Manufacturing Ops Director – Lean & Continuous Improvement

Lakeside Book Company in; Crawfordsville (IN); On-site; USD 170,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Lakeside Book Company in Crawfordsville, IN, seeks a Director of Operations to lead day-to-day manufacturing, drive efficiency, and ensure safety, quality, and on-time delivery. You will shape strategy, mentor teams, and oversee production planning and cost management.

Join a leadership team focused on continuous improvement, operational discipline, and capital projects. The role includes accountability for safety, quality, and performance against targets.

Qualifications

• 8-12+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operations, including 5+ years in a senior management role.
• Proven track record of managing large-scale manufacturing operations and achieving operational targets.
• Solid understanding of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement methodologies, and operational best practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and strategic direction for plant operations including production, while maintaining EHS and quality compliance.
• Develop and execute operational strategies to meet or exceed business objectives in safety, quality, productivity, on-time delivery, and cost management.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing operations team, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Ensure adherence to all regulatory, safety, and company policies and procedures.
• Provide tactical oversight for production planning and scheduling to meet customer demand and inventory management objectives.
• Identify opportunities for process optimization, cost reduction, and operational efficiency across all functional areas.
• Lead plant KPI development, tracking, and reporting; regularly communicate performance to senior leadership and plant personnel.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with EHS, quality, maintenance/engineering, HR, supply chain, finance, and customer service teams to achieve operational goals.
• Champion lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement initiatives.
• Participate as a key contributor in strategic planning and decision-making processes for plant performance, capacity expansion, and capital investment.
• Serve as critical member of the site leadership team, with the opportunity to step into higher levels of responsibility as readiness is demonstrated.

Skills

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

ERP systems

Production planning

Communication

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Operations Management/Engineering/Business

Master's degree preferred

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Lakeside Book Company in Crawfordsville, IN, seeks a Director of Operations to lead day-to-day manufacturing, drive efficiency, and ensure safety, quality, and on-time delivery. You will shape strategy, mentor teams, and oversee production planning and cost management.

Join a leadership team focused on continuous improvement, operational discipline, and capital projects. The role includes accountability for safety, quality, and performance against targets.