Head of Manufacturing

Menatek Defense Technologies; Fatih; On-site; TRY 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Menatek Defense Technologies is seeking a Head of Manufacturing to lead end-to-end manufacturing operations, both in-house and outsourced, with a focus on strategic development, process engineering and industrialization. The role reports to the General Manager and drives performance across the entire manufacturing ecosystem.

The candidate will own budgeting, CAPEX decisions, and KPI leadership, ensuring safety, quality and on-time delivery while advancing Lean manufacturing and continuous

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Define medium- and long-term manufacturing strategy, footprint and operating model.
• Translate demand into capacity, technology, workforce and investment plans.
• Develop roadmaps for core manufacturing technologies and bottleneck processes.
• Manage CAPEX portfolio based on capacity, quality, automation and ROI criteria.
• Own the manufacturing budget, conversion costs and operational performance.
• Oversee KPIs including OEE, cycle time, scrap and first-pass yield.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Operational excellence

Lean manufacturing

CAPEX budgeting

Cross-functional

Supply chain

Education

Master’s degree in Mechanical/Industrial/Metallurgical/Materials/Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

ERP systems

BI systems

Canias ERP

Job description

Menatek Defense Technologies is a leading project-based design, manufacturing and supply company serving global defense and industrial markets. As a strategic partner to the U.S. Army, NATO, the Turkish Armed Forces and numerous global OEMs, we operate at the highest levels of engineering excellence, precision manufacturing and operational performance.

We are seeking a Head of Manufacturing, reporting directly to the General Manager, to provide strategic, technical and operational leadership across Menatek’s entire manufacturing ecosystem.

The position will assume end-to-end responsibility for in-house and outsourced manufacturing operations, manufacturing and process engineering, industrialization, machinery and facility maintenance and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Define the company’s medium- and long-term manufacturing strategy, manufacturing footprint and target operating model
• Translate demand and growth projections into capacity, technology, workforce and investment plans
• Develop strategic roadmaps for critical manufacturing technologies, bottleneck processes and core industrial capabilities
• Manage the CAPEX portfolio based on capacity, quality, automation, productivity, risk and return-on-investment criteria
• Assume ownership of the manufacturing budget, conversion costs and operational performance
• Manage key manufacturing KPIs, including production schedule adherence, OEE, cycle time, capacity utilization, first-pass yield, scrap, rework and unit conversion cost
• Lead initiatives relating to line balancing, production flow, plant layout, bottleneck management and standardized work
• Identify manufacturing risks at an early stage and implement preventive measures to secure capacity and continuity of delivery
• Manage the technical capability, process maturity, cost structure and operational performance of the outsourced manufacturing network
• Support the selection, technical qualification, onboarding and development of strategic manufacturing partners
• Establish systematic supplier process commissioning, capacity validation, risk analysis and production readiness assessments
• Develop alternative sourcing, localization and business continuity strategies for critical processes and components
• Lead the industrialization, manufacturing transfer and production readiness of new products
• Oversee process flow design, PFMEA, control plans, process capability, first article validation and production ramp-up activities
• Ensure that product and process changes are managed through disciplined configuration management, technical documentation and change control processes
• Embed occupational safety, product safety, quality, traceability and process discipline as fundamental elements of the manufacturing system
• Define the total asset lifecycle and reliability strategy for machinery, equipment and facilities
• Improve preventive and predictive maintenance systems to reduce unplanned downtime and enhance OEE, MTBF and MTTR performance
• Manage critical spare parts, maintenance capacity, equipment renewal and technological obsolescence risks
• Transform Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement from project-based initiatives into an integrated enterprise operating system
• Lead the development of accurate, traceable and decision-oriented operational data through Canias ERP and business intelligence systems
• Manage transformation programs that improve quality, delivery, cost and productivity simultaneously
• Develop the organizational structure, technical capabilities and leadership capacity of the manufacturing, manufacturing engineering, process engineering and maintenance teams
• Establish an effective operational governance model across Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain and Program Management functions

Cross-FunctionalResponsibilities

• Partner with Supply Chain on make or buy decisions, supplier manufacturing capability, outsourced process readiness and delivery recovery. Supply Chain retains commercial sourcing, purchasing, supplier relationships and material planning ownership.
• Partner with Quality on process commissioning & controls, first article inspections, nonconformities and corrective actions. Quality retains independent inspection, release and quality system authority.
• Coordinate with PMO on program priorities, delivery commitments, risks and escalations, and with R&D on technology development and transfer into production.
• Develop production and engineering managers, set clear ownership and decision rights, and create succession depth as the company scales.

Leadership Profile

• Preferably Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline
• At least 20 years of experience in complex, multi-process manufacturing environments, including significant senior leadership responsibility
• Demonstrated experience managing in-house and outsourced manufacturing operations within an integrated operating model
• Strong industry experience in defense, aerospace, or high-precision manufacturing
• Comprehensive technical and operational knowledge of machining, casting, forging, heat treatment, welding, surface treatment and similar special processes
• Proven leadership experience in industrialization, production ramp-up, manufacturing transfer
• and capacity expansion programs
• Strong expertise in CAPEX planning, investment feasibility, budgeting, product costing and manufacturing economics
• Demonstrated ability to manage manufacturing performance through data and deliver measurable operational improvements
• Extensive practical experience in Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma and structured problem-solving methodologies
• Experience using ERP and business intelligence systems for manufacturing management and operational decision-making
• Proficiency in English sufficient to engage effectively with international customers, audit organizations and strategic manufacturing partners
• Ability to demonstrate technical depth on the shop floor while operating effectively at executive level across strategy, investment, organisational development and performance management

This role extends beyond managing current manufacturing operations. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing, scaling and implementing Menatek’s future manufacturing system.