Director, Operations

Mesa Laboratories, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Base compensation range shown

Annual bonus opportunity

Equity awards

401(k) with match

Paid time off

Health, dental, vision insurance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Holidays

Job summary

Mesa Labs in the San Diego area seeks a Director of Operations to lead Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Production Planning, Warehouse, Facilities, and Quality. You will ensure safe, compliant, efficient, and scalable manufacturing while aligning with strategic growth plans.

You will partner with Engineering, Product Management, Regulatory, Finance, and Commercial teams to remove constraints, drive Lean initiatives, and deliver compelling metrics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or related technical discipline; Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing or operations leadership experience.
• Experience leading Operations and Quality within a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting product commercialization, new product introduction, manufacturing transfers, and production scaling.
• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, capacity planning, inventory management, and production systems.
• Proven ability to build high-performing teams, coach leaders, and drive organizational change.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing operating budgets, capital investments, and productivity initiatives.
• Excellent executive communication and cross-functional leadership skills; Lean Six Sigma certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and day-to-day leadership for Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Production Planning, Warehouse, Facilities, Operational Excellence, and Quality.
• Lead and develop managers and future operational leaders, building capability and succession.
• Own operational performance across safety, quality, delivery, inventory, productivity, cost, and customer satisfaction.
• Develop and execute annual operating plans, workforce strategies, and roadmaps.
• Lead S&OP, capacity planning, inventory strategy, and resource planning.
• Drive readiness for new product introductions, engineering changes, and product lifecycle management.
• Partner with Engineering, R&D, Product Management, Commercial, Regulatory, and Finance to improve manufacturability and support commercialization.
• Build cross-functional partnerships to resolve complex operational challenges while balancing customer needs and compliance.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional leadership

Financial acumen

Executive communication

Change management

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations/Business

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Are you looking for an opportunity to make a difference? At Mesa Labswe’repassionate about protecting the vulnerable by enabling scientific breakthroughs, ensuring product integrity, increasing patient and worker safety, and improving quality of life around the world.

At Mesa Labs we offer competitive wages, includingpotentialbonusopportunities, equity awards, commission,and a comprehensive benefits packagebased on theposition.

• Annual bonus opportunity of22%based on company performance.
• Annual equity award of$30K.

Outstanding Benefits and Perks:
We are proud to offer a variety ofbenefits that meet the diverse needs of our employees:

• Eligible forbenefitsthe first day of the month after you start
• Tiered Medical, Dental and Vision Insuranceoptions, Healthsavings (HSA), healthcare & dependent care flexible spending (FSA) accounts
• Company paid short term and long-term disability (unless covered by a state disability plan)
• Company paid life insurance and AD&D
• FlexibleTime OffPolicy
• Paid sick leave of48 hourspercalendar year
• Eligible employees may receive four (4) weeks paid Care Giver leaveafter 1 year of service orin accordance withstate leave laws
• 401(k) plan that provides a 4% Safe Harbor company match on a 4% employee contribution that begins on Day 1
• Employee Wellness and Financial Assistance Resources through Cigna and NY Life
• Nine (9) paid company holidays per year
  

Agena:Agena Bioscience® empowers research laboratories worldwide to deliver scalable targeted genomic data. Our open, advanced platform, the Mass ARRAY® System, provides researchers with insights through a highly multiplexed solution in the areas of mutation profiling, liquid biopsy, pharmacogenetics, and more.

Job Summary:

The Director of Operations serves as the senior operational leader for the site, responsible for Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Production Planning, Warehouse, Facilities, Operational Excellence, and the Quality and Regulatory organization. Reporting directly to the VP/General Manager of the business, this role is accountable for building a high-performing operation that delivers safe, compliant, efficient, and scalable manufacturing while supporting the company's strategic growth objectives.
This leader serves as a key member of the site leadership team, partnering closely with Engineering, Product Development, Product Management, Commercial, Finance, Regulatory Affairs, and Customer Support to translate business strategy into operational execution. The Director is responsible for balancing customer commitments, operational performance, financial objectives, and regulatory compliance while developing future leaders and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

What You’ll Own

• Provide strategic and day-to-day leadership for Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Production Planning, Warehouse, Facilities, Operational Excellence, and the Quality organization.
• Lead and develop the Quality Manager, Manufacturing Manager, Warehouse Manager, Supply Chain Team, and future operational leaders while building organizational capability and succession plans.
• Own operational performance across safety, quality, delivery, inventory, productivity, cost, and customer satisfaction.
• Develop and execute annual operating plans, workforce strategies, and operational roadmaps aligned with business objectives.
• Lead Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), capacity planning, inventory strategy, and resource planning to support revenue commitments and business growth.
• Drive manufacturing readiness for new product introductions, engineering changes, manufacturing transfers, and product lifecycle management.
• Partner with Engineering, R&D, Product Management, Commercial, Regulatory Affairs, and Finance to remove operational constraints, improve product manufacturability, and support commercialization efforts.
• Build strong partnerships across functions to resolve complex operational challenges while balancing customer needs, business priorities, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead capital planning and operational investment decisions that improve quality, capacity, efficiency, automation, and long‑term scalability.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing, Daily Management, problem‑solving disciplines, and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the organization.
• Utilize and own operational metrics and business analytics to identify trends, prioritize improvement opportunities, and drive fact‑based decision making.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, quality systems, safety standards, and internal policies.
• Serve as the operational escalation point for significant customer, quality, supply chain, and manufacturing issues.
• Build an engaged, accountable culture that emphasizes leadership development, collaboration, ownership, and operational excellence.

What Success Looks Like

• Consistently delivers safety, quality, delivery, inventory, productivity, and financial objectives.
• Develops an integrated Operations and Quality organization that operates as one team with shared accountability.
• Creates scalable manufacturing systems capable of supporting business growth and future product expansion.
• Successfully supports new product introductions and manufacturing transfers with minimal disruption to customers.
• Builds strong cross‑functional partnerships that improve execution across Engineering, Commercial, Product Management, Quality, Regulatory, and Finance.
• Develops future leaders through coaching, succession planning, and talent development.
• Drives a culture where continuous improvement, accountability, and data‑driven decision making become standard operating practice.
• Identifies and mitigates operational risks before they impact customers or business performance.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or a related technical discipline required. Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing or operations leadership experience, including responsibility for multiple operational functions.
• Demonstrated success leading Operations and Quality organizations within a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting product commercialization, new product introduction, manufacturing transfers, and production scaling.
• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, capacity planning, inventory management, and production systems.
• Proven ability to build high‑performing teams, coach leaders, and drive organizational change.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing operating budgets, capital investments, and productivity initiatives.
• Excellent executive communication and cross‑functional leadership skills with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization.
• Lean Manufacturing experience required; Six Sigma certification preferred.
• Medical device, diagnostics, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or life sciences manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Strategic thinker capable of connecting operational execution to business objectives.
• Builds trust and influence across cross‑functional teams.
• Makes timely, data‑driven decisions in complex environments.
• Develops people and creates strong succession pipelines.
• Leads through change with resilience and accountability.
• Creates clarity, alignment, and execution across multiple priorities.
• Maintains a customer‑first mindset while balancing quality, cost, delivery, and compliance.

Primarily onsite within a regulated manufacturing and laboratory environment with occasional domestic travel.

Mesa Labs is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Mesa Labs prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment against applicants or employees based on age, race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, disability, military status, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable state or local law. Please note that Mesa Labs conducts criminal background checks upon offer acceptance.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

Are you looking for an opportunity to make a difference? At Mesa Labswe’repassionate about protecting the vulnerable by enabling scientific breakthroughs, ensuring product integrity, increasing patient and worker safety, and improving quality of life around the world.

At Mesa Labs we offer competitive wages, includingpotentialbonusopportunities, equity awards, commission,and a comprehensive benefits packagebased on theposition.

Base CompensationRange:$154,500.00to$193,250.00USD
*In addition, you qualify for:

• Annual bonus opportunity of22%based on company performance.

• Annual equity award of$30K.

Outstanding Benefits and Perks:
We are proud to offer a variety ofbenefits that meet the diverse needs of our employees:

• Eligible forbenefitsthe first day of the month after you start
• Tiered Medical, Dental and Vision Insuranceoptions, Healthsavings (HSA), healthcare & dependent care flexible spending (FSA) accounts
• Company paid short term and long-term disability (unless covered by a state disability plan)
• Company paid life insurance and AD&D
• FlexibleTime OffPolicy
• Paid sick leave of48 hourspercalendar year
• Eligible employees may receive four (4) weeks paid Care Giver leaveafter 1 year of service orin accordance withstate leave laws
• 401(k) plan that provides a 4% Safe Harbor company match on a 4% employee contribution that begins on Day 1
• Employee Wellness and Financial Assistance Resources through Cigna and NY Life
• Nine (9) paid company holidays per year
  

Agena:Agena Bioscience® empowers research laboratories worldwide to deliver scalable targeted genomic data. Our open, advanced platform, the Mass ARRAY® System, provides researchers with insights through a highly multiplexed solution in the areas of mutation profiling, liquid biopsy, pharmacogenetics, and more.

Job Summary:

The Director of Operations serves as the senior operational leader for the site, responsible for Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Production Planning, Warehouse, Facilities, Operational Excellence, and the Quality and Regulatory organization. Reporting directly to the VP/General Manager of the business, this role is accountable for building a high-performing operation that delivers safe, compliant, efficient, and scalable manufacturing while supporting the company's strategic growth objectives.
This leader serves as a key member of the site leadership team, partnering closely with Engineering, Product Development, Product Management, Commercial, Finance, Regulatory Affairs, and Customer Support to translate business strategy into operational execution. The Director is responsible for balancing customer commitments, operational performance, financial objectives, and regulatory compliance while developing future leaders and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

What You’ll Own

• Provide strategic and day-to-day leadership for Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Production Planning, Warehouse, Facilities, Operational Excellence, and the Quality organization.
• Lead and develop the Quality Manager, Manufacturing Manager, Warehouse Manager, Supply Chain Team, and future operational leaders while building organizational capability and succession plans.
• Own operational performance across safety, quality, delivery, inventory, productivity, cost, and customer satisfaction.
• Develop and execute annual operating plans, workforce strategies, and operational roadmaps aligned with business objectives.
• Lead Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), capacity planning, inventory strategy, and resource planning to support revenue commitments and business growth.
• Drive manufacturing readiness for new product introductions, engineering changes, manufacturing transfers, and product lifecycle management.
• Partner with Engineering, R&D, Product Management, Commercial, Regulatory Affairs, and Finance to remove operational constraints, improve product manufacturability, and support commercialization efforts.
• Build strong partnerships across functions to resolve complex operational challenges while balancing customer needs, business priorities, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead capital planning and operational investment decisions that improve quality, capacity, efficiency, automation, and long‑term scalability.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing, Daily Management, problem‑solving disciplines, and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the organization.
• Utilize and own operational metrics and business analytics to identify trends, prioritize improvement opportunities, and drive fact‑based decision making.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, quality systems, safety standards, and internal policies.
• Serve as the operational escalation point for significant customer, quality, supply chain, and manufacturing issues.
• Build an engaged, accountable culture that emphasizes leadership development, collaboration, ownership, and operational excellence.

What Success Looks Like

• Consistently delivers safety, quality, delivery, inventory, productivity, and financial objectives.
• Develops an integrated Operations and Quality organization that operates as one team with shared accountability.
• Creates scalable manufacturing systems capable of supporting business growth and future product expansion.
• Successfully supports new; product introductions and manufacturing transfers with minimal disruption to customers.
• Builds strong cross‑functional partnerships that improve execution across Engineering, Commercial, Product Management, Quality, Regulatory, and Finance.
• Develops future leaders through coaching, succession planning, and talent development.
• Drives a culture where continuous improvement, accountability, and data‑driven decision making become standard operating practice.
• Identifies and mitigates operational risks before they impact customers or business performance.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or a related technical discipline required. Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing or operations leadership experience, including responsibility for multiple operational functions.
• Demonstrated success leading Operations and Quality organizations within a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting product commercialization, new product introduction, manufacturing transfers, and production scaling.
• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, capacity planning, inventory management, and production systems.
• Proven ability to build high‑performing teams, coach leaders, and drive organizational change.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing operating budgets, capital investments, and productivity initiatives.
• Excellent executive communication and cross‑functional leadership skills with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization.
• Lean Manufacturing experience required; Six Sigma certification preferred.
• Medical device, diagnostics, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or life sciences manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Strategic thinker capable of connecting operational execution to business objectives.
• Builds trust and influence across cross‑functional teams.
• Makes timely, data‑driven decisions in complex environments.
• Develops people and creates strong succession pipelines.
• Leads through change with resilience and accountability.
• Creates clarity, alignment, and execution across multiple priorities.
• Maintains a customer‑first mindset while balancing quality, cost, delivery, and compliance.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinker capable of connecting operational execution to business objectives.
• Builds trust and influence across cross‑functional teams.
• Makes timely, data‑driven decisions in complex environments.
• Develops people and creates strong succession pipelines.
• Leads through change with resilience and accountability.
• Creates clarity, alignment, and execution across multiple priorities.
• Maintains a customer‑first mindset while balancing quality, cost, delivery, and compliance.

Work Environment

Primarily onsite within a regulated manufacturing and laboratory environment with occasional domestic travel.

Mesa Labs is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Mesa Labs prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment against applicants or employees based on age, race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, disability, military status, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable state or local law. Please note that Mesa Labs conducts criminal background checks upon offer acceptance.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.