Director, Technical Operations

Pelican Products, Inc.; Deerfield (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k plan - with immediate match

Health Savings Account Contribution

Great Benefits - including pet ins.

Wellness Discount Program

Global Mental Wellness Program

Quarterly Employee Celebration Days

Onsite Gym

Pelican employee discount program

Employee referral program

Job summary

Pelican Products, Inc. seeks a Director of Technical Operations to lead the South Deerfield manufacturing site.

You will oversee Manufacturing Engineering, Mold Engineering, Maintenance, Equipment Reliability, Automation, and other technical functions critical to performance and future growth. This hands-on, strategic leader will modernize facilities, build strong technical teams, drive safety, quality, uptime, and cost improvements, and partner with Operations to achieve ambitious manufacturing

Qualifications

• Ten+ years in engineering, manufacturing, maintenance, or technical operations.
• Five+ years of leadership experience managing engineering, maintenance, or technical teams.
• Proven experience leading Manufacturing Engineering and Maintenance in a complex manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead Manufacturing Engineering, Mold Engineering, Maintenance, Equipment Reliability, Automation, and technical operations functions.
• Build a high-performing technical organization with strong leaders and clear accountability.
• Define and execute a long-term manufacturing modernization strategy across equipment, automation, tooling, technology, systems, and processes.
• Drive improvements in safety, quality, productivity, throughput, capacity, cost, and overall manufacturing performance.
• Lead injection and rotational mold engineering, including tooling performance and maintenance.
• Transform Maintenance from reactive to proactive, with stronger preventive and predictive programs.
• Improve uptime and reliability by addressing root causes of failures and downtime.
• Develop and execute capital investment strategies for equipment and manufacturing capacity.
• Lead major technical and capital projects from business case to measurable results.
• Evaluate new manufacturing technologies and automation to strengthen long-term capabilities.
• Collaborate with Operations to align engineering with production needs.
• Champion Lean, continuous improvement, root cause analysis, and structured problem solving.
• Establish and manage technical KPIs including OEE and maintenance effectiveness.
• Coach technical leaders and foster accountability, innovation, collaboration, and execution.

Skills

Leadership

Lean Manufacturing

Root cause analysis

Structured problem-solving

Capital expenditure planning

Equipment reliability

Manufacturing processes

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Industrial/Electrical Engineering

Job description

South Deerfield, MA, 147 N Main Street, South Deerfield, Massachusetts, United States of America

Job Description

Posted Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 7:00 AM

We're Hiring: Director, Technical Operations

Who We Are:

At Pelican, we engineer products that stand up to the world's toughest conditions-because the people who rely on us do too. For nearly 50 years, we've been a trusted partner for military personnel, first responders, outdoor adventurers, and innovators who push the limits.

With a global presence that includes 11 offices, 4 manufacturing facilities, and 4 custom case centers, we create high-performance protective solutions that ensure our customers can focus on what matters most. Whether it's transporting critical medical supplies, securing mission-essential equipment, or keeping expedition gear safe, Pelican products are Built to Protect to Equip for the Mission.

At Pelican, your work has a real-world impact. You'll be part of a team driven by innovation, craftsmanship, and the shared belief that when the mission is critical, failure isn't an option. If you're ready to build something that makes a difference, be part of a team that protects what matters most.

What You'll Do:

Modernize manufacturing. Build technical capability. Drive operational performance.

Pelican is seeking a Director of Technical Operations to serve as the senior technical leader for our South Deerfield manufacturing facility. Reporting to the Vice President of Operations, this leader will oversee Manufacturing Engineering, Mold Engineering, Maintenance, Equipment Reliability, Automation, and other technical functions critical to the performance and future of the operation.

This is a high-impact opportunity for a hands-on, forward-thinking manufacturing leader who can build strong technical teams while modernizing how the facility operates. You'll lead investments in equipment, automation, tooling, reliability, and manufacturing technology while partnering closely with Operations to improve safety, quality, uptime, throughput, capacity, and cost.

We're looking for someone who can see where manufacturing needs to go next - and build the people, processes, systems, and technology to get us there.

• Lead the site's Manufacturing Engineering, Mold Engineering, Maintenance, Equipment Reliability, Automation, and technical operations functions
• Build and develop a high-performing technical organization with strong leaders, clear accountability, technical standards, and succession plans
• Define and execute a long-term manufacturing modernization strategy across equipment, automation, tooling, technology, systems, and processes
• Drive improvements in safety, quality, productivity, throughput, capacity, cost, and overall manufacturing performance
• Lead injection and rotational mold engineering, including tooling performance, optimization, maintenance, lifecycle management, and technical problem-solving
• Transform Maintenance from a reactive model toward a proactive, reliability-centered organization through stronger preventive and predictive maintenance programs
• Improve equipment uptime and reliability by attacking recurring failures, downtime, process constraints, and operational losses at their root cause
• Develop and execute capital investment strategies for equipment, automation, tooling, infrastructure, and manufacturing capacity
• Lead major technical and capital projects from business case and justification through implementation and measurable results
• Evaluate and introduce new manufacturing technologies and automation that strengthen long-term capabilities and improve operational performance
• Partner closely with Operations to solve complex manufacturing challenges and ensure Engineering and Maintenance are responsive, service-oriented partners to production
• Champion Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, root cause analysis, and structured problem-solving
• Establish and manage technical KPIs including OEE, downtime, equipment reliability, preventive maintenance effectiveness, and project performance
• Partner across Operations, Quality, EHS, Supply Chain, Product Engineering, IT, and Finance to align technical priorities with business needs
• Coach and develop technical leaders while building a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, continuous improvement, and execution
• Perform additional duties as assigned

We're Looking For:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 10+ years of progressive experience across engineering, manufacturing, maintenance, or technical operations
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing engineering, maintenance, technical operations, or similar teams
• Demonstrated experience leading both Manufacturing Engineering and Maintenance in a complex manufacturing environment
• Strong expertise in equipment reliability, preventive and predictive maintenance, manufacturing processes, automation, and capital execution
• Proven success improving uptime, productivity, quality, capacity, throughput, and/or manufacturing cost
• Experience developing capital plans and leading significant equipment, automation, tooling, or technology investments
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, root cause analysis, and structured problem-solving
• Strong business judgment with the ability to connect technical investments to operational and financial results
• Proven ability to lead change, develop technical talent, and influence across functions

What's In It For You:

Join a company that truly values its employees! We offer a relaxed and casual work environment, a strong commitment to giving back to communities, and a focus on employee satisfaction. With regular opportunities to share feedback with leadership and structured performance evaluations, we ensure that your voice is heard and your growth is supported.

• Competitive paid time off plans / Holiday pay/extra vacation purchase opportunities
• 401k plan - with immediate match
• Great Benefits - several options including Pet insurance for our animal lovers.
• Health Savings Account Contribution
• Wellness Discount Program
• Global Mental Wellness Program
• Quarterly Employee Celebration Days
• Service Recognition Program
• Amazing employee discount program on Pelican Products, Pelican branded apparel and gear
• Employee referral program - get paid to work with your trusted network.
• Beautiful New England location
• Onsite Gym
• Established reputable brand offering premium products - you'll be proud to represent Pelican!

Compensation & Benefits:
Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across severalU.S. geographic markets. Base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The annual U.S. pay range for this positionis listed below. Paywithin this range varies by work locationand may also depend on your qualifications, job-related knowledge, skills,and experience. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the job location during the hiring process. We also offer a comprehensive package of benefits, including paid time off, 10 paid holidays per year, medical/dental/vision insurance, company-paid life and disability plans, and matching 401k to eligible employees.
Pelican Products, Inc. is an equal employment opportunity employer.All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

South Deerfield, MA, 147 N Main Street, South Deerfield, Massachusetts, United States of America