Director of Operations — Lead Lean Manufacturing & Growth

Pelican; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance available

401(k) with company match

Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision

Health Savings Account

Wellness programs

Global mental wellness program

Employee discounts on Pelican products

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Pelican Products, Inc. is seeking a Director of Operations in Torrance, CA to lead manufacturing across shifts, build strong leadership teams, and improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.

You will partner across the business to meet commitments and support long-term growth. The role requires 10+ years in manufacturing leadership, expertise in Lean and Six Sigma, and the ability to drive cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing and operations leadership across multi-shift environments.
• Proven success in safety, quality, delivery, cost, inventory, and customer service.
• Experience developing teams, coaching leaders, and building succession plans.
• Strong knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Experience with capacity planning, production scheduling, workforce planning, and ERP systems.
• Business and financial acumen including budgets, labor costs, and capital planning.
• Experience with SAP, Oracle or similar ERP/manufacturing systems.

Responsibilities

• Direct manufacturing and related operations across all shifts, aligning with priorities and customer commitments.
• Establish operating priorities, standard work, and management systems for consistent performance.
• Develop and execute operational strategies to support site objectives and long-term goals.
• Manage capacity planning, staffing, materials, and resource allocation to meet production needs.
• Coach and develop Operations Managers, Supervisors, Team Leads, and production teams.
• Monitor KPIs, identify gaps, and lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Drive Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with Planning, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Finance and HR to improve execution.
• Manage operating budgets and performance, including labor efficiency and cost reduction.
• Support capital planning, equipment improvements, and automation to boost productivity.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Operational excellence

Leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/operations/business

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Job description

Pelican Products, Inc. is seeking a Director of Operations in Torrance, CA to lead manufacturing across shifts, build strong leadership teams, and improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.

You will partner across the business to meet commitments and support long-term growth. The role requires 10+ years in manufacturing leadership, expertise in Lean and Six Sigma, and the ability to drive cross-functional collaboration.