Description

FN America, LLC is a U.S. subsidiary of FN Herstal, S.A., a global leader in the development and manufacturing of high-quality, reliable firearms for military, law enforcement and commercial customers worldwide. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia with manufacturing operations in Columbia, South Carolina, FN America is passionately committed to providing its customers with a portfolio of FN-branded products, training and support services that enhance user performance and safeguard their lives. For more information, visit us at or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Position Summary

The Director, Plant Operations will establish and lead our new greenfield manufacturing facility in Liberty, SC. Develops and executes an integrated operational strategy which safely delivers low-cost, high-quality products, and customer satisfaction using a lean approach. Plans, coordinates, and directs the various operational duties of the manufacturing operations. 

Leads and inspires an engaged team that thrives on continually improving and developing an integrated manufacturing strategy and delivering top and bottom-line growth while meeting and exceeding customer requirements and expectations. 

Job Duties

Strategic Leadership:

• Contributes to the operational strategic planning process, ensuring all operating and capital budgets support the organization’s goals.
• Develops and deploys strategies for lean and six sigma implementation and advancement throughout operations as strategies for growth and improvement.
• Determines strategies for new product launches and industrialization while continuing to drive growth and bottom-line improvement for existing products.
• Designs flow for current and expanding manufacturing footprint which enhances capabilities and enables increasing product mix through the Production Facility.
• Leads the continuous improvement strategy and execution in Liberty operations.

Operational and Fiscal Accountability:

• Implements operational processes and systems to drive world-class results using a metrics-based approach for safety, quality, delivery, inventory, productivity, and cost performance.
• Optimizes operational competencies that support the business strategy.
• Owns the site operational improvement roadmap to drive significant process improvement that delivers bottom line performance.
• Ensures manufacturing capacity is defined and expanded; ensuring continued improvements and enhancements are made to operate in a safe, secure, and effective manner.
• Continuously assesses and benchmarks manufacturing processes with leading organizations outside the industry to promote the highest levels of effectiveness and efficiency.
• Ensures appropriate reporting tools are in place to monitor results with a focus on driving continual improvement, efficiency, and effectiveness of key business processes.
• Optimizes resources, including inventory, facilities, budget dollars, physical and capital assets, and talent.
• Creates a safe, healthy, and environmentally responsible work environment and promotes team dynamics to ensure high performance.
• Leverages lean techniques to drive performance that streamlines processes and reinforces a culture of continuous improvement through lean leadership on the floor.
• Other duties as assigned by management.

People Leadership:

• Develops a culture of empowerment and execution through focused performance goal setting and coaching, letting neither good nor poor results go unnoticed and actively removing barriers to success.
• Leads in a cross-functional matrix organization through both authority and influence.
• Employs sound leadership skills to build trust and engagement in a high performance, results-driven, customer focused team.
• Develops a best-in-class manufacturing culture which serves as a recruitment tool to ensure key roles are filled with people who possess the aptitude, skill, and drive necessary to meet our business objectives.
• Coaches team members to develop and execute personal growth objectives that increase both personal fulfillment and contributions to the organization, increases their effectiveness, achieves ambitious performance goals, as well as personal growth objectives to ensure appropriate succession strength.
• Creates a compelling, aligned vision for the operation lead and supports the team to execute the vision.
• Implements regular two-way communication processes that ensure consistency of focus.

Educational Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in mechanical, industrial, process, manufacturing engineering or management is required. MBA is preferred.

Experience Requirements

10 years of manufacturing experience with increasing levels of leadership responsibility for operational planning, execution, growth, and change management with previous experience in component manufacturing and final product assembly in a vertically integrated environment is required.

Skills and Competencies

All FN America employees are expected to demonstrate accountability, collaboration, communication, customer focus, and innovation. Additional requirements of this position include:

• Proven performance as a manufacturing leader of complex operations. 
• Ability to be collaborative, strategic, and detail-oriented, with proven performance as a manufacturing leader of complex manufacturing operations.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to balance strategic and tactical requirements.
• Six-sigma and/or Lean certification or equivalent experience.
• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to influence and interact within matrix based organizational structure and external stakeholders. 
• Strong personal presence, self-confidence, and the ability to convey and drive a sense of urgency.
• Proven track record of transforming strategy into an actionable plan that delivers measurable business results.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, communicate, and build relationships with people at all levels of the organization. 
• Proven track record of leading successful change management initiatives and supporting cultural shifts from a batch and queue approach to lean manufacturing.

Working Conditions

Typical office environment with some travel between buildings and to other locations required. Incumbent will be exposed to loud noises, dangerous machinery, and chemicals when on the plant floor.

All FN America employees have a responsibility to participate in the development of a safe and healthy workplace and to comply with instructions given for their own safety and health and that of others. 

Equal Employment Opportunity/M/F/disability/protected veteran status.

FN America, LLC is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please email HR@FNAmerica.com or call: 803-736-0522. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

VEVRAA Federal Contractor.