Director of Manufacturing Operations

Novanta Inc.; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 178,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Benefits package

Job summary

Novanta Inc. in Irvine seeks a Director of Manufacturing Operations to lead end-to-end manufacturing activities, ensuring safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets are met.

The role spans assembly, machine shop, clean room, manufacturing engineering, and production planning, collaborating with Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, and Finance. The candidate will drive Lean-based improvements, develop capacity plans, and foster a high-performance culture focused on safety and engagement.

Qualifications

• Progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operations within regulated, precision environments.
• Proven success leading multifunction manufacturing organizations with accountability for safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Demonstrated ability to drive operational excellence with Lean, continuous improvement, KPI-driven execution.
• Strong ability to translate business strategy into effective manufacturing execution and capacity planning.
• Effective leader and change agent across functions and levels, fostering safety and engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end manufacturing operations for the Irvine site, including assembly, machine shop, clean room, manufacturing engineering, and production planning, with full accountability for safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Drive operational excellence and continuous improvement by embedding Lean principles, disciplined problem-solving, and KPI-driven execution to improve throughput, cycle time, yield, and cost performance.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

Multifunction manufacturing

Lean & KPI execution

Financial acumen

Change management

Job description

Build a career powered by innovations that matter! At Novanta, our innovations power technology products that are transforming healthcare and advanced manufacturing—improving productivity, enhancing people’s lives and redefining what’s possible. We create for our global customers engineered components and sub-systems that deliver extreme precision and performance for a range of mission‑critical applications—from minimally invasive surgery to robotics to 3D metal printing.

Novanta is one global team with over 26 offices located in The Americas, Europe and Asia‑Pacific. Looking for a great place to work? You have found it with a culture that embraces teamwork, collaboration and empowerment. Come explore Novanta.

Summary

The Director of Manufacturing Operations provides strategic and hands‑on leadership for all manufacturing operations at the Irvine site, with full accountability for safety, quality, delivery, and cost. This role oversees assembly, machine shop, clean room operations, manufacturing engineering, and production planning, ensuring disciplined execution, operational excellence, and reliable performance in support of customer and business commitments.

The Director drives continuous improvement through Lean principles, robust planning and capacity management, and data‑driven decision‑making, while fostering a high‑performance culture focused on safety, engagement, and results. This position partners closely with Operations leadership and cross‑functional teams—including Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, and Finance—to support business growth, new product introductions, and scalable manufacturing operations.

Business Overview

Positioning Solutions is Novanta’s precision motion and engineered subsystems business. It designs and manufactures high‑precision, custom‑engineered motion subsystems and electromechanical assemblies that are built into customers’ advanced equipment—primarily in medical, life sciences, robotics, and automation markets.

At its core, Positioning Solutions partners directly with OEMs to solve complex motion and positioning challenges. Rather than selling off‑the‑shelf parts, the team acts as an engineering partner, designing application‑specific subsystems that enable extremely accurate, repeatable, and reliable motion inside customer machines

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end manufacturing operations for the Irvine site, including assembly, machine shop, clean room, manufacturing engineering, and production planning, with full accountability for safety, quality, delivery, and cost.

• Drive operational excellence and continuous improvement , embedding Lean principles, disciplined problem‑solving, and KPI‑driven execution to improve throughput, cycle time, yield, and cost performance.

Ensure reliable production planning and capacity management , aligning labor, equipment, and resources to demand while supporting on‑time delivery, inventory management, and customer commitments.

Partner cross‑functionally with Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, Finance, and business line leaders to support new product introductions, process robustness, and execution of business strategy.

Build and lead a high‑performance manufacturing organization , developing leaders and teams, establishing clear accountability, and fostering a culture of safety, engagement, and continuous improvement.

Required Experience, Education, Skills, Training and Competencies

• Progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operations , ideally within regulated, precision, medical device, life sciences, semiconductor, or clean‑room environments.

• Proven success leading multifunction manufacturing organizations , including production, manufacturing engineering, and production planning, with accountability for safety, quality, delivery, and cost.

• Demonstrated ability to drive operational excellence , including Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, disciplined problem‑solving, and KPI‑driven execution with measurable results.

• Strong operational and financial acumen , with the ability to translate business strategy into effective execution, capacity planning, and resource alignment.

• Effective leader and change agent , capable of influencing across functions and levels, developing high‑performing teams, and fostering a culture of safety, engagement, and continuous improvement.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk in manufacturing and production areas.

• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.

• Ability to wear required PPE and clean‑room gowning.

• Frequent movement between production, assembly, and operational areas.

Travel Requirements

Travel up to 25% to support business needs, cross‑site collaboration, and enterprise initiatives.

Compensation and Benefits

• The base pay for this position is $178,420 to $240,000 per year depending on the geographic market.

• This position provides an opportunity for competitive quarterly sales compensation based on an achievement to plan.

• Novanta supports all aspects of your life’s needs. This position provides a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits to make your quality of life better.

Novanta is proud to be an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, military and veteran status, disability, genetics, or any other category protected by federal law or Novanta policy.

Please call [phone] if you need a disability accommodation for any part of the employment process.