Director of Operations

The Director of Manufacturing provides strategic leadership for multiple manufacturing facilities across the United States, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-performing operations that support the company's business objectives. This role is responsible for developing and executing manufacturing strategies that drive operational excellence, improve productivity, strengthen quality, and optimize cost performance across a multi-site manufacturing network.

As a key member of the operations leadership team, the Director partners closely with Plant Managers and cross-functional leaders to standardize best practices, build organizational capability, and lead transformational initiatives that enhance customer satisfaction and long-term business performance. The role champions a culture of safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and employee engagement while developing future manufacturing leaders and advancing operational maturity throughout the organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

• Develop and execute a multi-site manufacturing strategy aligned with business objectives, supporting growth, operational excellence, and long-term competitiveness.
• Provide leadership and direction to Plant Managers across multiple U.S. manufacturing facilities, ensuring consistent execution of operational priorities and achievement of performance objectives.
• Establish operational standards and governance across manufacturing sites to improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, inventory performance, and cost efficiency.
• Lead the development of annual operating plans, capital investment strategies, and manufacturing budgets while ensuring effective resource allocation.
• Champion a culture of safety by promoting leadership accountability, proactive risk reduction, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement in environmental, health, and safety performance.
• Drive enterprise-wide Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives that improve operational performance, eliminate waste, increase capacity, and enhance customer satisfaction.
• Partner with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Product Management, Finance, and Human Resources to improve manufacturing capability, accelerate new product introductions, and optimize end-to-end operations.
• Utilize operational metrics and data analytics to identify trends, evaluate performance, and implement corrective actions that improve business results.
• Lead organizational development efforts by recruiting, developing, coaching, and succession planning for manufacturing leadership teams.
• Foster collaboration and the sharing of best practices across manufacturing locations to drive consistency, innovation, and operational excellence.
• Evaluate emerging manufacturing technologies, automation opportunities, and digital manufacturing capabilities to improve productivity and support future growth.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements, company policies, and quality management systems.

Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field. A Master's degree or MBA is highly desirable.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations, with at least 5 years in a leadership role with experience managing plant managers or senior manufacturing leaders preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading multiple manufacturing facilities in a geographically dispersed environment.
• Proven ability to lead organizational transformation, facility integrations, capacity expansion, or operational turnarounds.
• Experience leading through acquisitions, footprint optimization, or manufacturing network changes is preferred.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing P&L drivers, capital planning, inventory optimization, and productivity initiatives.

Technical Skills: Deep knowledge of modern manufacturing processes, production planning, and quality management systems (e.g., ISO 9001).

Methodology: Proven expertise and practical implementation experience with process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma).

Leadership: Ability to build, develop and retain a high-performing team through assessment, recruiting, coaching, and developing others.

Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of presenting complex information to all levels of the organization.

Analytical Skills: Data driven mindset. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with proficiency in using manufacturing software (e.g., ERP, MES) and data analysis for decision-making.

Travel: Ability to travel approximately 40-60% to support manufacturing locations.