered Management philosophy to create an engaging and high-performance work environment.Works collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders and drives a culture of innovation and unrivaled customer experience.

Location: Ideally this person will be hybrid to either our Plymouth or Faribault, MN locations.  Relocation can be provided.  Remote candidates will be considered if willing to travel regularly.

What you will do:

Operational Leadership

• Lead integrated manufacturing operations to include Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Operations.  Optimize cost, productivity, linearity, efficiencies, and resource allocation.
• Successful management of P&L through periodic review and course correction.  Actively manage, monitor and communicate the performance of the business unit/acquired company.
• Develop and lead the execution of operations strategy. Communicate strategy and priorities to enable teams to deliver exceptional results.
• Partner effectively across Engineering, Procurement, Materials, Customer Solutions, Marketing and other departments to constantly seek production improvements, minimize costs and ensure maximum customer satisfaction.
• Lead the planning organization to ensure the execution of the factory SiOP plan.
• Oversee the implementation of manufacturing schedules based on sales requirements and plant capacity.
• Develop and lead footprint decisions for the business.

Product & Portfolio Leadership

• Own the strategic direction and commercial performance of the business unit’s product portfolio, ensuring alignment with DAA’s growth, innovation, and sustainability objectives.
• Define and execute a comprehensive product and portfolio strategy across market segments, balancing customer needs, competitive positioning, and profitable margins.
• Partner with product management and engineering to establish differentiated product roadmaps, including next-generation HVAC technologies.
• Optimize portfolio mix, including SKU rationalization, platform strategy, and tiered offerings, to maximize market coverage and operational efficiency.
• Lead product lifecycle management across all products, from innovation and launch through maturity and sunset.

Strategic & Financial Acumen

• Drive data-informed decisions using market insights, customer feedback, and financial performance metrics to identify opportunities and mitigate risks.
• Partner with finance to develop business cases, assess return on investment, make/buy decisions and support budgeting or forecasting efforts.
• Lead the Business Unit direction for CAPEX expenditures

Leadership & Talent Development

• Leverage People Centered Management to build capability within teams by coaching leaders, strengthening accountability, and driving a performance culture.
• Serve as a role model for leadership excellence—demonstrating resilience, calm under pressure, and sound judgment.
• Create strong partnerships, develop and share talent across the organization.
• Build strong talent bench and succession pipeline for the broader DAA business.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent Experience in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Business or similar
• 12+ years; incl 8+ years in manufacturing leadership roles including people leadership experience
• Demonstrated success leading teams in dynamic or ambiguous and matrixed environments.
• Strong financial and analytical skills with experience interpreting market conditions, operational metrics, P&L drivers, and business cases.
• Possesses a working knowledge of the HVAC equipment or related industry
• Exceptional communication and influence skills — able to build trust, provide clarity, and align diverse teams.
• Experience leading change, continuous improvement initiatives, or turnaround situations.
• Ability to travel as needed to support different business units, plants, or project sites

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Background in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or operational excellence methodologies.

• Experience in multi-site leadership or interim leadership roles.
• Strong project or program management skills.
• Leadership experience within a Japanese company (ability to bridge cultures).

Daikin Applied offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: 

• Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and visioninsurance  
• 401K retirement plan with employer contributions matching 100% of the first 3% of employee contributions and 50% on the next 2% of employee contributions
• Company provided life insurance + optional employee paid voluntary life insurance, dependent life coverage and voluntary accident coverage
• Short term and long-term disability
• 3 weeks of paid time off for new employees + 11 company paid holidays
• Vacation accrues on a monthly basis, unless applicable federal, state and local law requires a faster accrual
• Paid sick time in accordance of the federal, state and local law
• Paid parental leave and tuition reimbursement after 6 months of continuous service

The typical annual base salary for this position ranges from 181,600.00 - 329,900.00 (+35% bonus) in Minnesota. The range displayed represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade which this position falls. Individual base pay will depend on a wide range of factors including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.  

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