Director of Operations
A well-established and growing industrial manufacturing organization is seeking a Director of Operations to lead a substantial manufacturing operation in Central Minnesota. This position will have broad responsibility for site performance and will play a key role in improving productivity, capacity, efficiency, and customer responsiveness while continuing to build a strong culture of operational excellence.
The Director of Operations will lead through multiple layers of management and oversee a broad range of manufacturing and operational functions. This individual will be expected to remain visible and engaged with the operation while also helping shape longer-term strategy, capital priorities, organizational development, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Responsibilities
- Provide overall leadership for a sizable industrial manufacturing operation and its management team.
- Drive improvements in productivity, capacity, throughput, efficiency, quality, and customer responsiveness.
- Lead and further develop Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives across the operation.
- Establish clear performance metrics, operating rhythms, and accountability throughout the organization.
- Partner closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Safety, and other functional leaders to improve overall business performance.
- Evaluate process flow, equipment utilization, staffing, and operational constraints to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Support capital planning and operational investments tied to growth, productivity, safety, and capacity.
- Develop leaders throughout the organization and build succession plans for key positions.
- Maintain a visible presence on the manufacturing floor and build credibility with frontline employees and leadership.
- Ensure the operation consistently meets safety, quality, delivery, and customer expectations.
Desired Skills and Experience
- 10+ years of progressive manufacturing and operations leadership experience.
- Experience leading a sizable, multi-layer industrial manufacturing environment.
- Background within machining, metal fabrication, metalworking, assembly, industrial equipment, machinery, or other engineered products is strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated success implementing Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and productivity initiatives.
- Broad operational leadership experience with exposure to functions such as Manufacturing Engineering, Planning, Materials, Supply Chain, Quality, and Safety.
- Strong technical aptitude and ability to understand manufacturing processes, equipment, workflow, and capacity constraints.
- Experience driving productivity, capacity expansion, process improvement, or operational transformation initiatives.
- Experience within a vertically integrated or engineered-products manufacturing environment is beneficial.
- Bachelor's degree preferred.
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