Director of Operations

Director of Operations

Salary Expectations:

• $190,000 - $220,000 Base Salary
• 50% Bonus

Keys to this role:

• Medium-sized manufacturing plant with approximately 200 employees
• $150M P&L operation
• Non-union manufacturing environment
• Reports directly to the General Manager
• Strong manufacturing leadership experience, ideally in aerospace, castings, metal fabrication, or other complex manufacturing environments
• Experience managing multiple departments, shifts, and production supervisors
• Strong financial acumen, budgeting, cost control, and operational performance management
• Proven success driving Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, throughput, productivity, and profitability

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Lead daily manufacturing operations across multiple production departments and shifts, ensuring safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives are achieved
• Oversee production supervisors and manufacturing personnel, providing leadership, coaching, development, and performance management
• Ensure compliance with all company safety policies, OSHA requirements, and established manufacturing procedures
• Drive operational performance through effective production planning, scheduling, staffing, and resource allocation
• Manage manufacturing KPIs, including throughput, earned hours, productivity, efficiency, quality, and operating costs
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Theory of Constraints (TOC), and other operational excellence methodologies
• Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing processes, reduce costs, eliminate waste, and increase production efficiency
• Ensure production schedules and customer delivery requirements are consistently achieved
• Lead annual budgeting activities and manage departmental expenses to meet or exceed financial targets
• Evaluate and recommend capital equipment investments to improve manufacturing capabilities, capacity, and operational efficiency
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and other departments to resolve manufacturing challenges and improve overall plant performance
• Develop and implement action plans to improve safety, productivity, quality, and employee engagement
• Maintain appropriate staffing levels and oversee hiring, training, employee evaluations, and workforce development
• Establish clear performance expectations and hold supervisors and employees accountable for operational results
• Ensure compliance with manufacturing process controls, operating procedures, and quality standards
• Promote a positive, results-driven work environment focused on employee development, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Resolve employee relations issues and support effective communication throughout the manufacturing organization

Qualifications:

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or related field, OR 5-7 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience
• Proven manufacturing operations leadership experience managing multiple departments, shifts, and supervisory personnel
• Experience overseeing a sizable manufacturing workforce, ideally 150-250 employees
• Strong understanding of manufacturing financials, operating budgets, cost management, and production performance
• Demonstrated success implementing Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives
• Experience managing production schedules, throughput, labor efficiency, and manufacturing KPIs
• Ability to lead, develop, and hold manufacturing supervisors and teams accountable for results
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, ERP systems, and manufacturing planning and tracking applications
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred

• Aerospace, defense, investment casting, foundry, machining, or precision manufacturing experience
• Previous P&L responsibility within a medium-sized manufacturing facility
• Experience working in a non-union manufacturing environment
• Experience managing CAPEX projects and capital equipment investments
• Knowledge of Theory of Constraints (TOC), Lean Manufacturing, and advanced manufacturing improvement methodologies
• Experience reporting directly to a Plant Manager, General Manager, or senior operations executive