Director of Operations

Lyman Products; Middletown (CT); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Lyman Products is seeking a Director of Operations in Middletown, CT to lead day-to-day manufacturing and drive production planning, cross-functional collaboration, and continuous improvement. You will align capacity with demand, manage costs, and ensure on-time, high-quality shipments while mentoring an operations team.

The role requires a strong background in manufacturing leadership, Lean methods, budgeting, and a proven ability to optimize efficiency and delivery performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field is required.
• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing/operations leadership experience.
• Experience managing machining, assembly, or similar operations.
• Demonstrated leadership and ability to improve operational performance.
• Strong understanding of production planning, capacity management, inventory control, and metrics.
• Experience with Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement.
• Strong financial and business acumen; able to develop solutions and drive execution.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills; ability to work on-site in Middletown, CT.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day manufacturing and operational activities to meet plan.
• Ensure production plans are executed safely, efficiently, and on schedule.
• Manage machining, assembly, and other manufacturing functions.
• Monitor production output and take corrective action when needed.
• Identify bottlenecks and align labor, equipment, and capacity with demand.
• Drive cross-functional coordination with Sales and Engineering for launches and improvements.
• Develop budgets, forecasts, and support cost management and profitability.
• Mentor leaders and build a high-performing operations organization.

Skills

Operations leadership

Lean Six Sigma

KPI tracking

Cross-functional

Budgeting

Problem solving

Communication

Team management

Manufacturing knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Manufacturing, Engineering, Business, or a related field

Job description

Direct Reports: Supply Chain, Production Control, Assembly, Machining, and other operations-related functions as assigned

Position Summary

The Director of Operations is responsible for leading and managing the day-to-day operations of the manufacturing facility. Reporting directly to the Vice President, this position is accountable for ensuring the company has the people, equipment, materials, processes, and capacity necessary to meet production, quality, inventory, and customer delivery objectives.

The Director of Operations will lead the execution of the manufacturing plan and work closely with the Director of Engineering and VP of Sales to align operational capabilities with product requirements, customer demand, and company growth objectives.

This position serves as the primary leader responsible for converting sales demand and production requirements into finished products and on-time customer shipments.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing & Production

• Lead all day-to-day manufacturing and operational activities.
• Ensure production plans are executed safely, efficiently, and on schedule.
• Manage machining, assembly, and other manufacturing functions.
• Monitor production output and take corrective action when performance falls behind plan.
• Identify and eliminate production bottlenecks and constraints.
• Ensure labor, equipment, and manufacturing capacity are properly aligned with demand.
• Develop and maintain accountability for daily and weekly production performance.

Planning & Cross-functional Coordination

• Work closely with the VP of Sales to understand customer demand, sales forecasts, and upcoming opportunities that may impact operational capacity.
• Partner with the Director of Engineering to support new product launches, product improvements, manufacturing process development, and the transition of new products into production.
• Lead purchasing, planning, suppliers, and outside processing partners to ensure materials and components are available to support production.
• Identify potential supply, capacity, equipment, or personnel constraints before they impact customer deliveries.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on eliminating waste, improving flow, reducing lead times, and increasing productivity.
• Identify opportunities for automation, process improvements, tooling improvements, and capital investments.
• Develop business cases and capital requests for equipment or projects that improve capacity, efficiency, quality, or profitability.
• Establish sustainable processes and systems that support future company growth.

Inventory & Cost Management

• Balance inventory levels with customer service, production requirements, and working capital objectives.
• Reduce excess and obsolete inventory while maintaining appropriate inventory levels to support customer demand.
• Monitor manufacturing costs and identify opportunities to improve margins and operational efficiency.
• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, and operational planning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Manufacturing, Engineering, Business, or a related field preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing or operations leadership experience.
• Experience managing machining, assembly, or similar manufacturing operations preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams and improving operational performance.
• Strong understanding of production planning, capacity management, inventory control, and manufacturing metrics.
• Experience with Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies preferred.
• Strong financial and business acumen.
• Proven ability to identify problems, develop solutions, and drive execution.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.

Success in This Role

The Director of Operations will be successful when the organization consistently:

• Meets production and shipment commitments.
• Increases manufacturing efficiency and equipment utilization.
• Identifies and eliminates operational bottlenecks.
• Maintains appropriate inventory levels while reducing excess working capital.
• Successfully supports new product launches and company growth.
• Develops a strong and accountable operations team.
• Continuously improves safety, quality, productivity, cost, and delivery performance.

The Director of Operations is expected to serve as the company's primary leader for manufacturing execution and operational performance, ensuring that the business can reliably convert customer demand into high-quality finished products and on-time shipments.

functions. This role leads production planning, workflow optimization, and resource allocation to ensure on-time delivery and product quality. The Director manages cross-functional teams, implements process improvements, and monitors key performance indicators to drive efficiency and cost control. Core responsibilities include developing and managing budgets, coordinating with customer service and sales to meet client expectations, and aligning operations with strategic business goals. The role also involves maintaining compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards, and mentoring leaders to build a high-performing operations organization.

Qualifications

• Strong Operations Management and process improvement skills, with experience in manufacturing or distribution environments.
• Advanced Analytical Skills for data-driven decision-making, KPI tracking, and problem solving.
• Proven Team Management and leadership abilities, including coaching, performance management, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Demonstrated Budgeting and financial management skills, including cost control and resource planning.
• Customer Service orientation with experience partnering with sales and support teams to meet client needs.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree is a plus.
• Experience with continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma) and ERP or operations systems.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work on-site in Middletown, CT.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Lyman Products Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, physical or learning disability, past/present mental disorder, intellectual disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran status or any other basis protected by law. Lyman also provides reasonable accommodations when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process.