Director of Manufacturing Operations

Eastman Music Company; Holliston (MA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision and FSA plans

Matching 401k

Paid vacation, holidays and sick time

Job summary

Eastman Music Company in the Boston area seeks a Director of Manufacturing Operations to lead multiple facilities, drive operational excellence, and scale production while preserving craftsmanship. You will partner with finance, supply chain, and ERP teams to optimize planning, costing, and data integrity, and you will develop leaders across high‑mix, low‑volume environments.

Responsibilities include leading teams, developing capacity strategies, and driving safety and continuous improvement

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in manufacturing, engineering, operations, supply chain or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing and operations leadership with increasing responsibility.
• Proven track record delivering measurable operational improvement across complex manufacturing organizations.
• Strong command of production planning, capacity management, inventory optimization, and operational metrics.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and cross-functional collaboration with finance and executives.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop manufacturing teams across multiple facilities with a culture of accountability, safety, quality, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement.
• Develop production and capacity strategies balancing customer demand, inventory objectives, skilled labor, product quality, and efficiency.
• Partner with finance and operations to improve product costing, inventory valuation, and data-driven decision making.
• Collaborate with ERP and business systems teams to strengthen BOMs, routings, workflows, and data integrity.
• Improve material flow and inventory accuracy, and support integrated planning connecting capacity, demand, and priorities.
• Lead safety programs and continuous improvement initiatives delivering measurable gains.

Skills

Leadership

Manufacturing

ERP/MRP

Production planning

Inventory optimization

Operational metrics

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Acumatica ERP

Job description

Director of Manufacturing Operations

Eastman Music Company
Boston, MA Area | USA
Full-Time | On -Site

About Us

Eastman is a renowned manufacturer of high-quality, handcrafted stringed, wind, percussion, and fretted instruments, ranging from student models to custom‑built professional instruments. Founded by Qian Ni in 1992, Eastman blends traditional craftsmanship with innovative design to create exceptional instruments for musicians throughout the world.

About the Role

Eastman Music Company is seeking an experienced Director of Manufacturing Operations to lead manufacturing performance, operational excellence, process design, and continuous improvement across several of our U.S. manufacturing operations. These include S.E. Shires, a brass instrument manufacturer in the greater Boston area; Wm. S. Haynes, a flute manufacturer also located in the greater Boston area; Malletech, a percussion instrument manufacturer in New Jersey; and Bourgeois Guitars, a guitar manufacturer in Maine.

These locations produce premium professional instruments in high‑mix, low‑volume manufacturing environments where craftsmanship, precision, product quality, and specialized production methods are essential. This role requires a leader who can improve capacity, consistency, efficiency, and scalability while respecting the skilled craftsmanship and product standards that distinguish each business.

The ideal candidate will combine strong manufacturing leadership with a systems mindset and a deep understanding of production planning, inventory management, manufacturing costing, and business systems. Working closely with operations, finance, supply chain, product development, and ERP teams, the Director will strengthen manufacturing performance and create scalable processes that support long‑term growth.

The successful candidate will be equally comfortable walking a production floor, evaluating a manufacturing process, reviewing production costs, or designing operational workflows that support effective execution.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop manufacturing teams across multiple facilities while building a culture of accountability, safety, quality, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement.
• Establish consistent operating practices and performance expectations while respecting the specialized products, processes, and cultures of each business.

Production Planning & Capacity

• Develop production and capacity strategies that balance customer demand, inventory objectives, skilled labor, product quality, and operational efficiency.
• Identify and remove constraints to improve throughput, lead times, capacity, and the successful introduction or expansion of production lines.

Manufacturing Costing & Systems

• Partner with finance and operations to improve product costing, inventory valuation, operational visibility, and data‑driven decision‑making.
• Work with ERP and business systems teams to strengthen BOMs, routings, workflows, controls, and manufacturing data integrity.

Inventory & Supply Chain

• Partner with supply chain and planning teams to improve material flow, production readiness, inventory accuracy, and work‑in‑process management.
• Support integrated planning processes that connect manufacturing capacity, inventory, customer demand, and business priorities.

Safety & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and maintain workplace safety programs, protocols, and practices that promote safe working environments across manufacturing operations.
• Lead continuous improvement and capital investment initiatives that deliver measurable gains in quality, productivity, efficiency, and long‑term manufacturing capability.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience in manufacturing, engineering, operations, supply chain, business, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing and operations leadership with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Demonstrated success leading complex manufacturing organizations, developing leaders, and delivering measurable operational improvement.
• Strong command of production planning, capacity management, inventory optimization, manufacturing execution, and operational metrics.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing costing, inventory valuation, labor standards, overhead allocation, and operational finance.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems, strong business acumen, and the ability to collaborate effectively across operational and executive teams.

Preferred

• Leadership background in high‑mix, low‑volume manufacturing involving premium, custom, engineered, or craftsmanship‑based products.
• Experience with outsourced manufacturing or outside processing and with implementing or improving manufacturing ERP systems.
• Knowledge of BOM design, routings, by‑products, co‑products, work‑in‑process management, and product costing models.
• Lean manufacturing or Six Sigma certification; Acumatica ERP knowledge is a plus.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision and FSA plans
• Paid vacation, holidays and sick time
• Matching 401k