Director of Engineering

Dev; Eden Prairie (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing firm based in Eden Prairie, MN, seeks a Director of Engineering to provide corporate leadership and manage all engineering activities across multiple sites. The ideal candidate will ensure alignment with company objectives and lead a team of engineers to achieve operational excellence. This role requires over 8 years of manufacturing experience and a strong background in project management and strategic planning. Join us to drive innovation and improve processes in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of previous experience in manufacturing engineering preferred.
• Demonstrated project management and execution skills required.
• Ability to provide proactive leadership and vision.

Responsibilities

• Provide corporate leadership to engineering operations.
• Lead project, process, and controls engineers.
• Ensure alignment of engineering activities with company objectives.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Strategic planning

Interpersonal skills

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

Jobs for Humanity is partnering with E. A. Sween Company to build an inclusive and just employment ecosystem. Therefore, we prioritize individuals coming from the following communities: Refugee, Neurodivergent, Single Parent, Blind or Low Vision, Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Black, Hispanic, Asian, Military Veterans, the Elderly, the LGBTQ, and Justice Impacted individuals. This position is open to candidates who reside in and have the legal right to work in the country where the job is located.

Company Name: E. A. Sween Company

Job Description

The Director of Engineering will provide corporate leadership to the engineering operation in support of all internal/external plants and distribution centers for E.A. Sween Company. Key accountability will include the development and execution of a capital expenditure plan, development of engineering standards and work processes, and internal and external resource management for all manufacturing locations. The Director of Engineering will lead all Project, Process and Controls Engineers, along with ad hoc teams as needed, ensuring alignment of all engineering activities with company objectives.

• Management of capital projects related to facilities and equipment
• Identification of best-in-class equipment, processes, facilities, etc.
• Business case justification
• Develop and maintain supplier relationships and leverage vendor expertise and resources
• Project coordination with outside vendors and internal partners
• Project follow-through to assure achievement of operational objectives
• Provides senior technical leadership to the Company’s Lean Manufacturing objectives by identifying process and physical asset improvements
• Provides technical support for related regulatory compliance matters
• Provides technical support for all operational segments, including manufacturing and distribution facilities, production equipment, sanitation, and wastewater operations
• Builds and maintains strong communication channels with all levels of operating management, interacting with all functional departments
• Primary responsibility for plant capital equipment investments
• Ensures required documentation, process automation programs, databases, parts, preps, & fixtures are available to facilitate process standardization
• Promotes and supports potential safety, continuous improvement, Lean Manufacturing, and Six Sigma initiatives with accountability to financial goals and performance
• Evaluates and recommends capital expenditures and projects and review results upon completion (including cost benefits)
• Forecasts and completes Fixed Asset Cash Flow (FACF) analysis annually
• Completes and reports thorough financial analysis of projects to drive decision making
• Ensures competitive bidding processes and negotiates with suppliers to ensure optimal value for E.A. Sween Company
• Works closely with all functional groups toward success of monthly financial commits for the business units
• Develops and maintains KPI metrics that provide insight and accountability to areas where execution is critical for cost avoidance and budget tracking
• Executes strategies and plans to meet company’s short-term and long-term Operations management/production control requirements
• Drives customer and employee success by seeking opportunities for innovation and improvement
• Champions change management and continuous improvement throughout the organization by using comprehensive risk assessments, clearly defining and communicating goals and expectations, and focusing on data analysis to identify strategic opportunities
• Uses the Spirit of EA Sween to guide decisions

Leadership

• Operates as a member of the Operation Leadership Team (OLT)
• Provides direction, development, and leadership to the E.A. Sween Company Engineering team to accomplish the company’s performance goals and objectives
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders including Operations, Continuous Improvement, Sales, R&D, Procurement, and Finance to ensure the Engineering team successfully partners cross functionally to add value to the organization and enhance business results
• Trains and develops engineers and professional staff to build bench strength to support new and existing processes and helps achieve company and operation goals
• Evaluates employee skills and performance, making appropriate recommendations
• Creates a workplace climate that fosters respect, teamwork, open communication, and professional recognition
• Lives the Spirit of E.A. Sween and inspires others to do the same

Research & Development

• Collaborates and supports new or revised product development initiatives
• Communicates effectively with R&D, Production, Continuous Improvement, Quality, Marketing, Sales, and other departments to resolve issues and ensure smooth commercialization of new or revised products
• Develops and maintains industry expertise in support of new and existing processes
• Travel to other facilities in support of product development, product transfer, process improvement and cost down projects

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent combination of technical education/experience
• Minimum 8+ years of previous experience in manufacturing engineering with multi-site manufacturing responsibility preferred
• Demonstrated project management and execution skills
• Ability to provide proactive leadership and vision in developing and sustaining the strategic goals for Operations Engineering
• Strong business acumen and interpersonal skills