Director of Manufacturing - MHK

Role Summary

The Director of Manufacturing four our Manhattan production facility will provide end to end leadership for a high precision weld fabrication and powder coating facility. This role is accountable for overall operational performance, including safety, quality, delivery, and cost, while driving Lean methodologies and ensuring the plant consistently meets customer, regulatory, and financial expectations. The Director will oversee operations across tube laser fabrication, MIG/Flux/robotic welding, batch system powder coating, and shipping/receiving. Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Manufacturing, the Director will lead a team of 10 salaried professionals and shape the operational culture to meet the pace and quality standards expected from our Manhattan based operation.

Key Responsibilities

Safety

• Champion a zero injury, safety first culture across all shifts and departments.
• Ensure full compliance with OSHA standards and internal safety policies.
• Lead proactive safety initiatives, audits, and corrective or preventive actions.

Operations

• Direct daily operations across fabrication, robotic welding, powder coating, shipping, and receiving.
• Develop and execute operational strategies that support organizational growth, on time delivery, quality excellence, and cost efficiency.
• Lead production planning, workforce alignment, capacity planning, robotics integration, and overall material flow optimization.

Quality

• Ensure all fabrication and powder coating processes meet customer requirements, internal quality standards, and industry specifications.
• Partner with Quality Assurance to implement corrective actions and preventive countermeasures.
• Promote a zero defect mindset through standard work, process controls, and continuous improvement.

Talent & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop Production Managers, Supervisors, and cross functional leads.
• Collaborate with HR to attract, develop, and retain skilled talent in welding, fabrication, powder coating, and materials management.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing initiatives including 5S, value stream mapping, standard work, SMED, and visual management.
• Use data driven insights to forecast capacity, optimize staffing, and reduce cost per unit.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; minimum of a high school diploma with 10 years of manufacturing experience required.
• At least 5 years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven background in metal fabrication, including welding, CNC fabrication, machining, and assembly.
• Knowledge of powder coating systems and welding standards.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
• Experience with Lean methodology including Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), 5S, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), and workforce skill development.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools.
• Working knowledge of ISO standards and OSHA regulations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Self driven, organized, and capable of managing multiple priorities simultaneously.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience overseeing weld fabrication and powder coating operations in a high velocity production environment.
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher).