Director of Manufacturing Operations

About the Job

Job Title: Director of Manufacturing Operations
Location: A thriving industrial hub in the Southwest
Department: Operations
Reports To: Senior Leadership
Employment Type: Full-Time | On-Site | Contract to Hire

Position Overview

A leading manufacturer specializing in innovative solutions for the defense, energy, and industrial sectors is seeking a dynamic Director of Operations to lead and scale its manufacturing capabilities. This role oversees all day-to-day operations at a state-of-the-art facility, ensuring safety, efficiency, quality, and on-time delivery. The Director will drive continuous improvement, support rapid growth, and foster a high-performance culture aligned with the organization’s vision for mission-critical production.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and hands-on leadership across production, quality, logistics, inventory, facilities, and maintenance functions.

• Manage daily plant operations to meet or exceed targets for safety, quality, cost, and delivery in defense, energy, and industrial manufacturing.

• Build and mentor a strong operations leadership team through coaching, training, and professional development.

• Identify inefficiencies and lead lean manufacturing, process improvement, and cost reduction initiatives tailored to high-tech production.

• Collaborate with HR, engineering, safety, and other departments to ensure cross-functional alignment and drive company-wide initiatives.

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including OSHA, EPA, and industry-specific standards.

• Oversee production scheduling, capacity planning, and materials flow to meet customer demand and minimize downtime.

• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and implement corrective actions to optimize operational performance.

• Champion a robust safety culture by enforcing policies, mitigating risks, and promoting safe work practices.

• Support workforce planning, staffing, and labor utilization to align with operational goals.

• Contribute to long-term strategic planning as a key voice in leadership meetings.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field (Master’s preferred).

• Minimum 10 years of progressive operations experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role within manufacturing.

• Proven success leading large teams and scaling operations in a fast-paced environment, ideally in defense, energy, or industrial sectors.

• Strong expertise in lean principles, continuous improvement tools, and manufacturing best practices.

• Demonstrated ability to build systems, enforce process discipline, and implement scalable infrastructure.

• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills.

• Experience with ERP systems and data-driven decision-making.

Why Join This Organization?

• Join a fast-growing, innovation-driven manufacturer shaping the future of defense, energy, and industrial solutions.

• Lead transformative operations in a high-tech, dynamic environment.

• Enjoy a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and significant career advancement opportunities.

This organization is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.