Director, Performance Improvement – Manufacturing, Industrials

Jobtailor; Illinois; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking an experienced advisory professional to help transform large‑scale manufacturing operations in the United States. The role involves leading data‑driven improvements, translating shop floor diagnostics into EBITDA and cash‑flow gains, and building dashboards and scorecards for executive audiences.

You will guide cross‑functional teams through lean initiatives, CAPEX planning, and multi‑shift operations while managing client expectations and delivering measurable enterprise

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree with strong GPA required.
• Master’s degree preferred and MBA strongly valued.
• 5+ years of advisory experience with a top‑tier management consulting firm with significant manufacturing/industrials experience.
• 10+ years of progressive operations leadership across consulting and corporate/client‑side roles preferred for senior‑level consideration.
• Proven experience leading or advising manufacturing operations with accountability for productivity, quality, safety, budget/P&L performance, workforce management, and customer service outcomes.
• Demonstrated track record of measurable enterprise value creation, operational productivity improvement, cost reduction, and performance gains in complex manufacturing environments.
• Hands‑on experience with Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, value stream mapping, kaizen, standard work, plant turnarounds, and performance management systems.
• Lean and/or Six Sigma certification preferred.
• Experience supporting CAPEX planning and execution, asset management, labor strategy, inventory recovery, backorder reduction, throughput improvement, and multi‑shift operating environments.
• Experience across industrials and manufacturing sectors such as building products, plastics, medical/life sciences, food/dairy, consumer goods, or other regulated production environments.
• Working knowledge of safety, quality, and regulatory operating disciplines, with exposure to FDA, USDA, FSSC 22000, third‑party certifications, or similar requirements.
• Ability to align shop floor execution with senior executive, CEO, board, investor, and broader stakeholder priorities.
• Ability to support multiple transactions in diligence, integration, and separation roles.
• Strong people leadership experience, including building high‑performance teams, developing operational leaders, coaching frontline management, and driving cultural change.
• Strong analytical and financial skills, including Excel modeling, analytical tools, and financial analyses.
• Ability to identify key issues, understand data patterns and trends, synthesize analysis, and draw practical conclusions.
• Excellent communication, critical thinking, problem‑solving, and leadership skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel, estimated around 50%, varying by engagement.
• Ability and willingness to work long hours during the week and on weekends as required by client demands.

Responsibilities

• Support clients through growth, plant turnarounds, M&A diligence and integrations.
• Assess plant performance and identify EBITDA and cash flow improvements.
• Translate diagnostics into financial outcomes for capacity and CAPEX.
• Build analytics tools and dashboards; communicate findings to senior leadership.
• Lead data collection and hypothesis testing with client and internal teams.
• Set priorities across workstreams and coach Associates/Senior Associates.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Financial Modeling

Leadership

Critical Thinking

Problem Solving

Communication

Education

Undergraduate degree with strong GPA

Master’s degree preferred (MBA strongly valued)

Tools

Dashboards

Operating Scorecards

Excel Modeling

Job description

• Support clients through rapid growth, plant turnarounds, acquisition integrations, carve‑outs, cultural transformations, operating model transformations, and M&A operational due diligence and pre/post-close execution
• Assess plant performance using OEE, throughput, labor productivity, reliability, quality, and asset utilization to identify EBITDA and cash flow improvement opportunities
• Evaluate operating systems, management routines, process discipline, leadership effectiveness, and manufacturing networks to enhance safety, quality, service, and productivity and support M&A‑related decisions
• Translate shop‑floor performance and operational diagnostics into financial outcomes supporting capacity unlock, CAPEX optimization, and enterprise value creation
• Build analytical tools and financial models; deploy advanced analytics, dashboards, KPI reporting, and operating scorecards
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methods to reduce waste and defects, increase throughput, improve setup/changeover, and stabilize inventory and service levels
• Analyze complex multi‑shift and 24/7 manufacturing operations across labor, value streams, production planning, quality, safety, and customer service
• Develop value creation roadmaps with measurable targets for EBITDA, cash flow, productivity, quality, safety, service, working capital, and CAPEX effectiveness
• Manage engagement workplans, milestones, issue logs, and status reporting
• Prepare executive‑ready reports, scorecards, business cases, and presentations; communicate findings to senior leadership
• Lead and collaborate with client and internal teams to gather data and test hypotheses
• Set priorities across workstreams, manage Associates/Senior Associates, and provide coaching and feedback

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree from a top academic institution with a strong GPA required
• Master’s degree preferred and MBA strongly valued
• 5+ years of advisory experience with a top‑tier management consulting firm with significant manufacturing/industrials experience
• 10+ years of progressive operations leadership across consulting and corporate/client‑side roles preferred for senior‑level consideration
• Proven experience leading or advising manufacturing operations with accountability for productivity, quality, safety, budget/P&L performance, workforce management, and customer service outcomes
• Demonstrated track record of measurable enterprise value creation, operational productivity improvement, cost reduction, and performance gains in complex manufacturing environments
• Hands‑on experience with Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, value stream mapping, kaizen, standard work, plant turnarounds, and performance management systems
• Lean and/or Six Sigma certification preferred
• Experience supporting CAPEX planning and execution, asset management, labor strategy, inventory recovery, backorder reduction, throughput improvement, and multi‑shift operating environments
• Experience across industrials and manufacturing sectors such as building products, plastics, medical/life sciences, food/dairy, consumer goods, or other regulated production environments
• Working knowledge of safety, quality, and regulatory operating disciplines, with exposure to FDA, USDA, FSSC 22000, third‑party certifications, or similar requirements
• Ability to align shop floor execution with senior executive, CEO, board, investor, and broader stakeholder priorities
• Ability to support multiple transactions in diligence, integration, and separation roles
• Strong people leadership experience, including building high‑performance teams, developing operational leaders, coaching frontline management, and driving cultural change
• Strong analytical and financial skills, including Excel modeling, analytical tools, and financial analyses
• Ability to identify key issues, understand data patterns and trends, synthesize analysis, and draw practical conclusions
• Excellent communication, critical thinking, problem‑solving, and leadership skills
• Ability and willingness to travel, estimated around 50%, varying by engagement
• Ability and willingness to work long hours during the week and on weekends as required by client demands

Demonstrates expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies to drive operational productivity and enterprise value creation. Proficient in financial modeling, analytical tools, and performance management systems to support manufacturing operations and strategic decision‑making.

Highest‑signal resume keywords

• Lean Manufacturing
• Six Sigma
• Operational Productivity Improvement
• Financial Modeling
• Manufacturing Operations Leadership

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• OEE Analysis
• Throughput Improvement
• Value Stream Mapping
• KPI Reporting
• CAPEX Planning
• Performance Management Systems
• Analytical Tools
• Process Discipline
• Budget/P&L Performance
• Safety and Quality Standards

Soft Skills

• Leadership
• Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Problem‑Solving
• Coaching

Certifications & Qualifications

• Lean Certification
• Six Sigma Certification

Industry Keywords

• Manufacturing
• Industrials
• Plant Turnarounds
• M&A Operational Due Diligence
• Regulated Production Environments
• FDA
• USDA
• FSSC 22000
• Building Products
• Consumer Goods

Tools & Technologies

• Dashboards
• Operating Scorecards
• Excel Modeling