The Director of Manufacturing provides strategic leadership, direction, and oversight for all manufacturing operations. This role is responsible for ensuring the safe, high-quality, cost-effective, and timely production of consumer goods across multiple production lines or facilities. The Director will drive continuous improvement initiatives (Lean/Six Sigma), optimize supply chain integration, scale production capacities to meet market demand, and foster a culture of safety, collaboration, and high performance.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Operations
- Operational Oversight: Direct and oversee all daily manufacturing activities to ensure production schedules, quality standards, and cost objectives are met.
- Strategic Planning: Develop and execute long-term manufacturing strategies aligned with the company's growth objectives, commercial demand, and sustainability goals.
- Capacity Planning: Evaluate and optimize plant capacity, line utilization, and workforce planning to support new product launches (NPI) and seasonal demand spikes.
- Budget & CapEx Management: Establish, manage, and execute the annual manufacturing operating budget. Identify, justify, and manage Capital Expenditure (CapEx) projects for automation, equipment upgrades, and facility expansions.
Continuous Improvement & Quality
- Operational Excellence: Champion a culture of continuous improvement by implementing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and 5S methodologies to eliminate waste, reduce cycle times, and lower manufacturing costs.
- Quality Assurance: Partner with the Quality Assurance (QA) team to ensure strict compliance with regulatory standards (e.g., FDA, OSHA, EPA, GMP) and internal quality specifications.
- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Establish, monitor, and report on critical operational metrics including Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), yield, scrap rates, cost per unit, and on-time-in-full (OTIF) delivery.
Safety & Compliance
- Safety Culture: Foster a zero-incident safety culture. Ensure all manufacturing operations comply with local, state, and federal safety and environmental regulations (OSHA, EPA, etc.).
- Risk Management: Develop and maintain business continuity and disaster recovery plans for manufacturing sites.
Team Leadership & Development
- Talent Management: Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of plant managers, production supervisors, and manufacturing engineers.
- Labor Relations: Maintain positive employee relations. Where applicable, manage relationship strategies in unionized environments or lead retention and engagement strategies in non-union facilities.
Required Qualifications & Skills
Education & Experience
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Chemical), Operations Management, or a related technical field. An MBA or advanced degree is highly preferred.
- Experience: 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, with at least 5 years in a director- or senior manager-level role overseeing multi-line or multi-site consumer goods production (FMCG/CPG preferred).
- Methodology: Certified in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt preferred), or equivalent operational excellence frameworks.
