Director of Operations

CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen); Oak Creek (WI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Owens Industries, a precision machining company, seeks a Director of Operations (Manufacturing) to lead the Oak Creek, Wisconsin facility. This hands-on role oversees production planning, scheduling, engineering coordination, and continuous improvement; you will develop a team of ~30 and drive safety, quality, and on-time delivery.

The ideal candidate has a bachelor's in engineering or related field, 7+ years of leadership in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing, and strong knowledge of CNC,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, or related field.
• 7+ years of manufacturing operations leadership in precision machining or advanced manufacturing.
• Experience leading production, scheduling, manufacturing engineering, and continuous improvement.
• Proven success managing teams and driving performance in high-mix, low-volume environment.
• Strong understanding of CNC machining, precision manufacturing, and quality systems.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems; JobBOSS a plus.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or similar continuous improvement methodologies.
• Excellent leadership, communication, coaching, and development skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to prioritize multiple initiatives while focusing on quality and safety.
• Self-motivated leader who thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead all day-to-day manufacturing operations at Owens Industries' precision machining facility.
• Oversee production planning, scheduling, workflow management, and operational execution.
• Ensure production goals, quality standards, and customer delivery commitments are consistently achieved.
• Manage and develop a team of approximately 30 employees across manufacturing and engineering functions.
• Foster strong communication and collaboration between production, engineering, quality, and leadership teams.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, quality, efficiency, and throughput.
• Utilize operational data and reporting tools to support decision-making and performance management.
• Monitor key operational metrics and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Support manufacturing engineering efforts, process improvements, and workflow optimization.
• Lead capacity planning and resource allocation activities to support business growth.
• Champion a culture focused on safety, quality, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements and industry quality standards, including AS9100 and other applicable certifications.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to develop and execute strategic operational initiatives.
• Support employee development, succession planning, and organizational growth initiatives.
• Maintain accountability for understanding, following, and implementing company policies, procedures, and operational standards.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

CNC machining

Lean/Six Sigma

ERP/MRP systems

Team development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business

Tools

JobBOSS

Job description

CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) Search has been retained by Owens Industries to identify a Director of Operations (Manufacturing) to join their leadership team at their headquarters in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Owens Industries is a highly specialized precision machining company serving aerospace, defense, medical, semiconductor, optics, and other mission-critical industries. Since 1944, the company has built a reputation for manufacturing complex, ultra-tight tolerance components that many machine shops cannot produce.

The Director of Operations (Operations) will play a critical role in the success of the organization by leading manufacturing operations, production planning, scheduling, engineering coordination, and continuous improvement initiatives. This position is ideal for a hands-on operational leader who enjoys driving performance, developing teams, implementing process improvements, and making a meaningful impact within a growing precision manufacturing environment.

You can learn more here: https://www.owensind.com/.

What You'll Do:

• Lead all day-to-day manufacturing operations within Owens Industries' precision machining facility.
• Oversee production planning, scheduling, workflow management, and operational execution.
• Ensure production goals, quality standards, and customer delivery commitments are consistently achieved.
• Manage and develop a team of approximately 30 employees, including direct and indirect reports across manufacturing and engineering functions.
• Foster strong communication and collaboration between production, engineering, quality, and leadership teams.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, quality, efficiency, and throughput.
• Utilize operational data and reporting tools to support decision-making and performance management.
• Monitor key operational metrics and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Support manufacturing engineering efforts, process improvements, and workflow optimization.
• Lead capacity planning and resource allocation activities to support business growth.
• Champion a culture focused on safety, quality, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Ensure compliance with customer requirements and industry quality standards, including AS9100 and other applicable certifications.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to develop and execute strategic operational initiatives.
• Support employee development, succession planning, and organizational growth initiatives.
• Maintain accountability for understanding, following, and implementing company policies, procedures, and operational standards.

What You'll Need:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, or a related field preferred.
• 7+ years of manufacturing operations leadership experience within precision machining or advanced manufacturing environments.
• Experience leading production, scheduling, manufacturing engineering, and continuous improvement activities.
• Proven success managing teams and driving operational performance in a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of CNC machining, precision manufacturing processes, and quality systems.
• Experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems and production data to drive operational decisions; JobBOSS experience is a plus.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies preferred.
• Excellent leadership, communication, coaching, and team development skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational abilities.
• Ability to prioritize multiple initiatives while maintaining a focus on quality, customer satisfaction, and employee engagement.
• Self-motivated leader who thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced manufacturing