Zachary Hinkemeyer

Director, Operations

Zach Hinkemeyer is a Director at SkyWater Search Partners and an executive recruiter specializing in Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain leadership searches. Based in Minneapolis, Zach partners with growth-oriented, middle-market companies to identify and secure high-impact talent across manufacturing, distribution, and industrial environments.

Zach focuses on retained executive search engagements for critical roles including Vice President of Operations, Director of Engineering, Supply Chain Leadership, Plant Leadership, and other senior technical and operational positions. He works closely with CEOs, COOs, and private equity partners to build scalable leadership teams that drive operational excellence, margin improvement, and long-term growth.

In addition to executive placements, Zach recruits top-performing professionals for permanent, full-time roles across the operations function, including engineering, production, quality, procurement, continuous improvement, and supply chain management. His approach combines deep market insight, proactive talent mapping, and a consultative search process designed to secure candidates who align technically and culturally.

Zach serves clients primarily in the Minneapolis–St. Paul market and throughout the Midwest, helping organizations compete for high-demand technical and operational talent in a competitive hiring landscape.

Primary Industries:

– Manufacturing and OEM
– Medical Device, Healthcare, Pharmaceutical
– Food Production, Chemicals and Agriculture
– Design/Engineering and Construction

Client Testimonial:

“The experience working with Zach Hinkemeyer was excellent from start to finish. He was extremely communicative throughout the entire process, kept us informed at every stage, and was always responsive whenever we had questions or needed updates.

One thing that really stood out was how quickly Zach understood what we were looking for in a candidate. Our hiring managers can be very specific in what they’re seeking, and Zach did a great job listening to those requirements and presenting candidates who were well aligned with both the technical qualifications and the overall fit for our team. That made the process much more efficient and enjoyable on our end.

Overall, we had a great experience partnering with Zach and SkyWater. We truly appreciate the professionalism, communication, and partnership throughout the search, and we look forward to the opportunity to work together again in the future.” – Sr. Talent Acquisition Partner, Manufacturing.

Outside of SkyWater Search Partners, Zach enjoys baseball and playing board games with friends.

Download the salary guide for careers in Operations.

Connect with Zachary Hinkemeyer on LinkedIn.