VP of Automation
Department: Automation
Location: Duluth, GA
About the Role
The Vice President of Automation leads WEG-s Automation business division in the United States, with significant opportunity to accelerate growth, expand share in current channels, and enter new markets. This is an executive-level role and a member of the WEG US Executive Committee (EC), which sets overall strategic direction and makes key decisions guiding the company.
Reporting into the US executive leadership structure, the VP of Automation defines the strategic vision for the Automation business and leads a cross-functional leadership team spanning manufacturing, engineering, service, product management/marketing, and sales. This leader is accountable for delivering profitable growth, strengthening competitive positioning, and building the operating cadence and talent required to scale.
Primary Responsibilities
Strategy & Business Growth
Own the Automation business strategy and execute a multi-year growth plan across product, channel, operational, and commercial priorities.
Develop long-range competitive strategy, including annual sales, marketing, service, and operational improvement plans.
Identify growth opportunities (new markets, segments, channel expansion, partnerships) and translate them into actionable initiatives with measurable targets.
Establish and drive a consistent management operating rhythm (priorities, reviews, escalation paths, and execution accountability).
Commercial Leadership & Customer Engagement
Build and maintain executive-level relationships with key customers, targeted accounts, and strategic partners to support long-term business objectives.
Provide direct executive sponsorship for major accounts, key industry partners, and high-impact opportunities.
Partner with Sales and Product teams to strengthen value propositions, improve win rates, and increase customer retention and satisfaction.
Operations, Manufacturing & Engineering Leadership
Lead US Automation manufacturing and engineering operations to ensure quality, delivery, safety, and cost performance.
Establish and manage KPIs for a high-quality, efficient manufacturing environment, including UL508 and MV Drive/Soft Starter manufacturing.
Drive operational improvements across throughput, on-time delivery, warranty/quality performance, and productivity.
Sales & Operations Planning / Forecasting
Lead the monthly Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) cadence and ensure cross-functional alignment on demand, supply, capacity, and execution risks.
Deliver accurate forecasting by period and quarter, including clear assumptions, risks, and mitigation plans.
Maintain strong discipline around contribution margin performance and ensure strategies and execution support profitability targets.
Competitive Positioning & Marketing Enablement
Maintain deep knowledge of the competitive landscape and communicate competitor positioning and value propositions to internal teams.
Develop and execute strategies to differentiate WEG and position the business ahead of competitors.
Partner with WEG Marketing to design and implement national, regional, and local programs supporting pipeline growth and market penetration.
Identify and coordinate marketing research, product collateral, and literature development as needed.
Stay current on automation products, standards, and industry trends to inform strategy and product priorities.
People Leadership & Talent Development
Lead, coach, and develop the Automation leadership team and broader organization to support growth and execution excellence.
Ensure the organization has the technical and commercial capabilities required (training, staffing plans, succession planning).
Support performance management processes, including performance reviews and compensation recommendations.
Financial Management
Own the business budget and ensure Sales and Operations execution aligns with budgeted spend and investment priorities.
Develop and manage annual budgets and investment plans, including business cases and ROI expectations where applicable.
Travel
Up to 50% travel required.
Education
Bachelor-s degree required; BSEE/BSME preferred.
MBA preferred.
Knowledge / Market Expertise
This role requires deep knowledge of the US Automation market, strong executive leadership capability, and the ability to scale a multi-channel business. Current channels to market include OEM Direct, Electrical Wholesale, Systems Integrators, and Panel Builders. Key product lines include motor control components (contactors, circuit breakers, overload relays), LV drives and soft starters, MV drives and soft starters, and custom control panels.
Experience
10+ years of sales management and/or marketing leadership experience within the automation market required.
Proven track record of delivering profitable growth and leading cross-functional teams (Sales, Product, Operations/Manufacturing, Engineering, Service).
About WEG Electric Corp.
WEG is the largest industrial electric motor manufacturer in the Americas and one of the largest manufacturers of electric motors in the world producing more than 21 million units annually. Founded in 1961, WEG operates mainly in the sector of capital goods, having five main businesses: Motors, Energy, Automation, Coatings Transmission & Distribution, providing global solutions for electric motors, variable frequency drives, soft starters, controls, panels, transformers, and generators. The US corporate office is located in Duluth, GA with manufacturing units in Minnesota, Indiana and Missouri with over 30 thousand employees worldwide. Visit our website to learn more: www.weg.net
We offer a pleasant work environment, competitive compensation and full benefits package. To Apply: All candidates must submit an updated resume and complete our application in order to be considered for this position. Must be authorized to work in the United States. WEG does not offer visa sponsorship for this role.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, disability, veteran, or other protected status.
