JobsGenerac

Senior Operations Project Manager

Generac · Waukesha, WI

Posted Jul 30, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 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.

Behavioral

Walk me through a complex, cross-functional initiative you owned from planning through go-live. What was your role and how did you keep it on track?

whether the candidate has genuinely run end-to-end integration efforts versus just participating in them

Tell me about a time you had to drive alignment between operations, quality, supply chain, finance, and HR on something and at least one of those groups disagreed with the direction.

skill at leading through influence across a matrixed organization without formal authority

Tell me about a project where the scope or dependencies were genuinely unclear at the start. How did you build a plan anyway?

tolerance for ambiguity and ability to create structure where none exists

Give me an example of a risk you spotted early in a project that other people hadn't flagged yet. How did you raise it and what happened?

proactive risk identification versus reactive firefighting

Tell me about a presentation or update you had to give to senior leadership when the news wasn't good. How did you frame it?

executive communication skill and honesty under pressure

Technical

How would you set up governance and meeting cadence for a new enterprise initiative that touches five or six functions?

whether they have a concrete, repeatable method for structuring decision forums rather than just running status meetings

Describe a time you had to make a facility planning or make-versus-buy recommendation. What data did you use and who did you have to convince?

comfort with structured, data-driven tradeoff analysis at a strategic level

How do you typically build an integration plan — what are the pieces you always insist on including, like milestones, risks, dependencies?

whether their planning approach is genuinely structured or more improvised

How do you make sure a project doesn't just launch but actually gets absorbed into someone's standard work and stays sustained after you move on?

understanding of the difference between project completion and true operational handoff

What manufacturing or supply chain experience do you bring, and how has it shaped how you evaluate operational constraints on a project plan?

depth of real exposure to manufacturing environments versus generic PM background

Situational

Say a project is two weeks from go-live and you learn a key team doesn't actually have the tools or trained people to support the change. What do you do?

how they think about operational readiness and whether they'd rather delay, escalate, or push through

Imagine two senior leaders disagree about a tradeoff that's holding up your project's timeline. How do you get that resolved without going over anyone's head unnecessarily?

ability to broker executive-level conflict and drive decisions without damaging relationships

Tell me about a time competing priorities forced you to say no to a stakeholder or push back on a deadline. How did that conversation go?

willingness to hold a line on scope and priority under pressure from stakeholders

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The full job description

As published by Generac.

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most. For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future. Ready to Power a Smarter World with us? The Senior Project Manager Operations serves as a dynamic change agent and aggressively executes strategic facility planning, make vs. buy evaluation, business improvement & new product introduction (NPI) projects.  The position will be responsible for supporting and executing the strategic planning of multiple Generac Facility projects as well as overseeing the coordination of personnel and resources required to successfully complete these projects. This role provides holistic ownership of integration execution efforts spanning people, process, systems and governance. This includes translating strategic intent into executable integration plans, coordinating dependencies across multiple workstreams, proactively identifying risks, and ensuring outcomes are delivered in a sustainable, scalable manner. Operating in a highly matrixed environment, this role partners closely with leaders across Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, HR, and other Corporate Functions to ensure enterprise initiatives are coordinated, aligned, and executed cohesively across the organization. Operations Integration Execution • Own execution of complex, cross‑functional initiatives, coordinating teams to ensure alignment across operations, systems, processes, and governance. • Develop and manage structured integration plans with defined milestones, dependencies, risks, and measurable outcomes. • Serve as the primary point of accountability for integration results, ensuring initiatives are fully transitioned to business owners and sustained in steady‑state operations. Cross‑Functional Leadership • Lead and coordinate matrixed teams across Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, HR, and Corporate Functions to ensure consistent execution of enterprise initiatives. • Establish and manage clear governance, meeting cadence, and decision forums to address issues, evaluate tradeoffs, and drive timely decisions. • Identify cross‑functional misalignment, dependency conflicts, and execution risks early, and drive resolution with the appropriate stakeholders. Operational Readiness • Confirm that impacted teams have the tools, processes, and clarity needed to support enterprise initiatives at go‑live. • Work with functional leaders to integrate changes into standard work, business reviews, and accountability mechanisms. • Ensure integration plans reflect real operational constraints and can be executed without disrupting core operations. Minimum Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field — or equivalent relevant experience. • 7 years of progressive experience in Operations, Integration, Program or Portfolio Management, or related disciplines within complex, cross‑functional environments. Preferred Qualifications: • Demonstrated success leading enterprise‑level initiatives, large cross‑functional efforts, or major business changes from planning through execution. • Experience influencing senior leaders and driving execution across matrixed organizations. • Manufacturing and supply chain, preferred, but not required. Knowledge / Skills / Abilities • Strong ability to lead through influence and drive alignment across diverse stakeholders without formal authority. • Expertise in execution governance, cross‑functional coordination, and managing work across multiple teams. • Proven ability to manage complexity, ambiguity, and competing priorities in fast‑paced environments. • Highly effective verbal and written communication skills, including executive‑level presentations and decision support. • Strong structured problem‑solving, risk management, and data‑driven decision‑making skills. • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with enterprise planning, portfolio, or execution management tools. Office Environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls.  The employee is regularly required to stand and walk.  On occasion, the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend, or reach above the shoulders.  The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Specific conditions of this job are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting, close vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Occasional travel Great Reasons to work for Generac:  • Competitive Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision, 401k and many more • State-of-the-art facility with an onsite gym, walking trails, café, free parking and many employee activities  • Scheduled events throughout the year that allow our employees, both current and retirees, to gather together and enjoy their time with their families and co-workers • Eligible for summer hours! (Memorial Day – Labor Day) • Pride! When a storm strikes, Generac employees always rise to the occasion. Each time a storm hits many employees volunteer their time with the customer support team or on the production line while others go right into storm-affected areas to repair generators • We believe in having fun. From minor celebrations to major events, our employees balance their work by building a strong culture of teamwork and collaboration through a variety of occasions, including our Fun Days.  • Every day is Jeans Day! Dress for your day. • Product loan and discount programs “We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”

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