What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Manufacturing position at SkyWater Search Partners?
The Director of Manufacturing will lead manufacturing performance and plant operations to deliver safe, efficient, and high-quality production aligned with business objectives. This role is responsible for end-to-end operational performance, ensuring finished products consistently meet customer and quality expectations.
The Director of Manufacturing collaborates closely with cross-functional teams (Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, Finance, HR, R&D, etc.) to ensure production, processes, and people strategies are aligned with company goals. This is a hands-on leadership role that blends execution, team leadership, and continuous improvement in a fast-paced, growing environment.
Responsibilities
- People and Organization Leadership
- Lead, coach, and develop plant leadership to drive accountability and performance
- Foster a culture of safety, engagement, and continuous improvement across the facility
- Build strong frontline leadership capability across production and maintenance teams
- Partner with HR to assess talent, develop succession plans, and strengthen leadership bench
- Promote a culture of ownership, transparency, and collaboration across all levels of the plant
- Drive employee engagement and retention through effective communication and leadership presence
Manufacturing Operations Leadership
- Own overall plant performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity metrics
- Ensure reliable, efficient, and consistent daily operations within a 24/7 manufacturing environment
- Establish and reinforce operational routines (daily huddles, shift handoffs, KPI tracking)
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and reduce waste
- Ensure compliance with food safety, regulatory, and quality standards
- Partner with Quality to improve product consistency, reduce defects, and minimize customer complaints
- Develop and manage plant budgets, forecasts, and cost improvement initiatives
Technical & Process Leadership
- Partner with engineering and maintenance to ensure equipment reliability and operational uptime
- Support capital projects and process improvements that enhance plant capability and capacity
- Ensure effective preventive maintenance programs and operational discipline
- Act as a technical and operational resource to troubleshoot production challenges and drive root cause resolution
Strategy and Growth Leadership
- Support plant scalability to meet increasing demand and future growth initiatives
- Lead implementation of new products and process changes within the facility
- Partner with cross-functional leaders to align production capabilities with business strategy
- Contribute to longer-term operational planning, including capacity and infrastructure needs
- Help build the foundation for future multi-site operations as the organization grows
Desired Skills And Experience
- Minimum Qualifications
- Minimum of 8–12 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience
- Prior experience in a food, beverage, or consumer packaged goods manufacturing environment
- Experience leading teams in a production setting, including frontline leadership development
- Strong understanding of food safety, quality systems, and regulatory requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or related field preferred
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in high-growth or evolving manufacturing environments
- Exposure to both processing and packaging operations
- Demonstrated success driving continuous improvement (Lean, TPM, or similar methodologies)
- Strong problem-solving skills with a hands-on, floor-oriented leadership approach
- Ability to balance strategic thinking with day-to-day operational execution
- Strong business acumen and ability to manage cost, efficiency, and performance