Director Of Operations

Actalent; Wisconsin; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent in the United States is seeking a Director of Operations to lead a chemical manufacturing facility, driving safe, efficient, compliant production and a high-performing team.

You will develop and monitor KPIs, manage production planning, budgeting, and continuous improvement initiatives, and partner with senior leaders to align operations with customer and business goals.

The role emphasizes Lean, OEE, safety culture, and regulatory compliance to sustain growth and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing operations to ensure safe, efficient, compliant, and high-quality production.
• Drive operational excellence initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, delivery, and cost performance across the manufacturing plant.
• Develop, track, and monitor manufacturing KPIs, including quality, throughput, downtime, labor efficiency, and OEE.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve manufacturing performance, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, capital planning, and cost management initiatives to ensure efficient use of resources.
• Lead succession planning and organizational development activities to build long-term leadership and operational capabilities.
• Lead and direct all manufacturing activities to ensure safe, efficient, compliant, and high-quality production.
• Establish and execute production plans that meet customer demand, delivery requirements, and business objectives.
• Manage daily manufacturing execution, including production scheduling, staffing, and prioritization of operational activities.
• Ensure adherence to standard operating procedures, process controls, and manufacturing specifications to maintain product quality and compliance.
• Coordinate production activities to maximize throughput while maintaining strict safety and quality standards.
• Monitor manufacturing performance, identify operational issues and constraints, and implement corrective actions to resolve them.
• Drive accountability for production results and operational discipline throughout the manufacturing organization.
• Champion Manufacturing Excellence through Lean Manufacturing principles, standard work, waste elimination, visual management, and 5S practices.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, efficiency, quality, and cost reduction.
• Utilize root cause analysis, corrective action methodologies, and data-driven decision-making to improve operational performance.
• Identify opportunities to optimize manufacturing processes, workflows, equipment utilization, and labor efficiency.
• Lead initiatives that improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), reduce downtime, and increase production capacity.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and active employee involvement throughout manufacturing operations.
• Lead and continuously improve Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) programs across the facility.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, DOT, and all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Coordinate safety training, audits, inspections, corrective actions, and compliance initiatives to maintain a safe work environment.
• Maintain required permits, regulatory documentation, and reporting activities in accordance with regulatory standards.
• Lead incident investigations and implement corrective and preventive actions to reduce risk and prevent recurrence.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and environmental stewardship throughout the organization.
• Partner with maintenance personnel to maximize equipment reliability and manufacturing uptime.
• Support preventative maintenance, predictive maintenance, and reliability improvement initiatives.
• Assist in prioritizing maintenance activities based on operational requirements and business needs.
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment performance, reliability, and operational efficiency.
• Support capital projects, equipment upgrades, and manufacturing expansion initiatives.
• Lead, coach, and develop manufacturing personnel and frontline leaders to build a high-performing team.

Job description

Job Description

Director of Operations

Job Description

The Director of Operations plays a critical leadership role in overseeing safe, efficient, compliant, and cost-effective manufacturing operations within a chemical manufacturing facility. This position is accountable for achieving production goals, optimizing manufacturing processes, improving operational performance, and developing a high-performing workforce while supporting customer satisfaction and business growth. The role offers extensive exposure to manufacturing strategies, operational excellence, workforce leadership, business strategy, financial management, and cross-functional decision-making, serving as a developmental pathway toward broader leadership responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key member of the business leadership team, contributing to strategic planning, operational performance, and cross-functional business decision-making.
• Partner closely with the Business Operations Manager to align manufacturing requirements with business support functions and overall organizational objectives.
• Drive operational excellence initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, delivery, and cost performance across the manufacturing plant.
• Develop, track, and monitor manufacturing key performance indicators (KPIs), including quality, throughput, downtime, labor efficiency, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve manufacturing performance, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, capital planning, and cost management initiatives to ensure efficient use of resources.
• Lead succession planning and organizational development activities to build long-term leadership and operational capabilities.
• Lead and direct all manufacturing activities to ensure safe, efficient, compliant, and high-quality production.
• Establish and execute production plans that meet customer demand, delivery requirements, and business objectives.
• Manage daily manufacturing execution, including production scheduling, staffing, and prioritization of operational activities.
• Ensure adherence to standard operating procedures, process controls, and manufacturing specifications to maintain product quality and compliance.
• Coordinate production activities to maximize throughput while maintaining strict safety and quality standards.
• Monitor manufacturing performance, identify operational issues and constraints, and implement corrective actions to resolve them.
• Drive accountability for production results and operational discipline throughout the manufacturing organization.
• Champion Manufacturing Excellence through Lean Manufacturing principles, standard work, waste elimination, visual management, and 5S practices.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, efficiency, quality, and cost reduction.
• Utilize root cause analysis, corrective action methodologies, and data-driven decision-making to improve operational performance.
• Identify opportunities to optimize manufacturing processes, workflows, equipment utilization, and labor efficiency.
• Lead initiatives that improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), reduce downtime, and increase production capacity.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and active employee involvement throughout manufacturing operations.
• Lead and continuously improve Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) programs across the facility.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, DOT, and all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Coordinate safety training, audits, inspections, corrective actions, and compliance initiatives to maintain a safe work environment.
• Maintain required permits, regulatory documentation, and reporting activities in accordance with regulatory standards.
• Lead incident investigations and implement corrective and preventive actions to reduce risk and prevent recurrence.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and environmental stewardship throughout the organization.
• Partner with maintenance personnel to maximize equipment reliability and manufacturing uptime.
• Support preventative maintenance, predictive maintenance, and reliability improvement initiatives.
• Assist in prioritizing maintenance activities based on operational requirements and business needs.
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment performance, reliability, and operational efficiency.
• Support capital projects, equipment upgrades, and manufacturing expansion initiatives.
• Lead, coach, and develop manufacturing personnel and frontline leaders to build a high-performing team.
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