Director, Manufacturing Operations, MN

Panther Life Sciences Director Of Manufacturing OperationsPanther Life Sciences is building a new category of consumer-centric health and beauty products powered by our SmartPatch platform. As we move from development into commercialization, manufacturing becomes the critical unlock for scale, quality, and customer trust.We are seeking a Director of Manufacturing Operations to own this transition end-to-end. This role is responsible for translating innovative R&D into reliable, high-quality, and scalable commercial production across both cosmetic and medical device products. You will lead the build-out of Panther's manufacturing strategy, serving as the bridge between internal development teams and external CMO partners.You will define how manufacturing operates at Panther, from selecting and standing up partners, to leading technology transfer, to building the systems that allow us to scale from thousands to millions of units. This is not a maintenance role. You will be building the manufacturing function from scratch. Your work will directly impact product availability, customer experience, and the company's ability to grow.You will work closely with the leadership team and cross-functional team members in formulation, device development, and quality to establish a manufacturing engine that supports both near-term commercial goals and long-term platform expansion. This is for someone who wants to build, scale, and set the standard for manufacturing in a category-defining company with a great team and a platform that is already generating clinical results. If you want to build something that matters, we want to hear from you.Some travel will be required approximately 10%-30%.ResponsibilitiesCDMO & Manufacturing OperationsServe as the primary relationship owner and day-to-day point of contact for CMO partnersLead technology transfer from R&D to clinical and commercial manufacturingOversee late-stage clinical and commercial production across product linesDrive manufacturing performance metrics including yield, throughput, and product qualitySupport CMO selection and onboarding, including process validation and scale-upBuild and manage supply chain, logistics, fulfillment, and inventory operationsOwn material sourcing and supplier relationshipsIdentify critical dependencies and build supplier redundancy to mitigate riskScaling, Systems & Financial PlanningBuild the manufacturing line from the ground up with a path from ~10K to ~1M units per monthDrive automation, process optimization, and line redesign as production scalesOwn manufacturing cost modeling and financial planning (FP&A) for operationsDevelop sourcing strategy and budget frameworks in partnership with finance and leadershipEstablish systems and processes to support future team growth and internal manufacturing capabilitiesQuality, Compliance & Cross-Functional LeadershipEnsure manufacturing quality, regulatory compliance, and adherence to QMSPartner cross-functionally with leadership, formulation, device, and quality teamsContribute to customer satisfaction through reliable product delivery and issue resolutionQualificationsProven experience scaling a product from R&D to commercial manufacturing in a regulated environmentExperience overseeing manufacturing operations for a Class II or III medical device or equivalent regulated productHands-on experience scaling production volumes significantly (e.g., 10x or more)Direct experience working with CMO partners including selection, onboarding, and tech transferExperience managing supply chain, logistics, inventory, and fulfillment operationsFamiliarity with Quality Management Systems (QMS) in regulated environmentsDemonstrated ability to lead technology transfer and process scale-upExperience with manufacturing cost modeling and financial planningDirect people management experiencePreferred QualificationsExperience with combination products (drug + device), such as auto-injectors, EpiPens, nasal sprays, or microarray-based systemsBackground in Material Science & Technology Transfer (MSNT)Experience scaling production to high-volume output (100K+ units per month)Experience across both cosmetic and medical device productsExperience with automation and line redesign in a manufacturing scale-up contextBackground in customer support or customer-facing operations within manufacturingExperience managing managers or building multi-layered organizationsStrong systems orientation with experience implementing or optimizing operational infrastructureBenefitsEquity in the form of Stock OptionsRobust Health Insurance includes Medical, Dental, VisionLife, AD&D, and Short-Term Disability InsuranceIn-person company eventsFully-stocked kitchenIn-office lunch twice a weekWorking with a world-class team in technology and healthcare on the most innovative solutionsPaid time off and Paid Company Holidays.Equal Opportunity EmployerPanther Life Sciences is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital or partnership status, age, national origin, citizenship, veteran or military status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, caregiver status, or any other characteristic protected by law.