Director, Operations

Director, Operations

Watlow is seeking a Director of Operations to lead our Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Columbia, Missouri. Reporting to the Senior Director of Operations, you will provide both strategic direction and hands-on leadership across production, quality, safety, supply chain, and engineering to deliver world-class products and drive operational excellence. As a key member of the Operations Leadership Team, you will partner closely with Business Units, New Product Development, and executive leadership to align operational capabilities with business objectives.

This is a high-impact opportunity for an experienced operations leader who thrives in complex, high-tech manufacturing environments, is passionate about Lean transformation, and has the vision to build and develop high-performing teams. If you are a hands-on leader who drives accountability and continuous improvement from the shop floor to the executive table, we would love to connect with you.

What You'll Do:

• Manufacturing Leadership: Lead all manufacturing operations to consistently achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives across the Columbia facility.
• Team Development: Build, coach, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement at every level of the organization.
• Lean Transformation: Drive the application of Lean principles to streamline processes, improve throughput, and enhance overall equipment effectiveness — embedding behaviors, not just tools.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Collaborate with Business Units and New Product Development to ensure seamless integration of new products into production, aligning operational capabilities with innovation priorities.
• Performance Management: Establish and monitor KPIs to track performance, productivity, and Lean progress, using data to drive informed decisions and continuous improvement.
• Compliance & Quality: Ensure compliance with all regulatory, environmental, and industry standards, and champion quality through robust control measures and a culture of excellence.
• Financial Stewardship: Manage budgets, resources, and capital investments with a focus on efficiency and return, identifying and pursuing cost-reduction opportunities across products, processes, and projects.
• Technology & Innovation: Evaluate and introduce new technologies, systems, and methods to strengthen production capabilities and competitive positioning.
• Engagement & Culture: Lead site-level engagement initiatives that align with Watlow's purpose, vision, and strategy, promoting collaboration, trust, and open communication across leadership, teams, and stakeholders.
• Watlow Business System: Represent the site within the Watlow Business System (WBS) framework, ensuring consistent adoption of best practices across the organization.

What you'll need to succeed?

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Business
• 10+ years of progressive leadership in manufacturing operations, with direct oversight of production, supply chain, engineering, and quality
• Demonstrated success implementing Lean principles at scale with hands-on transformation experience, not just knowledge
• Semiconductor industry or similarly complex, high-precision manufacturing environment experience
• Proven project management track record delivering on-time, on-budget initiatives
• Experience with New Product Introduction (NPI/NPD) in a manufacturing setting
• Strong analytical and communication skills, with a data-driven approach to performance management and decision-making
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed (<10%)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (MS or MBA) in Business, Engineering, or Operations Management
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Black Belt or Master Black Belt)
• Change management experience leading cultural transformations in complex organizations
• Background aligning and collaborating with front-end design and development functions (BU, Sales, Engineering) to ensure linkage to the manufacturing setting
• Experience scaling operations in high-growth or innovation-driven industries

Benefits: The Watlow Total Compensation Plan

The health, well-being and financial stability of you and your family is a high priority to us. The Watlow Total Rewards Plan includes competitive compensation and a full range of life and career enhancing benefits:

• Annual Incentive Program
• 401(k) plan that includes a company match on your contribution and an annual company contribution that is tied to company performance
• Wellness incentives
• Employee Personal Assistance Program
• Dental, medical, vision and short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Paid holidays, personal time, and vacation
• Parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement

Diversity & Inclusion

We proactively embrace diversity in all its dimensions across our company and cultivate a culture of inclusion and forward thinking that respects and reflects each team member's individual strengths, views, and experiences. Watlow takes pride in being an inclusive equal opportunity employer and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Please let us know confidentially if you need or require any special accommodations to participate in our recruiting process by emailing us at View email address on click.appcast.io.