Manufacturing Operations Director: Supply Chain & EHS

Gotion Illinois; Manteno (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Gotion Illinois seeks an Operations Director to lead and coordinate core manufacturing operations, covering Production Planning, Supply Chain, EHS, and Infrastructure/Construction Engineering at the Chicago facility.

The role ensures production readiness, material availability, regulatory compliance, and cross-functional execution, working with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Finance, and HR to enable safe, efficient, scalable operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations, supply chain, production planning, engineering, or related functions.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing managers and/or multiple operational functions.
• Strong experience in large-scale manufacturing environments.
• Working knowledge of EHS management and U.S. regulatory requirements.
• Experience supporting facility construction, plant expansion, infrastructure, or manufacturing engineering projects strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of ERP/MRP systems; SAP experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the plant's production planning and scheduling function based on customer demand, production capacity, material availability, and operational priorities.
• Develop and oversee short-term and long-term production plans.
• Coordinate production capacity, manpower, equipment readiness, and material availability to support production targets.
• Monitor production plan attainment and identify risks that may impact delivery.
• Lead cross-functional coordination to resolve production planning and operational bottlenecks.
• Establish and monitor operational KPIs, including production plan attainment, inventory levels, material availability, delivery performance, and operational efficiency.
• Support Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) and capacity planning activities.
• Provide overall leadership for plant-level supply chain operations, including Production Planning, Material Planning, Procurement coordination, Warehouse and Inventory Management, Logistics and Transportation.
• Ensure materials and components are available to meet production schedules while maintaining appropriate inventory levels.
• Optimize inventory turnover and reduce excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory.
• Improve supplier delivery performance and supply continuity.
• Identify supply chain risks and establish contingency and recovery plans.
• Coordinate domestic and international logistics activities as required.
• Drive continuous improvement in supply chain cost, efficiency, and delivery performance.
• Provide leadership and management oversight for the facility's EHS organization.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local environmental, health, and workplace safety requirements.
• Promote a strong safety culture across the manufacturing facility.
• Oversee EHS programs, inspections, risk assessments, corrective actions, emergency preparedness, and employee safety initiatives.
• Monitor key EHS performance indicators and ensure timely corrective actions.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, HR, and other departments to continuously improve workplace safety.
• Support regulatory inspections, audits, permitting, and environmental compliance activities.
• Provide leadership for infrastructure, construction, and facility engineering activities supporting plant development and operations.
• Oversee plant construction, expansion, renovation, and infrastructure improvement projects.
• Coordinate contractors, engineering firms, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
• Monitor project scope, schedule, budget, quality, safety, and execution.
• Ensure infrastructure projects meet manufacturing requirements and applicable building, fire, environmental, and safety standards.
• Oversee critical facility systems and infrastructure readiness, including utilities, electrical systems, HVAC, compressed air, water systems, fire protection, and other plant support systems.
• Support production line installation, commissioning, and facility readiness activities in coordination with Engineering and Manufacturing teams.
• Establish operating mechanisms and management processes across Production Planning, Supply Chain, EHS, and Infrastructure.
• Lead regular operational reviews and drive closure of key action items.
• Identify operational risks and elevate critical issues to the Plant General Manager.
• Develop and implement continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, cost, delivery, inventory, and operational efficiency.
• Drive data-based decision-making and improve operational visibility through KPI dashboards and performance reviews.
• Support ERP/MRP and manufacturing digitalization initiatives related to planning, materials, warehouse, and operations.
• Build effective collaboration among Operations, Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Finance, HR, and IT.
• Lead and develop managers and professional teams across assigned operational functions.
• Establish organizational structure, responsibilities, performance objectives, and succession plans.
• Recruit, coach, and develop key operational talent.
• Establish accountability and performance management mechanisms across the organization.
• Build a collaborative, execution-focused, safety-oriented culture.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic planning

Data-driven decision making

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management or Engineering

Master's degree or MBA preferred

Tools

SAP

MRP/ERP systems

Job description

Gotion Illinois seeks an Operations Director to lead and coordinate core manufacturing operations, covering Production Planning, Supply Chain, EHS, and Infrastructure/Construction Engineering at the Chicago facility.

The role ensures production readiness, material availability, regulatory compliance, and cross-functional execution, working with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Finance, and HR to enable safe, efficient, scalable operations.