Jobs › nVent

General Manager, Switchgear

nVent · Oshkosh, WI · $172,900–$257,000 a year · Full time

Posted Oct 1, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a business you led where you grew revenue and improved margin at the same time.

What they are checking: Whether they've owned full P and L results, not just one side of the business.

Tell me about a leader on your team you had to replace. How did you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they act on performance problems while treating people fairly.

Tell me about a transformation strategy you set and how you turned it into results.

What they are checking: Whether they can move from strategy slides to measurable execution.

What would you do

Data center customers want switchgear faster than ever. How would you increase delivery velocity without hurting quality?

What they are checking: Whether they can balance speed and quality for mission-critical customers where failure is not an option.

What operating rhythm would you set up in your first ninety days?

What they are checking: Whether they can build accountability and reviews that make performance visible.

How do you decide which customer programs to pursue when engineering capacity is limited?

What they are checking: Whether they can make portfolio choices based on margin, strategic fit and execution risk.

How would you work with supply chain when a key component is constrained across the industry?

What they are checking: Whether they can manage supply risk with suppliers and customers before it hits delivery.

How do you keep engineering, manufacturing and project delivery from blaming each other on a late job?

What they are checking: Whether they can build a culture of shared ownership across functions.

About the work

How do you run an engineered-to-order switchgear business differently from a build-to-stock business?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that engineering capacity and project execution, not inventory, drive ETO results.

What do utility customers value differently from data center customers?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the different needs of the markets the business serves.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by nVent.

We’re looking for people who put their innovation to work to advance our success – and their own. Join an organization that ensures a more secure world through connecting and protecting our customers with inventive electrical solutions. nVent is seeking a General Manager to lead our Switchgear business within Engineered Building Solutions (EBS), an engineered-to-order (ETO) business serving mission-critical customers across utility, data center, infrastructure, and industrial markets. This leader will own the full business performance of the Switchgear portfolio, bringing together commercial strategy, engineering execution, manufacturing operations, project delivery, customer relationships, and financial performance to scale growth, improve margin, and deliver complex customer programs with velocity, quality, and discipline. WHAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE IN THIS POSITION: • Lead and further expand a high-performing team: Develop leadership capability, establish clear accountability and operating rhythm, and foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. • Set and implement transformational strategy: Define strategies, translate into actionable plans, and scale growth across programs, solutions, and services portfolios. • Partner with operations on execution : Integrate supply chain, manufacturing, quality, and site operations to ensure efficiency, cost control, and delivery performance. • Partner with engineering on the NPI & Sustaining design lifecycle and execution: Represent the voice of the customer with strong designs and processes to ensure manufacturability of the products. • Drive operational excellence: Establish strong operating rigor, performance management, forecasting, and financial planning and quality management processes. • Expand market and customer impact : Build and deepen relationships with key customers, partners, and stakeholders; translate insights into differentiated solutions and long-term growth opportunities. • Accelerate innovation and growth initiatives : Drive NPI, support engineering and sales on new technologies, and expand into hyperscale and emerging markets. • Ensure safety and compliance : Maintain safe working conditions, environmental responsibility, and adherence to company policies and local regulations. • Own P&L and drive business performance : Lead revenue growth, margin expansion, portfolio diversification, and ensure compliance with business and regulatory requirements. YOU HAVE: • Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or marketing required, with an MBA or equivalent experience preferred. • 15+ years of experience leading within an Engineered to Order (ETO) environment, preferably within Switchgear. • Proven skills in running a P&L budget and identifying sales force capability gaps with successful implementation plans. • Demonstrated proficiency in nurturing long-term, value-based relationships with core accounts to elevate revenue. • Proven ability to negotiate through collaboration, persuasion, influence, rationale, and tact in a selling environment. • Ability to adapt to rapidly changing business circumstances and thrive in a dynamic environment. WE HAVE: • A dynamic global reach with diverse operations around the world that will stretch your abilities, provide plentiful career opportunities, and allow you to make an impact every day • nVent is a leading global provider of electrical connection and protection solutions. We believe our inventive electrical solutions enable safer systems and ensure a more secure world. We design, manufacture, market, install and service high performance products and solutions that connect and protect some of the world's most sensitive equipment, buildings and critical processes. We offer a comprehensive range of systems protection and electrical connections solutions across industry-leading brands that are recognized globally for quality, reliability and innovation. • Our principal office is in London and our management office in the United States is in Minneapolis. Our robust portfolio of leading electrical product brands dates back more than 100 years and includes nVent CADDY, ERICO, HOFFMAN, ILSCO, SCHROFF and TRACHTE. Learn more at www.nvent.com . • Commitment to strengthen communities where our employees live and work • We encourage and support the philanthropic activities of our employees worldwide • Through our nVent in Action matching program, we provide funds to nonprofit and educational organizations where our employees volunteer or donate money • Core values that shape our culture and drive us to deliver the best for our employees and our customers. We’re known for being: • Innovative & adaptable • Dedicated to absolute integrity • Focused on the customer first • Respectful and team oriented • Optimistic and energizing • Accountable for performance • Benefits to support the lives of our employees Pay Transparency nVent’s pay scale is based on the expected range of base pay for this job and the employee’s work location. Employee pay within this range will be based on a combination of factors including knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, education, and performance. Where federal, state, or local minimum wage requirements exist, employee pay will comply. Compensation Range: $172,900.00 - $257,000.00 Depending on the position offered, employee may be eligible for other forms of compensation, such as annual incentives. Benefit Overview At nVent, we value our people and their health and well-being. We provide a broad benefits package with meaningful programs for eligible full-time employees that includes: • Medical, dental, and vision plans along with flexible spending accounts, short-term and long-term disability benefits, critical illness, accident insurance and life insurance. • A 401(k) retirement plan and an employee stock purchase plan — both include a company match. • Other supplemental benefits may include tuition reimbursement, caregiver, personal and parental leave, back-up care services, paid time off including volunteer time, a well-being program, and/or legal & identity theft protection. At nVent, we connect and protect our customers with inventive electrical solutions. People are our most valuable asset. Inclusion and diversity means that we celebrate and encourage each other’s authenticity because we understand that uniqueness sparks growth. #LI-AM1 #LI-Hybrid

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