Director of Manufacturing

Job Summary

The Director of Manufacturing provides strategic leadership and oversight for manufacturing operations across one or multiple facilities. This role is responsible for driving operational excellence in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement while aligning manufacturing strategy with overall business objectives. The Director of Manufacturing leads plant leadership teams, standardizes processes, and drives continuous improvement initiatives to support growth, scalability, and profitability.

Key Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership for manufacturing operations across assigned facilities
Develop and execute manufacturing strategies aligned with business goals
Ensure consistent performance across plants in safety, quality, delivery, and cost
Lead and develop Plant Managers and manufacturing leadership teams
Drive Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives at scale
Establish and monitor KPIs such as OEE, labor efficiency, scrap, downtime, and on-time delivery
Oversee capacity planning, workforce planning, and long-term manufacturing strategy
Lead capital planning, equipment investments, and facility expansions
Partner with Engineering on process optimization, automation, and new product introductions
Collaborate with Supply Chain on inventory optimization and supplier performance
Ensure compliance with regulatory, safety, and quality standards
Manage manufacturing budgets and support financial forecasting
Champion a culture of accountability, engagement, and operational excellence

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field (Master's preferred)
10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience
Proven success leading multi-plant or complex manufacturing operations
Strong understanding of industrial manufacturing processes and equipment
Demonstrated experience driving Lean, CI, or operational excellence initiatives
Experience managing budgets, capital expenditures, and large teams
Strong leadership, communication, and strategic planning skills

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in industrial machinery, heavy equipment, automotive, aerospace, or capital equipment manufacturing
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent certification
Experience leading organizational change and transformation initiatives
Multi-site or global manufacturing experience

Key Competencies

Strategic & Operational Leadership
Manufacturing Excellence
Financial Acumen
Change Management
Talent Development
Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work Environment

This role may require regular travel between manufacturing facilities and time on the shop floor.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.

GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.