Full-Time

Director of Operations

Posted on 11/29/2025

Sika

Sika

10,001+ employees

Specialty chemicals for bonding, sealing, damping

No salary listed

Gastonia, NC, USA

In Person

Category
Operations & Logistics (1)
Requirements
  • This person must possess excellent communication skills, which are characterized by sincerity, persuasiveness, and clarity of thought.
  • Must be an experienced manufacturing leader who can lead the necessary strategies and programs to increase safety, quality, productivity, and customer service.
  • Incumbent must have strong interpersonal skills reflecting leadership, sensitivity and the demonstrated desire and ability to foster teamwork focusing on positive cooperative communication.
  • Experience with line production, changeover manufacturing, production planning, preventative maintenance and time critical maintenance.
  • Minimum of 10 years Manufacturing Management experience.
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced 24hr/5day environment.
  • Experience managing daily production plans and allocating necessary resources.
  • Strong leader who manages fairly and consistently when applying rules, policies, and procedures.
  • Technically oriented.
  • Highly organized.
  • Able to be a presence on the shop floor.
Responsibilities
  • Attain annual safety goals through a solid understanding of safety management as well as the ability to convey and enforce safety rules and procedures throughout the facility.
  • Champion the Sika Safety First culture.
  • To attain annual quality and delivery goals, this position must be familiar with the product quality demands of our customers. Problem-solving, error-proofing, and mentoring skills are required.
  • Accountable for execution of the Sika Quality Management System in support of continued IATF, ISO9001 and TISAX certification.
  • The ability to communicate effectively with all members of the organization, including educating them on the importance of continuous improvement and root cause analysis as key elements of operations.
  • Demonstrated ability to build high-performing teams in the areas of EH&S, quality, manufacturing, materials management and planning, logistics, and maintenance.
  • Develop a flexible organization that can respond quickly to changing customer demands.
  • Select, train, and develop professional staff to perform at their own personal best.
  • Training and development of factory associates to ensure uninterrupted availability of necessary skills to operate equipment to meet customer order demand.
  • Motivating assigned professional and factory personnel to perform at required levels to attain annual goals through solid management and coaching skills.
  • Build and maintain a strong commitment to quality and excellence as it relates to all functional areas of manufacturing, engineering, and new product development.
  • The incumbent must have the ability to define processes and identify non-value-added activities to streamline activities.
  • Attain annual expense budget goals and execute annual capital budget to achieve promised benefits.
  • Generate and implement annual Plant Cost Reduction/Improvement Plans
  • Controls capital assets and recommend new capital projects.
  • Creation of Annual, 3-year, and 5-year business plans.
  • Manage P&L and Balance Sheet activity for Plant Operations.
  • Drives preventative maintenance, and problem solving.
  • Work closely with R&D and Marketing in the development and design of innovative new products that represent the company's best interests within the industries it serves.
  • Participates as a member of Local Expert Teams (LET) and Operational Competency Teams (OCT) as required.
  • Assists in Program Management by reviewing plans and specs and supporting timetables established based on the customer needs.
  • Coordinates strategies with sales, engineering, R&D, customer service, and Corporate Operations teams.
  • Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations.
  • Complete other assignments assigned by Senior Management.
Desired Qualifications
  • A comprehensive knowledge of continuous improvement concepts including statistical process control and lean manufacturing is desired.
  • A solid understanding of mechanical engineering with conceptual understanding of chemical and/or process engineering is desired.
  • Bachelor’s degree preferred, engineering degree and/or Masters desirable.

Sika is a global specialty chemicals producer that creates systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protection used in the building sector and other industries. Its offerings include adhesives, sealants, damping materials, reinforcement solutions, and protective coatings that join materials, seal joints, damp vibrations, add strength, and protect surfaces through engineered chemical formulations. The company stands out through its wide geographic presence (103 countries and hundreds of factories) and a decentralized structure that lets regional teams tailor solutions to local needs, along with a strong emphasis on sustainability and practical product performance. Sika aims to help transform construction and transportation toward greater environmental sustainability by delivering reliable, specialized chemical systems that improve build quality, efficiency, durability, and overall performance.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Baar, Switzerland

Founded

1910

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Upper Deerfield plant expansion creates 50 jobs with two additional expansions planned.
  • Kyrgyzstan subsidiary entry captures 7% annual GDP growth through 2030 in construction.
  • Georgia-Pacific EIFS collaboration reduces installation time and waste for commercial projects.

What critics are saying

  • Turkish antitrust authority blocks Akkim acquisition, forfeiting $150M Mediterranean expansion revenue.
  • EU REACH PFAS restrictions require $500M reformulation by July 2026.
  • MESH's rebar automation reduces reinforcing chemical demand by 30% in precast.

What makes Sika unique

  • Global network of 103 subsidiaries and 400+ factories enables local-for-local strategy.
  • Integrated materials and robotics expertise through MESH investment automates construction workflows.
  • Decentralized organizational structure empowers regional teams to capture emerging market opportunities.

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Benefits

Performance Bonus

Company News

LinkedIn
Mar 26th, 2026
MESH Secures US$3.8M Seed Round to Automate Rebar Construction Through Robotics

BIRR (AG), SWITZERLAND – MESH, an ETH Zurich spin-off, today announced the successful oversubscribed closing of a US$3.8 million seed funding round.

finanzen.net GmbH
Mar 26th, 2026
Sika invests in MESH's $3.3M round to advance robot-assisted rebar construction

Swiss construction chemicals company Sika has invested in MESH AG, an ETH Zurich spin-off pioneering robot-supported manufacturing in reinforcement construction. The CHF 2.9 million funding round included participation from ABB Robotics and Shimizu Corporation. MESH's technology automates reinforcement cage construction, translating digital design data directly into robotic production. The system has already processed over one million rebar elements in Switzerland, including for the new Gotthard Road Tunnel project. Sika, which generated annual sales of CHF 11.20 billion in 2025, aims to combine MESH's digital manufacturing capabilities with its materials expertise to increase efficiency and sustainability in construction. The investment supports MESH's transition from regional innovator to global technology supplier in the precast concrete and infrastructure sectors.

Startupticker.ch
Mar 26th, 2026
MESH secures US$3.8 million seed round to automate rebar construction globally.

MESH secures US$3.8 million seed round to automate rebar construction globally. 26.03.2026 MESH, an ETH Zurich spin-off, closed an oversubscribed US$3.8 million seed funding round backed by industry leaders and experienced investors including ABB Robotics Ventures and Sika. This investment round marks a pivotal milestone for MESH as it transitions from a regional innovator to a global technology provider. While construction is planned with sophisticated digital tools, the actual construction work remains heavily manual and physically demanding. To overcome this challenge, MESH has developed a software and robotics platform specifically for the rebar industry. MESH's easy-to-use software allows construction companies to deploy industrial robots to handle, place, and join rebar autonomously. Unlike traditional factory robots designed for repetitive tasks, MESH's system is highly flexible. Robots can switch between different designs at the push of a button without requiring specialized programming, enabling highly flexible automated rebar production. Proven in the Field Founded in 2022 and based in the canton Aargau, MESH has rapidly transitioned its technology from the ETH Zurich research lab into practical industrial applications. Its systems are already operating in Swiss rebar shops and prefabrication plants to automate high-stakes construction work. To date, more than 1 million rebar elements have been processed by MESH systems for major infrastructure projects, including Switzerland's new Gotthard tunnel and building construction works. These deployments have proven that automation does more than just speed up the process. It makes rebar work safer by removing workers from dangerous, repetitive tasks and by significantly reducing errors through built-in digital quality control. Strategic Investment The investment round was backed by ABB Robotics Ventures, Apprecia Capital, Shimizu Corporation - one of Japan's leading general contractors -, specialty chemicals giant Sika, buildify.earth and Aargauische Kantonalbank. By partnering with industry leaders such as ABB Robotics, Shimizu Corporation, and Sika, MESH is gaining the strategic expertise and international reach critical to bringing its automated solutions to rebar construction worldwide. The company will use the funding to accelerate international expansion and establish a strong presence in key global markets. In addition, the capital will support the development of new partnership models designed to help rebar and construction firms easily adopt MESH technology, while supporting team expansion. Marc Segura, President of ABB Robotics, comments: "We are delighted to be part of this transformative ecosystem and to support MESH in advancing automation for the construction industry. As the sector addresses labor shortages, safety challenges and the need for greater productivity, automating rebar production offers a clear path for delivering faster fabrication, consistent quality and reduced material waste. Combining ABB Robotics' expertise with MESH's platform will bridge the gap between digital design and physical execution in construction projects and enable safer, more e5icient and reliable rebar production." Ammar Mirjan, CEO and Co-Founder of MESH, adds: "Securing the support of our partners and global leaders in robotics and construction is a pivotal milestone for MESH. Our vision is to bring the efficiency of the digital world to physical construction, and this investment is a major step toward that goal. With this partnership, we are ready to scale our technology and make a lasting impact on how the world builds."

GlobeNewswire
Mar 24th, 2026
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING APPROVES BOARD OF DIRECTORS' PROPOSALS.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING APPROVES BOARD OF DIRECTORS' PROPOSALS. March 24, 2026 18:30 ET | Source: Sika AG ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING APPROVES BOARD OF DIRECTORS' PROPOSALS All the Board of Directors' proposals were approved by the shareholders at the 58th Annual General Meeting of Sika AG on March 24, 2026. The Annual General Meeting of Sika AG took place on March 24, 2026 in Zurich. * The shareholders approved the annual financial statements and the consolidated financial statements for the business year 2025 and voted in favor of a gross dividend of CHF 3.70 per share for the business year 2025, as proposed by the Board of Directors. * The administrative bodies of Sika AG were granted discharge. * The shareholders re-elected all previous members of the Board of Directors, other than Paul Schuler who did not stand for re-election, as well as its Chair Thierry F.J. Vanlancker for another one-year term of office. Barbara Frei and Lukas Gähwiler were newly elected to the Board of Directors for a one-year term of office. Further, the shareholders elected Justin M. Howell, Gordana Landén, and Lukas Gähwiler as members of the Nomination and Compensation Committee for a one-year term of office. * KPMG AG were re-elected as auditors and Jost Windlin was re-elected as independent proxy. * In a non-binding consultative vote, the shareholders approved the 2025 Compensation Report. Further, the Annual General Meeting approved the Board's and the Group Management's future compensation as well as the 2025 Sustainability Report. SIKA CORPORATE PROFILE Sika is a specialty chemicals company with a globally leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protection in the building sector and industry. Sika has subsidiaries in 103 countries around the world, produces in over 400 factories, and develops innovative technologies for customers worldwide. In doing so, it plays a crucial role in enabling the transformation of the construction and transportation industries toward greater environmental compatibility. In 2025, Sika's 33,700 employees generated annual sales of CHF 11.20 billion. CONTACT Dominik Slappnig Corporate Communications and Investor Relations +41 58 436 68 21 [email protected] The media release can be downloaded from the following link: Media Release

EUWID
Mar 18th, 2026
Sika group planning takeover of adhesives producer Akkim.

Sika group planning takeover of adhesives producer Akkim. 18 March 2026 With the planned takeover of the Turkish adhesives producers Akkim, Swiss Sika AG is aiming to further expand its activities into southern Europe, the Mediterranean region, and the Near/Middle East... You can only use this article with a valid subscription and registration. Registered subscribers can access all articles after entering their user name and password. Article topics 03 March 2026 25 February 2026 24 November 2025

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