Head of Operations & Business Management

Director of Manufacturing Operations Confidential Pennsylvania, United States (On-site)
On-site
A well-established manufacturing organization in Northeastern Pennsylvania is seeking an experienced Director of Manufacturing Operations to lead day-to-day manufacturing operations and help shape the next phase of the facility’s growth and development.

The successful candidate will have meaningful autonomy to lead the operation, strengthen the management team, develop talent, improve accountability, and build a high-performing plant culture.

Lead day-to-day manufacturing operations and overall plant execution.

• Drive strong performance in production, delivery, labor productivity, quality, safety, cost, and equipment reliability.
• Establish stronger succession planning, cross-training, and workforce development practices.
• Strengthen preventive maintenance, equipment reliability, and operational discipline.
• Oversee manufacturing, maintenance, warehouse/shipping, facilities, and plant workforce activities.
• Manage staffing levels, overtime, shift structures, and workforce deployment.
• Participate in budgeting and manage operating performance against established plans and KPIs.
• Challenge legacy processes and implement practical improvements where better approaches exist.
• Partner effectively with HR, quality, safety, planning, and other functional leaders.
• Support continuous-improvement, capital, and automation initiatives.
• Maintain a visible leadership presence on the plant floor and respond with urgency when operational issues arise.

The ideal candidate is a proven manufacturing leader with demonstrated success leading both operations and people.

Experience directly leading hourly manufacturing teams and frontline supervisors.

• Demonstrated success building strong teams and improving organizational culture.
• Multi-shift manufacturing experience.
• Strong understanding of plant KPIs, labor productivity, cost, quality, safety, and operational performance.
• Experience developing supervisors and creating succession and cross-training strategies.
• Experience strengthening maintenance and equipment reliability.
• Financial acumen, including experience with operating budgets and performance against plan.
• A continuous-improvement mindset and experience with Lean, OEE, visual management, root-cause analysis, or similar methodologies.
• Experience leading organizational change, a turnaround, or a manufacturing operation through a period of significant transformation is highly valued.

A bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, business, or a related discipline is welcomed but not required . Demonstrated manufacturing leadership, judgment, emotional intelligence, and results are more important than formal educational credentials.

Credible with both hourly employees and management.

• Visible and engaged on the plant floor.
• Focused on developing people rather than simply managing processes.

This is a fully on-site leadership role in Northeastern Pennsylvania . The position is primarily first shift; however, the Plant Manager must be willing to be present during off-shifts, weekends, early mornings, or urgent operating situations when necessary.

Candidates should live within reasonable commuting distance of the facility or be willing to relocate. Relocation assistance is available for the right candidate.

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