“Management is incredibly focused on your development and will take your ideas into account as much as anyone else in the organization, regardless of tenure.”
At nVent, we understand the importance of fostering a positive working environment that focuses on the growth and development of our employees. Say hello to Chris, a materials senior supervisor for our Enclosures business segment located in Anoka, Minnesota. His story is a testament to the opportunities that await potential employees at nVent. He is a recent graduate of our three-year, rotational supply and operations leadership development (SOLD) program. However, his journey with us started much earlier.
Chris began his career with us through a supply internship before completing his degree. He quickly found himself drawn to our organization’s emphasis on culture and the development of employees. “I interned for the company and really enjoyed the focus on culture and development of employees,” he shares. “Colleagues and managers alike work to build a culture around development and growth, both as an individual and a company as a whole.”
A year later, Chris joined our SOLD program to officially launch his career in operations. His first rotation was as a lean engineer in a plant he worked on-site with the operations team at our largest manufacturing facility in the United States. For his next rotation, he stayed within the Enclosures business segment but moved to the Enterprise sourcing team in St. Louis Park, Minnesota and took on a supply analyst role. In his final rotation, Chris served as a category manager and supply lead.
Throughout the years, Chris has been able to see the tangible impact of his contributions through various projects he has collaborated on. There are three key projects that demonstrate the skills he has learned:
- Co-led a supplier transition initiative and managed the transfer of 800 purchased carton stock keeping units (SKUs) to a new vendor within a span of 3-4 months.
- Devised a system to accurately determine stocking levels and production orders.
- Assisted with the high-density liquid cooling (HDLC) expansion by applying lean methodologies to increase the manufacturing cell.
Chris continues to feel empowered to do his best work and share ideas as they flow. “Management is incredibly focused on your development and will take your ideas into account as much as anyone else in the organization, regardless of tenure,” Chris adds. In his view, the onus is on the individual to be vocal and reach out if they want to learn something new, need more work, or want to network more.
He emphasizes positive feelings of trust, teamwork, and respect among coworkers. There is a ubiquitous desire for people to experience growth. “There is a feeling of trust among coworkers and a desire for development among all levels of the organization,” Chris shares. “As a young company, there is truly a desire for change which is unique among many organizations.” He also enjoys the hybrid working model offered which allows him to find a balance between the needs of work and those of life.
One piece of advice Chris has for others is to always strive to understand all aspects of the business. “Ask to learn more about different segments, functions, etc. It’s easy to get comfortable in your function, but it’s important to make connections and understand all aspects of the business,” he advises.
Learn how you can bring bold ideas, be authentic and build the future of a more sustainable and electrified world: nVent.com/careers.