Director of Manufacturing Operations

HunterLab; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

HunterLab, a global leader in color measurement technology, seeks a Director of Manufacturing Operations at Reston headquarters to own Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, and Quality.

You'll drive end-to-end operational excellence, lead the Leadership Team, and shape strategies that translate into products shipped worldwide. This role demands hands-on leadership on the production floor with the executive team, influencing long-term growth.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing operations experience.
• 5+ years in senior operational leadership.
• Experience in low-volume, high-mix manufacturing of complex or precision products.
• Background in scientific instrumentation, optics/photonics, or electro-mechanical products is preferred.
• ISO 9001 experience required; ERP-driven manufacturing experience essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, and Quality.
• Align production and capacity with demand, revenue goals, and customer commitments.
• Drive improvements in on-time delivery, throughput, yield, quality, cost, and inventory.
• Build a responsive supply chain and strengthen supplier performance and lead-time management.
• Champion design-for-manufacturability for new products; drive ERP transformation.
• Develop teams, mentor leaders, and cultivate accountability and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Manufacturing operations

Lean / continuous improvement

Supply chain

Quality management

Process improvement

Production floor leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

ERP systems (enterprise resource planning)

Quality Management System (QMS) ISO 9001

Job description

Ready to lead the full manufacturing operation of a company whose technology is used around the world?

For 74 years, HunterLab has been a global leader in color measurement technology, developing precision instruments used across food, pharmaceuticals, plastics, coatings, consumer products, and other industries.

We are looking for a Director of Manufacturing Operations to take end-to-end ownership of Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, and Quality at our Reston headquarters.

This isn't a role where you'll lead from a distance. You'll have a seat on the Leadership Team, help shape company strategy, and stay close enough to the operation to see your decisions translate directly to the products we ship.

What You'll Do

• Lead Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, and Quality.
• Align production and capacity with demand, revenue goals, and customer commitments.
• Drive improvements in on-time delivery, throughput, yield, quality, cost, and inventory.
• Build a responsive supply chain and strengthen supplier performance, sourcing, and lead-time management.
• Champion manufacturing engineering and design-for-manufacturability for new products.
• Lead within our ISO 9001 certified and ISO/IEC 17025 accredited environment.
• Own key operational KPIs, budgets, COGS, and performance reporting.
• Help lead a major ERP transformation and shape the processes and systems that will support our future growth.
• Develop strong teams, mentor leaders, and build a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

What You'll Bring

• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing operations experience, including 5+ years in senior operational leadership.
• Experience leading low-volume, high-mix manufacturing of complex or precision products.
• Background in scientific/analytical instrumentation, optics/photonics, medical devices, test & measurement, or similar electro-mechanical products strongly preferred.
• Strong experience across manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and manufacturing engineering.
• ISO 9001 experience required; ISO/IEC 17025 experience is a strong plus.
• Strong knowledge of Lean/continuous improvement and ERP-driven manufacturing.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or a related technical field.
• A hands-on, adaptable leadership style and the ability to work effectively from the production floor to the executive table.

Why HunterLab?

Real ownership. Real visibility. Real impact.

At HunterLab, you'll join an established, globally recognized technology company while working in an environment where decisions can move quickly. You'll have broad operational ownership, direct access to company leadership, and the opportunity to influence everything from day-to-day execution to long-term strategy.

Compensation:

$160,000–$190,000 base salary, plus bonus and comprehensive benefits, including eligibility for a non-qualified deferred compensation plan.

HUNTERLAB IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law. HunterLab participates in E-Verify.