Director of Manufacturing Operations

Upside Search; Lorain (OH); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Upside Search is seeking a Director of Operations to lead a multi-discipline manufacturing site (Engineering, Machining, Fabrication, Paint, Assembly, Final Testing) and report to the COO. You will balance hands-on plant leadership with strategic direction and drive continuous improvement across the operation.

You will develop people, implement KPIs, and build processes to support growth, while working closely with executive leadership to optimize capacity and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive plant operations and manufacturing leadership experience.
• Proven experience leading within an industrial manufacturing environment.
• Experience with ERP systems such as NetSuite, SAP, JD Edwards, or similar.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to mentor Managers and Supervisors.
• Experience building KPIs, SOPs, and operational infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for Engineering, Machine Shop, Fabrication, Paint, Assembly, and Final Testing.
• Lead 6–7 Managers and Supervisors, driving accountability across operations.
• Partner with COO and executive leadership on capacity planning and strategy.
• Identify bottlenecks, improve throughput, quality, and operating efficiency.
• Establish KPIs and SOPs; drive continuous improvement and problem-solving culture.
• Improve inventory management and support NetSuite ERP implementation.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

Strategic planning

Problem solving

Mentoring

Cross-functional

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

NetSuite

SAP

JD Edwards

Job description

Our client is a well-established, family-owned manufacturer of specialized machinery. With approximately 85 employees and a fully integrated manufacturing operation spanning Engineering, Machining, Fabrication, Paint, Assembly, and Final Testing, the company has built a strong reputation within its niche. Today, the organization is continuing to invest in its people, products, and operations as it prepares for its next stage of growth.

The Director of Operations will serve as the senior on-site operations leader with overall responsibility for the company's manufacturing operation (50,000 sq. ft facility), including Engineering, Machine Shop, Fabrication, Paint, Assembly, and Final Testing. Reporting directly to the COO, this individual will lead approximately 6–7 Managers and take ownership of the day-to-day performance and continued improvement of the operation.

This is a highly visible leadership position for someone who can balance hands-on plant leadership with strategic thinking. This person will be responsible for developing people, improving processes, establishing KPIs, increasing operational efficiency, and putting the systems and structure in place to support the company's continued growth.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• True Ownership of Operations: Serve as the senior on-site operations leader with responsibility for the entire manufacturing process from Engineering through Final Testing. You'll have the autonomy to identify opportunities, make decisions, and implement meaningful change.
• Seat at the Table: Work directly with the COO and executive leadership as the company's operations expert. This is a highly visible position where your ideas and decisions will have a direct impact on the overall business.
• Build for the Next Stage of Growth: Help build processes, systems, KPIs, and leadership structure necessary to support company growth.
• Opportunity to Make an Impact: The company wants a forward-thinking leader who will evaluate how things are being done today, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement better ways of operating.
• Entrepreneurial Culture: Join a stable, growing family-owned organization without the layers of corporate red tape found in larger companies. You'll have direct access to leadership, significant autonomy, and the ability to see the results of your decisions firsthand.
• Continued Investment & Innovation: The company continues to invest in new products, equipment, technology, and systems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide overall leadership and direction for the company's manufacturing operation, including Engineering, Machine Shop, Fabrication, Paint, Assembly, and Final Testing.
• Lead, coach, and develop approximately 6–7 Managers and Supervisors while creating greater accountability throughout the operation.
• Serve as the senior day-to-day operations leader and trusted partner to the COO.
• Evaluate current manufacturing processes and identify opportunities to improve throughput, productivity, quality, and overall operating efficiency.
• Identify and eliminate operational bottlenecks while improving workflow and coordination between departments.
• Establish meaningful plant KPIs and operating metrics to improve visibility, accountability, and decision-making.
• Develop and implement stronger SOPs, standardized processes, and operating procedures to support continued growth.
• Improve communication and coordination across Engineering, Manufacturing, and other functional areas of the organization.
• Mentor and develop existing Managers and Supervisors to strengthen the company's operational leadership capabilities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and foster a culture focused on problem-solving, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Improve inventory management practices and identify opportunities to reduce overall inventory levels.
• Support the implementation and optimization of NetSuite, leveraging the ERP system to improve operational visibility, reporting, and decision-making.
• Partner with executive leadership on capacity planning, operational strategy, new product introductions, and other initiatives necessary to support continued growth.
• Maintain a visible, hands-on presence throughout the manufacturing floor by working directly with employees and Managers to understand challenges and implement practical solutions.
• Help build the processes, systems, people, and operational structure necessary to support the company's growth

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, or a related field
• 10+ years of progressive plant operations and manufacturing leadership experience.
• Proven experience leading within an industrial manufacturing environment.
• Experience working within a small-to-mid-sized manufacturing organization is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and improve an end-to-end manufacturing operation.
• roven ability to drive change, improve processes, and implement operational improvements.
• Strong people leadership skills with experience coaching, mentoring, and developing Managers and Supervisors.
• Experience developing and implementing KPIs, SOPs, standardized processes, and other operational infrastructure.
• Experience with modern ERP systems such as NetSuite, SAP, JD Edwards, or similar platforms.