Director of Manufacturing

Work Setting: Onsite, 5 days per week

Location: Newark, Delaware

Travel: Minimal, generally less than 10%

Compensation: $170,000 - $220,000 base salary + bonus + LTI

Relocation: Relocation assistance available for the right candidate

Position Summary

A well-established technical manufacturing organization is seeking a Director of Manufacturing Operations to lead a specialized and process-intensive manufacturing operation.

This is a confidential search for a hands-on operations leader who can strengthen execution, improve manufacturing performance, and prepare the operation for its next phase of growth. The organization needs a leader with the drive, initiative, and change-management ability to improve accountability while preserving a strong existing workplace culture.

This individual will oversee day-to-day manufacturing operations and lead through production managers and supervisors. The role will be responsible for improving yield, reducing scrap, managing cost, strengthening delivery performance, and building the capacity needed to support future business opportunities.

The Director of Manufacturing Operations will partner closely with leaders across quality, engineering, supply chain, EHS, facilities, and finance. The ideal candidate has successfully led a technical manufacturing organization, understands the financial drivers of plant performance, and can translate strategy into measurable operational results.

What You'll Do
• Lead day-to-day manufacturing operations within a technical, process-driven production environment
• Lead, coach, and develop manufacturing managers, supervisors, and production personnel
• Drive performance across safety, quality, cost, yield, scrap, capacity, productivity, and on-time delivery
• Establish clear operating priorities, performance metrics, and accountability throughout the manufacturing organization
• Lead lean manufacturing and continuous-improvement initiatives
• Identify and execute opportunities to improve process discipline, throughput, and operating efficiency
• Support growth initiatives, capacity planning, and capital expansion projects
• Build the manufacturing capability and infrastructure needed for future business opportunities
• Partner with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, EHS, Facilities, and Finance to resolve operational challenges
• Coordinate with additional manufacturing locations on product flow, production planning, and transfers when needed
• Maintain constructive labor relations and lead effectively within a structured workforce environment
• Ensure production consistently meets customer, quality, safety, cost, and delivery expectations

What You Bring
• Significant manufacturing operations leadership experience
• Experience leading a manufacturing site, business unit, or sizable production organization
• Demonstrated ability to lead through managers and supervisors
• Strong financial and operational acumen, including experience with P&L, budgeting, cost control, or operating-performance ownership
• Proven success improving yield, scrap, cost, capacity, productivity, and delivery performance
• Lean manufacturing and continuous-improvement experience
• Track record of leading organizational or operational change
• Strong communication skills and executive-level leadership presence
• Ability to establish accountability while maintaining a positive workplace culture
• Experience working in a technical, high-value, or process-intensive manufacturing environment
• Willingness to work onsite five days per week

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience within advanced materials, specialty materials, precision manufacturing, engineered products, or another technical manufacturing environment
• Background manufacturing high-value, low-volume, or technically complex products
• Experience supporting capital expansion, capacity increases, or production ramps
• Experience working within a union or structured labor environment
• Experience coordinating with multiple domestic or international manufacturing locations
• Exposure to semiconductor, defense, or other highly regulated end markets
• Engineering, science, operations, or related bachelor's degree
• Advanced degree or MBA

Why This Opportunity
• Take ownership of a critical manufacturing operation with meaningful site-level influence
• Join an organization entering a period of growth and increased manufacturing demand
• Lead visible improvements across yield, scrap, capacity, cost, and execution
• Shape the operating strategy and capabilities needed to support future expansion
• Work within a strong existing culture and constructive labor environment
• Partner closely with experienced cross-functional and executive leadership
• Competitive base salary, annual bonus opportunity, and long-term incentives
• Relocation support available for the selected candidate
• Opportunity to make a lasting impact by building accountability, strengthening operations, and preparing the organization for its next phase of growth