Director of Manufacturing

Direct Mail / Transactional Mail Production Employment: Full-time Reports to: Global President of Operations & Manufacturing About the Company Our client is an established leader in high-volume, data-driven print and mail manufacturing, with 40+ years of industry history. Operating across multiple U.S. production sites, they produce 10–20 million individualized mail pieces every month — from advertising direct mail to critical transactional and statement mail for municipalities, insurers, and government agencies. As a federal contractor, the company is especially strong in critical/transactional mail (utility and statement billing, insurance open-enrollment/AEP notices, renewal notices, and federal agency work) alongside advertising direct mail. Facilities are modern, clean, well-lit, and temperature-controlled, running the newest high-speed inkjet, printing, folding, and inserting equipment. The Opportunity We're seeking a Director of Manufacturing to own the overall leadership, strategy, and execution of a high-volume production plant in Greenville, SC — a 24/7, 365, two-shift operation producing 10–12 million mail pieces per month. You'll direct end-to-end operations: on-time, on-budget production; efficiency and quality; equipment and maintenance; and the leadership of 100+ people across six departments. This is a role central to the company's next chapter, with real room to shape strategy, drive operational excellence, and build culture. This is a rare external opening for a seat the company typically promotes into — and leadership is being deliberately thorough to find the right long-term leader. For the right person, it's a genuinely fulfilling role with further opportunity beyond it. What You'll Do Develop and execute long-term manufacturing strategy aligned to organizational goals Guide the documentation of scalable, efficient workflows and production processes Direct and optimize production schedules — meeting milestones, deliverables, and budget constraints Drive continuous improvement in quality, efficiency, and cost control Lead and mentor Production Managers, Supervisors, and staff; foster a high-performance culture Monitor operations for quality and accuracy; introduce best practices and industry standards Own quality-control measures and evolve KPIs — run rates, downtime, production efficiency Coordinate preventative maintenance and champion equipment uptime Partner closely with Procurement, Estimating, Project Management, Sales, Customer Experience, and Postal Optimization Stay current on printing/finishing technology; lead evaluation and integration of new equipment Enforce safety protocols and regulatory compliance across the floor Maintain budgets, track costs, and lead cost-saving initiatives without compromising quality Champion training and professional development across the production team What This Plant Runs Departments under this role: Letter Shop / Inserting (the largest — 30+ staff plus temps in inserting alone), Digital Print, Maintenance, Quality Control, Facilities Management, and Warehouse (separate from manufacturing). Direct reports: Manager–Letter Shop · Manager–Digital Print · Supervisor–Maintenance · Manager–Quality Control · Supervisor–Facility Maintenance · Supervisor–Warehouse. Letter Shop / Inserting — the plant's largest department, running the high-speed inserters that fold and insert contents into each mailpiece. This is the core of the operation. Equipment on the floor includes: High-speed inkjet web presses (with MICR capability) Multiple ultra-high-speed inserters with inline printing — sheet and roll input with cutter, accumulator & folder (capacity up to 400,000 envelopes/day) 13x19 sheet printers What You Bring 5+ years of manufacturing leadership above department level, in a direct mail / transactional mail production environment (strong up-and-coming leaders are welcome — scope, breadth, and mindset matter more than exact tenure) A genuine manufacturing mindset — lean, data-driven, KPI- and metrics-focused. This is manufacturing, not "production" or a "mail house." Hands-on familiarity with digital continuous web / four-color variable inkjet printing and inline finishing on modern high-speed equipment Transactional / statement mail production experience Proven expertise in production management, quality control, and process improvement at high volume Experience coordinating a maintenance team and preventative-maintenance programs A builder's approach — a demonstrated record of improving culture and process, not simply inheriting or taking over Strong communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills; able to influence and collaborate across all levels Proficiency in Microsoft Office and manufacturing-management software College degree preferred, or equivalent education and leadership experience Volume note: exact 10M/month isn't required — a leader successfully running 5M pieces with 60 people on two shifts scales up well. What matters is truly understanding everything that goes into producing millions of mail pieces a month. Good to Know On-site role in Greenville, SC — a low-cost-of-living, highly livable area. Relocation support considered case‑by‑case for the right candidate. Security note: because of secured financial and government work, this position is subject to standard post‑hire background checks. No prior clearance required — candidates from transactional/statement mail environments will be familiar with this. Work Environment & Physical Demands Regulated print/mail production facility. Standing/walking up to 12 hours with frequent bending, kneeling, and reaching; must lift, push, or pull up to 50 lbs; repetitive motions in a fast-paced production environment. #J-18808-Ljbffr