The Opportunity
The Aftermarket Operations Lead role offers an exciting leadership opportunity within Howden Compressors' Aftermarket team. You'll drive key business performance areas such as sales, customer support, and order execution, while collaborating with senior leadership to shape strategic direction. Building strong relationships within the organisation and with customers to deliver technical and commercial credibility will be critical. As a key player in the company's growth, you'll oversee forecasts, manage risks, and spearhead margin improvement initiatives. The position is hybrid, based in Renfrew, with occasional international travel.
Who are we
Chart Industries is a leading global manufacturer of highly engineered equipment servicing multiple applications in the clean energy and industrial gas markets. Chart employees over 11,700 people based across 64 global manufacturing locations and 50+ service centres. Recognised for an innovative edge and expansive portfolio, Chart has a global leadership position in process technologies with products and services in applications such as hydrogen, carbon capture, energy recovery, nuclear, water treatment, mining, and LNG to name a few.
In 2023, Chart acquired Howden, a leading global engineering business. Since 1854, Howden has been at the forefront of developing engineering solutions for the needs of industrial processes. Today, Howden provide mission critical air and gas handling products to clients with our range of highly engineered compressors, blowers, fans, steam turbines and rotary heat exchangers.
The strategic combination of Howden and Chart expands our offering of products and solutions across the Nexus of Clean™ -- clean power, clean water, clean food and clean industrials. Together we are advancing a more sustainable future, by helping our customers to increase their environmental & functional efficiencies and decarbonise their operations. We have a strong corporate identity and a clear purpose - you will be a member of our team shaping the future of the company and participating in helping our customers tackle some of the planet's most pressing issues.
What will you do
The main purpose of the Aftermarket Operations Lead is as follows;
* Leader within the Aftermarket Team – Driving values and behaviours alongside business performance (e.g. Sales, Business Development, Order Execution and Customer Support).
* Collaborate with Aftermarket Director and HCO leadership on current and future annual operating plans for the business.
* Build relationships within AFM Management team and wider HCO organisation to maximise performance.
* Recognise developing issues and problem solve to implement solutions for the business and our customers.
* Key customer facing team member, displaying technical and commercial credibility.
* Provide strategic direction for the short and long-term growth of the business in accordance with targets set by Leadership.
* Introduce healthy tension to challenge peers and the wider team on the direction and strategy.
Accountabilities;
* Drive a culture of customer service and pace within HCO Aftermarket; recognising the importance of our customers in everything we do.
* KPIs defined via annual objectives and AFM strategy deployment. Amongst other metrics, this will cover Bookings, Sales and margin performance vs Forecast; margin improvement; OTD; overdue cash balance; and TTQ.
* Identify risks and opportunities in relation to these KPIs and react to mitigate risk and recognise opportunities.
* Assess opportunities for improving the business and take initiative to implement change as required.
* Coordinate Sales, Commercial and Customer Service Leads to manage Bookings, Sales (turnover) and Margin for all HCO AFM activity (Screw, Rotary and SG/Legacy).
* Prepare accurate forecasts versus the monthly and quarterly operating plan (+/- 5% accuracy), maintaining a view on risks and opportunities to the execution of the plan.
* Recognise market trends and business pressures to advise Leadership on the required strategic direction of the business.
* Key player in delivery of HCO AFM margin improvement and protection initiatives.
* Strategic pricing and control of discounting structures.
* Ensure all activities adhere to Howden EH&S policies.
What do you bring
Education and Background
* Degree qualification, preferably in STEM field.
* Minimum 5 years’ experience professional employment.
Essential skills, knowledge & behaviours
* Experience managing a team
* Expert verbal and written communicator
* Strong business analyst skills (Analytics of ERP & CRM)
* Excel, PowerPoint and Word proficient
* Commercial experience of international trading terms and conditions
* Business finance experience and experience working with Finance teams
* Change management skills working with multi-disciplined team
* Capability to present results, forecasts and plans to a Leadership team
* SOX compliance experience
Desirable skills, knowledge & behaviours
* Product knowledge of compressors or related rotating equipment
* Lean manufacturing / Kaizen continuous improvement expertise
We’ve put together some criteria that we think is important for this role, but don’t worry if your experience and expertise isn’t an exact match. If you feel that you can add value to our role and to Howden more broadly, we would welcome your application and be eager to learn more about you.
Our benefits
* A flexible, hybrid working environment
* Bonus
* Generous holiday entitlement package totalling 33 days annual leave
* Howden Pension Plan with a maximum employer contribution of 7%
* Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, shared parental and adoption leave pay
* Free onsite parking
* Healthcare cash plan
* Group Life Assurance plan at 3x salary
* Group Income Protection plan
* Access to My Howden Benefits & Wellbeing Portal – Cycle2Work programme, range of discounts across various retailers, wealth of information to support health & wellbeing
* Dedicated Help@Hand Service – free counselling, physiotherapy, financial support, medical second opinion, remote GP, personal training, nutrition consultations etc
* Opportunity to be involved in our ESG ‘Bright Future’ initiatives – STEM ambassador & volunteering
Chart is an equal opportunity employer...
The Company intention in respect of recruitment, selection and promotion is to appoint the most suitable candidate for each job regardless of that person’s race, religious beliefs, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age or disability.