Manufacturing Operations Director: Lean & Automation

Wood-Mizer-Products; Batesville (AR); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Ownership

401(k) retirement savings

Performance incentives

Flexible pay options

PTO from day one

Free health clinic access

Comprehensive insurance

Education assistance

Annual allowances

Everyday perks

Job summary

Wood-Mizer is hiring a Director of Manufacturing Operations to lead our Batesville, IN facility, accountable for production output, cost, quality, safety, maintenance, and shipping. The role shapes manufacturing strategy, the Annual Operating Plan, and capital investments, guiding a ~225-employee team on-site.

Domestic and international travel may be required. The successful candidate will drive operational efficiency, cost reduction, and automation while upholding Wood-Mizer's culture of

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Proven track record of cost reduction and productivity improvements in a manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on experience identifying, justifying ROI for and implementing automation and process tech.
• Strong Lean, Six Sigma, or other CI program leadership.
• Safety leadership track record.
• Experience managing capital projects.
• Leading cross-functional manufacturing teams.
• Analytical, budgeting, and organizational skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, including executive presentations.
• Adopting and applying AI and emerging tech in manufacturing.
• Experience collaborating in a hybrid corporate structure.

Responsibilities

• Owns facility cost and efficiency, driving cost-savings across labor, materials, and overhead.
• Leads automation projects to reduce manual labor, cycle time, and unit cost.
• Directs daily manufacturing operations and releases to production in coordination with development teams.
• Leads plant leadership and shop-floor teams with a high-performance culture.
• Owns plant safety performance and compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Formalizes and leads a Lean/CI program delivering productivity gains.
• Oversees maintenance, reliability, and facilities to reduce downtime and costs.
• Oversees logistics and shipping; partners with SIOP for inventory goals.
• Leads capital equipment planning and major expansions with budget ownership.
• Coordinates with HR for workforce planning and succession; hosts customers and visitors.

Skills

Leadership

Cost reduction

Automation projects

Lean/Six Sigma

Safety leadership

Capital project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decision making

AI in manufacturing

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or related field

10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience

Tools

Robotics

Vision systems

IoT

Automation equipment

Controls/software

Lean manufacturing tools

Job description

Wood-Mizer is hiring a Director of Manufacturing Operations to lead our Batesville, IN facility, accountable for production output, cost, quality, safety, maintenance, and shipping. The role shapes manufacturing strategy, the Annual Operating Plan, and capital investments, guiding a ~225-employee team on-site.

Domestic and international travel may be required. The successful candidate will drive operational efficiency, cost reduction, and automation while upholding Wood-Mizer's culture of