Director of Operations (open to relo)

Plant Manager - this is Director level Operations leader - looking for that hands on strategic executive leader in metal stamping operations

Location - Milford, DE (Open to relocation)

Strengths

• Larger business responsibility (full P&L and 300-400 employees responsibility)
• Better financial ownership
• Stronger executive progression
• Strong business leadership
• More stable career
• Better EBITDA/P&L metrics
• Current operational executive leadership

POSITION PURPOSE

The Plant Manager serves as the senior operations leader for the largest manufacturing facility responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue. With full P&L responsibility, this role leads a high profile plant, high mix production operation spanning more than 300-400 employees across three shifts

• We are looking for someone with polish and concise responses to our questions as well as experience managing either multiple sites or large sites. they can drive performance, hold a site accountable for driving results, and hold true development conversations with their direct reports
• KPIs & driving results for a fast paced company is key - managing large number of employees - 300-400 and big P&L is important.
• Developing people at ground level & dealing with leadership - reporting out metrics on a regular basis.
• This Plant Manager will set clear direction, develop strong leadership capability across the organization, and ensure safe, efficient, and reliable production to meet growing customer demand.
• This facility has undergone significant investments in capital, technology, and workforce development, and the ideal leader will harness that momentum-driving operational excellence, fostering a culture of accountability and empowerment, heightening a sense of urgency, and building a positive, people‑first environment

.KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• 15 years of manufacturing leadership, including a minimum of 5 years leading a plant of 350 employees
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, operations management, or related field preferred
• Proven success leading large-scale operations (350 employees) in a multi-shift environment
• Demonstrated experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, JIT, or similar methodologies
• Strong financial acumen, including P&L ownership and experience managing multimillion‑dollar budgets
• Track record of leading through growth, transformation, or rapid demand increases
• Excellent communication, influencing, and change leadership capabilities
• Experience working within a global or matrixed organization strongly preferred

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategic Leadership

• Set the overall direction and performance expectations for the region's largest plant, ensuring operational excellence and profitability
• Partner with global operations, engineering, supply chain, sales, and product teams to ensure alignment and share best practices across the enterprise
• Operational Excellence - Manage end‑to‑end production operations-from order receipt through shipment-including materials planning, manufacturing engineering, quality, environmental compliance, maintenance, logistics, and field service
• Lead development of resource plans, capacity strategies, and plant loading models
• Drive continuous improvement using Lean principles to enhance Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost

Financial & Business Management

• Maintain full P&L ownership, ensuring strong operating efficiency and productivity
• People Leadership & Organizational Development - Lead, coach, and develop a diverse team of managers, supervisors, and functional leaders

Success Metrics (First 6 Months

• Establish a Clear Understanding of Plant Performance - Review safety results, production metrics, financials, bottlenecks, CI maturity, and talent capabilities
• Build Strong Relationships Across the Organization - Maintain a visible presence on the floor across all shifts
• Establish consistent communication routines (stand‑ups, weekly reviews, monthly all‑hands)
• Develop and Socialize an Operational Excellence Roadmap - Identify critical bottlenecks and stabilization needs
• Ensure All Team Members Have Clear Goals - Cascade plant‑level strategy and KPIs into department and individual objectives
• Create Functional Area Roadmaps - Define the 'next level of performance' for each function
• Implement Development and Coaching Plans for Direct Reports - Assess each leader's strengths, gaps, readiness, and potential
• Create individualized development plans aligned with leadership capabilities and succession planning
• Strengthen Core Operational Outcomes - Improve safety performance and reduce incidents through proactive leadership

Travel Required - Up to 15-20%

NATURE & SCOPE

The Plant Manager reports directly to the Regional VP, Operations. The position will have major interactions with all levels of the organization in all worldwide locations. In addition to being fully accountable for the plant, the position will have significant interaction with the sales, marketing, product engineering, and financial functions to drive overall execution. The Plant Manager will also participate directly on Global teams designed to compare Key Performance Indicators across global facilities and collaborate on best practice sharing to improve overall global operations