Director of Manufacturing

Director of Manufacturing

Purpose

The Director of Manufacturing is responsible for overseeing and optimizing all manufacturing operations to ensure efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness. This role will drive continuous improvement initiatives, automation strategies, and lean manufacturing efforts while ensuring that production meets business objectives. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership, analytical, and communication skills with the ability to identify areas of improvement and drive organizational growth by collaborating with all levels of the organization. The Director of Manufacturing must be able to exhibit and communicate understanding of machining and fabrication and have a track record of implementing operational best practices.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Business, or related field (Master’s degree preferred).
• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of machining, fabrication, and post-processing operations.
• Experience with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and automation technologies.
• Proven ability to lead large teams and drive cultural transformation.
• Experience transitioning operations to a centralized machining facility.
• Knowledge of ERP/MRP systems for production planning and scheduling.
• Background in aerospace, automotive, or precision manufacturing industries.

Responsibilities

Operational Leadership:

• Oversee daily manufacturing operations across all facilities, ensuring production schedules and quality standards are met.
• Drive operational excellence by implementing lean manufacturing principles, automation, and process improvements.
• Ensure all facilities are optimized for efficiency.
• Develop and maintain KPIs for production efficiency, cost control, and quality assurance.
• Collaborate with engineering, supply chain, and assembly teams to ensure seamless workflow between machining, fabrication, and post-processing.

• Build relationships with internal and external customers.
• Acts as liaison between departments or other groups to improve function, performance, or communication.

Strategic Planning & Execution:

• Lead and execute strategic initiatives to optimize manufacturing capabilities in alignment with business goals.
• Evaluate and implement new technologies, automation solutions, and best practices to enhance production.
• Identify areas for cost reduction, waste elimination, and productivity improvement.
• Ensure capacity planning and resource allocation align with business growth and customer demands.

• Analyzes current operations, identifying areas for improvement, and developing strategic plans to enhance efficiency and productivity across organizations.
• Effectively and clearly communicates risks in a timely manner facilitating risk mitigation steps when necessary.
• Strategically communicates with internal and external customers to ensure organizational success.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing manufacturing team, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Work with Human Resources to develop training programs that enhance technical skills and leadership capabilities.
• Build cross-functional collaboration between manufacturing, engineering, and quality teams.
• Partner with Human Resources to improve employee culture and strategic initiatives.

• Ensure staffing levels in organization is adequate to meet the business needs.
• Partner and collaborates with cross-functional teams to identify and resolve concerns or areas for improvement.

Quality & Compliance:

• Ensure adherence to industry regulations, safety standards, and company policies.
• Drive initiatives for quality improvement and defect reduction.
• Work closely with quality assurance teams to maintain and enhance product integrity.

Financial & Budgetary Management:

• Develop and manage the manufacturing budget, including cost forecasting and expense control.
• Optimize resource allocation to balance cost-effectiveness and production needs.
• Drive cost savings through efficiency improvements and strategic sourcing.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Management of the assigned operations team members.
• Strong ability to hire, coach, and train employees to develop skills and increase results.
• Oversee assigned employee performance, partners with Human Resources to address areas of improvement or success and ensure company policies are adhered to.
• Works with department leaders to monitor each department and make recommendations that impacts the organization.

Tasks

• Implementing strategic initiatives and organizational changes effectively, overseeing management of internal and external customer expectations, and minimizing disruptions.
• Assign or delegate responsibilities to appointed individuals.
• Oversee or implement policies, objectives or activities of organization to ensure maximization of returns on investment or increased productivity.
• Meet with organizational team members at all levels to discuss issues, align activities, or resolve problems.
• Ensure efficient collaboration and coordination between departments.
• Provide clear and concise verbal or written direction, create documents, or present information to internal and external customers promoting the organization, discussing operational goals and needs, exchange ideas, or accomplish organizational objectives.
• Act as liaison between internal and external customers when necessary.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.