Operations Director

Description

The Operations Director has operational responsibility for the management of manufacturing facilities, including contract manufacturing partners. This position is accountable to meet all business goals related to operations, including operational efficiency, cost targets, Environmental Health & Safety, quality, and product introduction. Part of an executive team supporting new business initiatives through strategic deployment of new processes, technologies, and infrastructure. The Operations Director sets business strategy for facilities, operations, contract manufacturing, and overall operational footprint.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop annual operations plan, objectives, and budget in support of organizational strategy and objectives.
• Direct the company’s manufacturing activities to ensure maximum effectiveness is obtained for the production of quality products within specified time and budgetary guidelines.
• Meet revenue and gross margin targets.
• Educate and train managers and support personnel to enable rapid sales and margin growth.
• Integration of new manufacturing technologies and processes as required.
• Develop and implement strategy for manufacturing capabilities including vertical integration strategies supporting long-term business growth, profitability, and market share expansion.
• Interface with Engineering and Sales to coordinate the production process for the introduction of new products.
• Oversee company procurement activities and direct the negotiations of major procurement contracts to provide proper cost, delivery, and quality commitments.
• Support customer qualifications and trials as required, ensure site personnel are trained in all customer-unique requirements.
• Accountable to ensure products meet or exceed customer quality standards and required delivery schedules are met. Ensure that responsible departments are 100% compliant with required regulations and standards.
• Ensure facilities operate safely while leading efforts to develop, implement and drive adoption of health and safety policies, including compliance will all applicable environmental, health & safety regulations.
• Coordinates with Maintenance efforts to ensure company facilities and equipment are adequately maintained.
• Lead organization through implementation and utilization of lean manufacturing principles.
• Communicate regularly with upper management regarding problems or issues impacting the operations division.
• Attend and contribute to regular departmental meetings, executive meetings, product development and engineering meetings, and others as they arise.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Direct recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and training of new staff in the department. 
• Mentor team leaders and provide constructive and timely performance evaluations of direct reports.
• Handle discipline and termination of employees as needed and in accordance with company policy.
• Motivate, support, and set clear expectations for staff in the department; set productivity goals for the manufacturing division.
• Organize structure of the manufacturing division for optimal and efficient operations in collaboration with HR department and ensure proper training of staff.

Requirements

Ideal Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in sciences, engineering, business, or other relevant degree.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience with operations background in an electro-mechanical manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing diverse teams providing direction and feedback ensuring goals are met on time.
• Experience with manufacturing operations including SMT.
• Experience deploying a variety of manufacturing processes and technologies internally and with CM partners.
• Experience leading organization through implementation of Lean manufacturing principles
• Six Sigma certification required; Black Belt preferred.

Critical Abilities for Success:

• Outstanding interpersonal skills; excellent communication skills - oral and written, demonstrated people management and development skills.
• Demonstrated safety leadership.
• Ability to communicate cross functionally as well as up and down the organization.
• Ability to assemble and manage cross-functional teams.
• Knowledge of manufacturing equipment, processes, quality and process control systems.
• Enterprise business skills including document processing, spreadsheets, communication systems, presentation skills, and related office software and tools.
• Demonstrated experience with Global ERP systems to improve and maintain operational effectiveness; IQMS experience preferred.