Director of Operations: Lean Manufacturing Leader

Vaco; Downingtown (Chester County); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring is seeking a Director of Operations to oversee production activities and drive operational performance. You will lead cross‑functional teams, implement Lean principles, and manage budgets while ensuring safety and quality across manufacturing operations.

Ideal candidates will have extensive leadership experience in custom or complex production environments, with a track record of improving processes and developing high‑performing teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• 5+ years in a custom, complex, or specialized manufacturing environment preferred.
• Lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement experience.
• Experience managing budgets, labor costs, and operational expenses.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop managers and production staff.
• Experience driving organizational change and production efficiencies.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, planning, quality, and safety.
• Experience partnering with Engineering, Supply Chain, and other departments.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across manufacturing departments.
• Lead and develop production managers, supervisors, and personnel.
• Oversee daily manufacturing operations including planning, scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Drive Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste and improve performance.
• Establish and monitor metrics for productivity, quality, safety, and cost.

Skills

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

ERP/MRP systems

Budget management

Team development

Continuous improvement

Operations management

Quality control

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Vaco by Highspring is seeking a Director of Operations to oversee production activities and drive operational performance. You will lead cross‑functional teams, implement Lean principles, and manage budgets while ensuring safety and quality across manufacturing operations.

Ideal candidates will have extensive leadership experience in custom or complex production environments, with a track record of improving processes and developing high‑performing teams.