Director of Manufacturing/Operations

Job Title:  Director of Manufacturing/Operations

Location: Portland, OR

Employment Type: Direct Hire

Industry:  Chemical Manufacturing

Compensation: $180,000 - $210,000/Year

Schedule: 40 Hours/Week 

About the Opportunity:

• We're seeking an experienced manufacturing leader to provide strategic and operational leadership across production, warehouse, and material-handling functions. In this role, you'll translate business priorities and customer requirements into clear production plans, staffing strategies, capacity decisions, and measurable operational goals. You'll lead initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, throughput, cost, delivery, and continuous improvement while identifying and removing barriers to performance. You'll also develop manufacturing leaders, strengthen operating systems, and build the organizational and production capabilities needed to support sustainable growth. This is a highly collaborative leadership role partnering with Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, EHS, Human Resources, and executive leadership.

What You'll Do:

• Lead manufacturing operations across multiple production areas, processes, and shifts, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient execution.
• Translate production forecasts and customer requirements into staffing, scheduling, equipment, material, and capacity priorities.
• Establish KPIs, operating rhythms, performance standards, and accountability systems to improve safety, quality, productivity, throughput, cost, and delivery.
• Oversee warehouse and material-handling operations, strengthening inventory accuracy, traceability, material flow, staging, and production readiness.
• Partner with Quality, EHS, Engineering, and Maintenance to address operational risks, quality events, equipment reliability, process capability, and corrective actions.
• Drive continuous improvement using operational data and structured problem-solving to improve throughput, labor utilization, yield, waste, equipment effectiveness, and manufacturing reliability.
• Lead, coach, and develop Managers, Supervisors, and Leads while strengthening accountability, communication, decision-making, training, and workforce readiness.
• Develop workforce and capacity plans aligned with production forecasts, customer demand, equipment requirements, shift structures, and future business needs.
• Partner cross-functionally on operating, workforce, capital, budget, technology, and growth initiatives while clearly communicating performance, risks, constraints, and resource requirements.

Why You'll Love Working Here:

• Supportive, team-driven culture that values collaboration, transparency, and accountability.
• Opportunity to grow your career with a global workforce solutions leader serving multiple industries.
• People-first environment that encourages employees to bring their authentic selves to work.
• Strong focus on partnership, innovation, and delivering meaningful results for clients and candidates.

Why This Opportunity is Exciting:

This role offers the chance to join a company that prioritises both people and performance-where your contributions directly impact client success while giving you room to grow and develop professionally.

About Acara Solutions

Acara is a premier recruiting and workforce solutions provider-we help companies compete for talent. With a legacy of experience in various industries worldwide, we partner with clients, listen to their needs, and customize visionary talent solutions that drive desired business outcomes. We leverage decades of experience to deliver contingent staffing, direct placement, executive search, and workforce services worldwide.

Sound like a good fit?

TODAY

Job Requirements

What You'll Bring:

• Bachelor's Degree in Operations Management or Manufacturing or Engineering or Supply Chain or Business Administration
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience within manufacturing, production, operations, or a similar industrial environment.
• 5+ years of experience in leading teams in the material handling, warehouse, inventory governance, logistics, etc., area of business.
• 5+ years of experience leading multiple operational functions and multiple layers of leadership.
• 5+ years of experience in managing manufacturing operations involving safety, quality, productivity, scheduling, staffing, capacity, cost, and customer delivery requirements.
• 5+ years of experience in establishing and managing operational KPIs and using performance data to improve results.
• 5+ years of experience in leading manufacturing/production and warehouse or material-handling operations.
• 5+ years of experience with workforce planning, production scheduling, capacity management, and operational problem-solving.

What Sets You Apart:

• Master's Degree in Business or Engineering or Operations
• Experience within semiconductor, semiconductor materials, chemical, specialty chemical, high-purity, advanced manufacturing, or another highly regulated/process-controlled manufacturing environment.
• Experience within a 24/7 or multi-shift manufacturing operation.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or comparable continuous-improvement methodologies.
• Experience scaling manufacturing capacity, workforce, and operating systems during significant business growth.
• Experience within ISO-driven or similarly structured quality-management environments.
• ERP/MRP system experience;
• Plex experience.
• Strong manufacturing and operations leadership capability, including leadership through multiple organizational levels.
• Strong understanding of production planning, capacity management, workforce planning, material flow, and warehouse operations.
• Ability to interpret operational and financial data and translate findings into effective action.
• Strong analytical, root-cause analysis, and structured problem-solving capability.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing safety, quality, and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational and operational change.
• Strong communication, coaching, performance-management, and leadership development skills.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and make timely decisions in a fast-moving manufacturing environment.
• Ability to build effective cross-functional relationships and influence beyond direct reporting structures.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems, manufacturing information systems, Microsoft Office applications, and operational reporting tools.
• Demonstrated success developing frontline and mid-level manufacturing leaders.

Additional Information:

• Upon offer of employment, the individual will be subject to a background check.
• This position requires regular presence within the client manufacturing and warehouse environments.
• The Director must be able to move throughout these areas to observe operations, engage employees, and assess operating conditions.
• Certain production environments require full-body cleanroom attire and PPE, including head and face coverings and a hood-style respirator. Work areas may include exposure to industrial equipment, chemicals, material-handling equipment, elevated areas, and moderate to loud noise.
• The position may occasionally require work outside normal business hours to support multiple shifts, operational events, emergencies, or significant production requirements.
• While performing the duties of this position, the employee may be required to stand or walk for extended periods; bend, stoop, kneel, or crouch; climb stairs, ladders, or scaffolding; and lift or move objects weighing up to 35 pounds without assistance
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

After you , you may receive a call or message from our AI Talent Scout about this role or other opportunities that match your skills and preferences. AI agent role is to help speed up your hiring process by answering questions, confirming basic information, and identifying whether there's a mutual fit.

The call or chat may be recorded so that our recruiting team can review it - they make all final hiring decisions, while AI agent simply helps move you forward faster. The best part? They are available 24/7, so you can connect whenever it's convenient for you.

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Aleron companies (Acara Solutions, Aleron Shared Resources, Broadleaf Results, Lume Strategies, TalentRise, Viaduct) are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Race/Color/Gender/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Veteran.

Applicants for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position does not meet the employment requirements for individuals with F-1 OPT STEM work authorization status.