Director of Supply Chain and Plant Operations

Job Description

Job Description

Our well-established manufacturing plant in the Elgin/Hampshire area is seeking a Director of Supply Chain and Plant Operations. With a long-standing reputation for excellence, we have been producing high-quality equipment for 75 years! Our commitment to superior craftsmanship and innovation has made our name synonymous with quality in the industry.

We are seeking that exceptional leader with the expertise and drive to elevate our operations. The successful candidate will have extensive experience overseeing a large diverse team in providing hands-on mentorship to supervisors and fostering a culture of efficiency and excellence.

The Director of Supply Chain and Plant Operations will provide end-to-end operational leadership for our Pingree Grove assembly facility. Overseeing both final assembly production lines and purchasing/procurement teams, this role is responsible for driving operational excellence, optimizing sub-assembly and final-stage manufacturing processes, and managing component supplier pipelines. The Director will directly supervise departmental management, establish clear accountability metrics, and align plant output with commercial sales demand while holding strict standards for quality, safety, and inventory efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

Assembly & Plant Operations Management:

• Lead and optimize final assembly operations across all commercial and industrial product lines (scrubbers, sweepers, vacuums, and carpet care equipment).
• Reorganize plant floor layout, material movement, and assembly line workflows to improve takt time, reduce cycle bottlenecks, and maximize throughput.

Strategic Supply Chain & Procurement:

• Direct purchasing strategies for parts, raw materials, electric motors, batteries, and fabricated components.
• Implement robust Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and inventory management to balance lead times, mitigate supply disruption risks, and optimize inventory turns without causing assembly line stoppages.
• Negotiate supplier contracts, manage vendor performance, and drive cost-reduction initiatives across the supply base.

Leadership & Team Accountability:

• Directly supervise, evaluate, and mentor the Production Manager and Purchasing Manager.
• Realign managerial duties, set Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and enforce accountability to elevate management team execution and cross-departmental coordination.
• Promote a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement across all plant personnel.

Process Improvement & Quality Control:

• Standardize operating procedures (SOPs), quality inspection checkpoints, and testing protocols for finished equipment.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing practices to eliminate waste and decrease lead times from purchase order to final product shipment.

Cross-Functional Planning:

• Collaborate with Engineering, Sales, and Finance to align production schedules with demand forecasts, custom equipment orders, and new product introduction (NPI) ramps.

Key Qualifications

• Experience: 8+ years of progressive leadership experience in final assembly manufacturing, heavy equipment, industrial machinery, or electro-mechanical product manufacturing environments.

• Management Track Record: Demonstrated ability to manage, restructure, and develop mid-level managers; proven track record of transforming underperforming teams into accountable, high-output units.

• Technical & System Skills: Strong expertise in SAP/MRP/ERP platforms, Bill of Materials (BOM) management, inventory control systems, and Lean / Six Sigma manufacturing methods.

• Supply Chain Expertise: Hands-on experience in strategic sourcing, supplier management, inventory optimization, and logistics within an assembly plant environment.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related field; Master’s or relevant certifications (APICS/CSCP, Six Sigma Black Belt) preferred.