Vice President, Manufacturing

The Vice President of Manufacturing is the senior site leader responsible for end-to-end manufacturing performance for a single CelLink manufacturing location. This role has direct leadership accountability for Operations, Process Engineering, and Equipment Engineering, ensuring safe, efficient, high-quality, and cost-effective manufacturing execution in support of production plans, inventory targets, and customer commitments. This role requires a “leader on the floor” mindset, with consistent, hands‑on engagement in daily operations and production execution rather than office-based oversight. Success in this position depends on strong operating discipline in high‑yield, process-intensive manufacturing environments, with a focus on early defect detection, real-time process control, and rapid escalation of out-of-control conditions. As a key member of the site leadership team, this position integrates daily production execution with process capability and equipment reliability, drives continuous improvement, and ensures manufacturing operations are scalable, disciplined, and aligned with CelLink’s business objectives. Essential Duties & Responsibilities To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Site Leadership & Execution Provide overall leadership, direction, and accountability for site manufacturing operations, including production, materials, facilities, distribution, maintenance, process engineering, and equipment engineering. Establish clear priorities, operating rhythms, and expectations to ensure alignment and accountability across all manufacturing-related functions. Lead daily manufacturing execution to meet or exceed safety, quality, delivery, yield, and cost targets. Operations, Process & Equipment Integration Ensure strong day-to-day integration between Operations, Process Engineering, and Equipment Engineering to rapidly resolve production issues and prevent recurrence. Establish and reinforce fab-level process control disciplines, including statistical process control (SPC), control charts, and real-time monitoring to detect process drift early and prevent downstream defects. Drive structured problem-solving, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation to improve throughput, yield, and equipment performance. Oversee equipment performance, preventive and predictive maintenance strategies, and continuous equipment improvement initiatives to ensure safe, reliable, and repeatable operations. Continuous Improvement & Manufacturing Excellence Champion Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies to reduce waste, improve productivity, enhance quality, and control costs. Establish and reinforce standard work, visual management, and data-driven decision-making across the site. Identify and implement process, equipment, and technology improvements that increase manufacturing capability and scalability. Shift quality detection upstream by reducing reliance on end-of-line inspection and embedding in-process controls that enable immediate visibility and escalation at the operator and supervisor level. Financial & Operational Performance Own site-level operating performance, including labor efficiency, materials usage, scrap and rework, equipment uptime, and other controllable manufacturing costs. Develop and manage site budgets and operating plans in alignment with approved financial targets. Partner with Finance to support forecasting, cost tracking, and performance reporting. New Product Introduction & Change Management Lead site-level execution of new product introductions, process changes, and production ramps in partnership with Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain. Ensure manufacturing readiness, capacity planning, staffing, and equipment capability to support successful launches and transitions. Quality, Safety & Compliance Ensure robust quality systems and controls are in place to meet customer, regulatory, and certification requirements (e.g., ISO 9001, IATF 16949, as applicable). Foster a strong culture of safety, compliance, and accountability across all manufacturing functions. Promote a culture where operators are empowered and expected to elevate out-of-control conditions immediately, independent of shift, schedule, or production pressure. Lead corrective actions related to safety incidents, quality issues, or operational risks. Talent Development & Leadership Build, lead, and develop a high-performing manufacturing leadership team across Operations, Process Engineering, and Equipment Engineering. Establish clear performance expectations, coaching, and development plans to strengthen leadership capability and succession at the site. Partner with Human Resources on workforce planning, staffing strategies, employee engagement, and performance management. Cross‑Functional Collaboration Work closely with Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, Finance, and Commercial teams to ensure manufacturing execution supports customer requirements and business priorities. Interface with customers, vendors, integrators, and internal stakeholders as needed to support audits, issue resolution, and operational reviews. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related field required; MBA or advanced degree preferred. 8‑10+ years of progressive manufacturing experience, including senior leadership responsibility within a manufacturing environment. Demonstrated experience leading cross‑functional manufacturing teams at a single site. Preferred Qualifications Experience in a complex, technology-driven, or highly automated manufacturing environment. Experience in Semiconductor wafer fabs or other complex materials science-driven manufacturing environments (e.g., integrated circuit manufacturing, advanced materials, or battery fabs). Strong background in process engineering, equipment engineering, or manufacturing systems. Experience supporting new product introductions and production scale-up. Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent continuous improvement training or certification. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Strong operational leadership with the ability to integrate production, process, and equipment functions. Deep understanding of statistical process control, process capability, and variation reduction. Ability to design operating systems that provide real‑time visibility into process health. Strong bias toward early detection, rapid escalation, and closed‑loop corrective action. Proven problem‑solving and decision‑making skills in fast‑paced manufacturing environments. Solid understanding of site-level financial management, cost control, and operational metrics. Ability to drive accountability while fostering collaboration and engagement. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels of the organization. Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and initiatives simultaneously. Ability to adapt to changing business needs while maintaining disciplined execution. Working Conditions / Hours / Physical Requirements Full‑time, salaried – exempt position. This role is highly hands‑on and based primarily on the manufacturing floor. The position requires spending a significant portion of each day on one’s feet, actively engaging in gemba walks, walking production lines, and working alongside Operations, Quality, and Engineering teams to diagnose and resolve yield, quality, and throughput issues in real time. The role requires the ability to walk possibly more than one mile per day on the production floor, stand for extended periods, and move throughout the facility as needed to support continuous improvement, problem-solving, and operational execution. In addition, regular use of a computer and related technology is required to review data, analyze performance metrics, document findings, and communicate with cross‑functional teams. Bending, balancing, or working in varied positions may be necessary. Employees may occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds independently, or up to 50 pounds with assistance. Vision abilities needed for this role include the ability to read documents, operate equipment safely, and visually inspect materials. Travel to CelLink sites, vendors, integrators, and customer locations as needed. Equal Opportunity Employer We believe diversity and inclusion among our teammates are essential to our success. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees while building teams that represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We are an equal opportunity employer. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. CelLink participates in the E-Verify program in specific locations as required by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr CelLink