Operations Director Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's operations director roles are concentrated in Milwaukee's manufacturing and logistics corridor, Madison's growing tech and healthcare sectors, and Green Bay's food processing industry. Major employers like Kohler, Northwestern Mutual, American Family Insurance, and UW Health have histories of sponsoring senior operational leadership talent from abroad.
Find Operations Director JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 83+ Operations Director Jobs in Wisconsin with Visa Sponsorship
See all 83+ Operations Director Jobs in Wisconsin with Visa Sponsorship
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Operations Director Jobs in Wisconsin with Visa Sponsorship.
Get Access To All JobsPosition Title: Area Manager
Location: Augusta, WI
Strategic Group: Supply Chain
Department: Operations
Reports To: Production Manager
Number of Direct Reports: 40
Summary
Under the direction of the Department Manager, this position provides leadership to the Operations and Material Handling process teams in the business. This position is responsible for delivering continuous improvement in areas of Safety, Quality, Cost, Organizational Development, Productivity, and Reliable Maintenance. Results are achieved through providing growth, development, and coaching of hourly team members; involvement in continuous and process improvement initiatives; positive reinforcement of desired behavior; utilizing corrective counseling when needed; and incorporating tools used in Lean Manufacturing.
This person is responsible for the daily, as well as long-term, effectiveness of the operations team. The ability to perform all tasks in a highly collaborative team environment is essential. Continued success is achieved, in part, through the development of positive personal relationships within all employee groups. Willingness and flexibility to work on various shifts and rotate into different departments are mandatory components of the Area Manager role.
Major Position Responsibilities:
It is an essential requirement of the job that the employee have the ability to function in a feedback-rich, team-based environment. Employees must possess good interpersonal skills and be compatible with co-workers.
ESSENTIAL
65%
TEAM DEVELOPMENT
This includes teaching, planning, organizing, and implementing learning methods/tools for teams and individuals to increase their knowledge and abilities and to meet area, plant and company objectives.
Building accountability systems to ensure knowledge and skills are utilized to create innovative solutions and improvements, which contribute to the success of the company.
The manager is expected to lead the team in expanding their areas of influence and accountability, taking ownership of their operation and key measurements.
The manager encourages creative ideas from employees and formulates those ideas into realistic projects and processes that will improve safety, quality, morale, equipment reliability and/or reduce operating costs.
The manager must also deal effectively with behavioral issues, performance issues, and staffing needs. Utilization of feedback and performance reviews to obtain objective performance data is required.
Excellent verbal and written skills are essential to this role.
30%
PROJECT AND PROCESS MANAGEMENT
Effectively manages assigned projects that improve the production area including, but not limited to: building processes to manage safety, costs, quality, and timeliness of projects.
The skills to utilize Kaizen events and other Lean tools for process improvement is desired.
Ensures daily process data is analyzed and utilized for process improvement opportunity.
Supports plant Food Safety, Food Quality, and personnel safety programs.
The manager provides a working knowledge of the production equipment while also seeking and providing appropriate resources (internal and external) to ensure the team's success. The manager also provides integration of the maintenance personnel into the team and the team processes. They also provide personal resources to aid in daily practical and analytical problem solving, as well as identifying and correcting safety issues for the production area.
5%
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Participates in the production area budgeting processes and operates within the established budget while providing timely notification of expenses exceeding budget amounts. The manager is responsible for the integrity of all information and data generated by the production area and teams.
Responsible for the knowledge and reporting of production data feeding the accounting processes, i.e. MUV's and labor.
SUPPLEMENTAL:
Fiscal Responsibility: Operational budgets that include controllable costs and labor.
Internal Customers: All hourly manufacturing personnel/QA/HR/Purchasing/Administration
External Customers: Corporate, consumers, equipment and material vendors, Temp services
Qualifications
Degrees
Bachelor's Degree of Arts, Business, or Science or related Associates degree with equivalent experience.
Years of Experience
2+ preferred in a manufacturing environment.
Certifications/Licenses
Better Process Control School - can be obtained upon hire through Bush Bros as well.
Specialized Skills
- Socially Astute
- Strong Communication Skills
- Adaptable
- Results and Detail Oriented
- Computer skills including use of Microsoft Office and web-based programs
- Facilitation, coaching, and team building skills
- Experience in managing direct reports or strong demonstration of ability to do so
- Food Experience/Background/Knowledge preferred but not required
- Knowledge of or experience in applying Lean Manufacturing tools such as 6S, SMED and Kaizen, SPC, and general mechanical/manufacturing knowledge is a plus.
Workplace Conditions
Ability to work 40 hours per week and as needed.
Office
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, fax machines, etc.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to see, talk, and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit.
The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and rarely lift and/or move 25 – 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Position Title: Area Manager
Location: Augusta, WI
Strategic Group: Supply Chain
Department: Operations
Reports To: Production Manager
Number of Direct Reports: 40
Summary
Under the direction of the Department Manager, this position provides leadership to the Operations and Material Handling process teams in the business. This position is responsible for delivering continuous improvement in areas of Safety, Quality, Cost, Organizational Development, Productivity, and Reliable Maintenance. Results are achieved through providing growth, development, and coaching of hourly team members; involvement in continuous and process improvement initiatives; positive reinforcement of desired behavior; utilizing corrective counseling when needed; and incorporating tools used in Lean Manufacturing.
This person is responsible for the daily, as well as long-term, effectiveness of the operations team. The ability to perform all tasks in a highly collaborative team environment is essential. Continued success is achieved, in part, through the development of positive personal relationships within all employee groups. Willingness and flexibility to work on various shifts and rotate into different departments are mandatory components of the Area Manager role.
Major Position Responsibilities:
It is an essential requirement of the job that the employee have the ability to function in a feedback-rich, team-based environment. Employees must possess good interpersonal skills and be compatible with co-workers.
ESSENTIAL
65%
TEAM DEVELOPMENT
This includes teaching, planning, organizing, and implementing learning methods/tools for teams and individuals to increase their knowledge and abilities and to meet area, plant and company objectives.
Building accountability systems to ensure knowledge and skills are utilized to create innovative solutions and improvements, which contribute to the success of the company.
The manager is expected to lead the team in expanding their areas of influence and accountability, taking ownership of their operation and key measurements.
The manager encourages creative ideas from employees and formulates those ideas into realistic projects and processes that will improve safety, quality, morale, equipment reliability and/or reduce operating costs.
The manager must also deal effectively with behavioral issues, performance issues, and staffing needs. Utilization of feedback and performance reviews to obtain objective performance data is required.
Excellent verbal and written skills are essential to this role.
30%
PROJECT AND PROCESS MANAGEMENT
Effectively manages assigned projects that improve the production area including, but not limited to: building processes to manage safety, costs, quality, and timeliness of projects.
The skills to utilize Kaizen events and other Lean tools for process improvement is desired.
Ensures daily process data is analyzed and utilized for process improvement opportunity.
Supports plant Food Safety, Food Quality, and personnel safety programs.
The manager provides a working knowledge of the production equipment while also seeking and providing appropriate resources (internal and external) to ensure the team's success. The manager also provides integration of the maintenance personnel into the team and the team processes. They also provide personal resources to aid in daily practical and analytical problem solving, as well as identifying and correcting safety issues for the production area.
5%
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Participates in the production area budgeting processes and operates within the established budget while providing timely notification of expenses exceeding budget amounts. The manager is responsible for the integrity of all information and data generated by the production area and teams.
Responsible for the knowledge and reporting of production data feeding the accounting processes, i.e. MUV's and labor.
SUPPLEMENTAL:
Fiscal Responsibility: Operational budgets that include controllable costs and labor.
Internal Customers: All hourly manufacturing personnel/QA/HR/Purchasing/Administration
External Customers: Corporate, consumers, equipment and material vendors, Temp services
Qualifications
Degrees
Bachelor's Degree of Arts, Business, or Science or related Associates degree with equivalent experience.
Years of Experience
2+ preferred in a manufacturing environment.
Certifications/Licenses
Better Process Control School - can be obtained upon hire through Bush Bros as well.
Specialized Skills
- Socially Astute
- Strong Communication Skills
- Adaptable
- Results and Detail Oriented
- Computer skills including use of Microsoft Office and web-based programs
- Facilitation, coaching, and team building skills
- Experience in managing direct reports or strong demonstration of ability to do so
- Food Experience/Background/Knowledge preferred but not required
- Knowledge of or experience in applying Lean Manufacturing tools such as 6S, SMED and Kaizen, SPC, and general mechanical/manufacturing knowledge is a plus.
Workplace Conditions
Ability to work 40 hours per week and as needed.
Office
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, fax machines, etc.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to see, talk, and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit.
The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and rarely lift and/or move 25 – 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Operations Director Job Roles in Wisconsin
See all 83+ Operations Director Jobs in Wisconsin
Sign up for free to filter by visa type, set job alerts, and find employers with verified sponsorship history.
Search Operations Director Jobs in WisconsinOperations Director Jobs in Wisconsin: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for operations directors in Wisconsin?
Large Wisconsin employers with established immigration programs include Kohler Co., Northwestern Mutual, American Family Insurance, Epic Systems, and Advocate Aurora Health. Manufacturers in the Milwaukee metro and food production companies in the Fox Valley region also sponsor operations leadership roles. Firms with dedicated HR and legal infrastructure are generally more equipped to manage the sponsorship process for director-level positions.
Which visa types are most common for operations director roles in Wisconsin?
The H-1B visa is the most common visa for operations directors in Wisconsin, as the role typically qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring a relevant bachelor's degree or higher. Candidates with multinational experience may be eligible for the L-1A intracompany transferee visa. Those with exceptional records in operations leadership may explore the O-1A. Each category has distinct employer obligations and eligibility standards.
Which cities in Wisconsin have the most operations director sponsorship jobs?
Milwaukee generates the highest volume of operations director opportunities in Wisconsin, driven by its manufacturing, financial services, and healthcare sectors. Madison follows closely, with demand from health systems like UW Health and tech firms clustered around the university. Green Bay and Appleton see openings in food processing and paper manufacturing, while Racine and Kenosha benefit from proximity to Chicago-area supply chains.
How to find operations director visa sponsorship jobs in Wisconsin?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international job seekers and filters operations director roles in Wisconsin by visa sponsorship availability. Because director-level positions are rarely advertised with explicit sponsorship language, Migrate Mate surfaces employers with documented sponsorship histories, saving significant research time. Filtering by Wisconsin and the operations director category gives you a targeted list of employers actively hiring at that level.
Are there any Wisconsin-specific factors that affect operations director sponsorship?
Wisconsin's manufacturing and healthcare sectors drive consistent demand for operations leadership, which supports sponsorship activity even outside major coastal markets. The University of Wisconsin system produces graduate talent in business and engineering that some employers tap, but international candidates at the director level typically arrive with prior U.S. work experience. Prevailing wage requirements for H-1B petitions apply at the director level, so employers must meet Department of Labor wage determinations for the specific metro area.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored operations director jobs in Wisconsin?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.