Director of Manufacturing Operations

About Pierce, an Oshkosh company At Pierce Manufacturing, we build trucks that protect people and communities around the world. Since 1913, building truck bodies on Model T Ford chassis in an old converted church has evolved to creating highly customized, carefully designed and engineered pumpers, aerials, tankers and rescue units that have no equal. Today, you’ll find more than 30,000 Pierce apparatuses on the road that are making a difference in people’s lives, every day. To us, every step in the process of building our trucks is personal. From innovation and expertise, to the customization and service. Our trucks are designed to perform under the toughest conditions. The Director of Manufacturing is responsible for leading manufacturing operations within an assigned Pierce manufacturing facility, ensuring safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives are consistently achieved. This role provides operational leadership across fabrication, welding, assembly, materials flow, and production support functions while driving operational excellence, workforce engagement, and continuous improvement. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Manufacturing, this leader is responsible for executing enterprise manufacturing strategies at the plant level and partnering cross functionally with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Maintenance, and Safety teams to support customer satisfaction and business performance. The Director of Manufacturing is one of three manufacturing leaders supporting Pierce operations and plays a critical role in delivering safe, efficient, and high-quality manufacturing operations. Your Impact Champion a safety-first, high-performance culture grounded in accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement Lead day to day manufacturing operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost objectives Execute enterprise manufacturing strategies and operational priorities established by the Vice President of Manufacturing Implement and sustain Team Daily Management systems that drive accountability, problem solving, and operational discipline Drive operational excellence through Lean Manufacturing principles, process standardization, and continuous improvement initiatives Partner closely with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Materials, and Maintenance teams to ensure operational readiness and production continuity Support implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies, automation initiatives, and Industry 4.0 capabilities Build, coach, and develop high performing manufacturing teams and frontline leaders Establish and monitor key operational performance indicators to improve throughput, productivity, quality, and operational reliability Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience 12+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience within a complex manufacturing environment Demonstrated experience leading large scale manufacturing operations focused on safety, quality, delivery, and operational performance Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, materials flow, production systems, and operational execution Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem‑solving skills Standout Qualifications Experience leading operations within heavy equipment, industrial, or highly configurable manufacturing environments Proven success leading manufacturing transformation and operational excellence initiatives Experience supporting implementation of automation, advanced manufacturing technologies, or Industry 4.0 initiatives Strong cross‑functional leadership experience partnering with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Operations teams Experience managing operational metrics, budgets, and performance improvement initiatives Prior experience leading large manufacturing teams across multiple operational functions Aligned to the VP Manufacturing structure and operating model outlined in the supporting Pierce leadership materials Pay Range: $136,800.00 - $253,200.00 The above pay range reflects the minimum and maximum target pay for the position across all U.S. locations. Within this range, individual pay is determined by various factors, including the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate’s experience, education and skills, as well as the equity of pay among team members in similar positions. Beyond offering a competitive total rewards package, we prioritize a people‑first culture and offer various opportunities to support team member growth and success. Oshkosh is committed to working with and offering reasonable accommodation to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to disability for any part of the employment process, please contact us at View email address on click.appcast.io. Oshkosh Corporation is a merit‑based Equal Opportunity Employer. Job opportunities are open for application to all qualified individuals and selection decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected characteristic. To the extent that information is provided or collected regarding categories as provided by law it will in no way affect the decision regarding an employment application. Oshkosh Corporation will not discharge or in any manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with Oshkosh Corporation’s legal duty to furnish information. Certain positions with Oshkosh Corporation require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations or the Export Administration Regulations. Applicants for these positions may need to be “U.S. Persons,” as defined in these regulations. Generally, a “U.S. Person” is a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or an individual who has been admitted as a refugee or granted asylum. #J-18808-Ljbffr