Multi-Site Operations Leader — Lean Manufacturing & Growth

Noratel; Hobart (IN); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive compensation package

Three-site leadership responsibility

Job summary

Noratel is seeking a hands-on Operations Director to lead its North American manufacturing network across three sites in the United States and Mexico. Based in Hobart, Indiana, you will drive on-time delivery, productivity, cost control, and working capital while embedding Lean practices and strong site leadership.

You will collaborate with site leaders, ensure safety and quality, and optimize ERP/MRP usage (Sage 500).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Industrial, Mechanical, or a related engineering discipline.
• Master’s degree or MBA is considered an advantage.
• Minimum 10 years of operational management experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience leading multi-site and multicultural operations across the United States and Mexico.
• Strong track record of improving manufacturing performance, cost, productivity, and delivery.
• Hands-on experience implementing Lean manufacturing, 5S, and Continuous Improvement practices.
• Demonstrated experience delivering manufacturing-process cost reductions and supporting VAVE initiatives.
• Strong working knowledge of ERP and MRP systems; Sage 500 experience is preferred.
• Experience leading manufacturing footprint, capacity, or network-optimization initiatives.
• Strong commercial and financial understanding, including working capital, inventory, capacity utilization, and cost performance.
• Fluent English; working Spanish is a strong advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational performance across three manufacturing sites in the United States and Mexico.
• Deliver improvements in on-time delivery, productivity, operational efficiency, capacity utilization, and working capital.
• Establish clear operational targets and ensure effective mitigation plans are in place when performance is at risk.
• Ensure all sites operate fully within the safety and quality standards owned and led by the QHSE function.
• Support the deployment of the Noratel Continuous Improvement system across all sites.
• Drive the practical implementation of Lean manufacturing, 5S, daily management, and structured problem-solving.
• Deliver measurable and sustained improvements directly on the shop floor.
• Standardize operational processes, tools, and routines across the network.
• Own site-level supply-chain execution, including production planning, scheduling, WIP, finished-goods inventory, warehousing, and logistics.
• Establish robust S&OP and production-planning disciplines across the network.
• Improve inventory accuracy and reduce working capital while protecting customer delivery performance.
• Partner with Procurement on purchased-material inventory and supply continuity.
• Drive disciplined use of ERP and MRP systems across the sites.
• Strengthen data quality, system accuracy, and operational reporting.
• Use Sage 500 or similar systems to support capacity planning, scheduling, materials management, and performance analysis.
• Own operations-led cost reduction across processes, labor, yield, and scrap.
• Partner with Engineering on VAVE, industrialization, and new-product introduction.
• Provide manufacturability, should-cost, and production input to engineering-led initiatives.
• Ensure new products are introduced efficiently, reliably, and at the right cost.
• Lead the North American manufacturing footprint and capacity strategy.
• Assess asset utilization, cost-to-serve, site configuration, and network efficiency.
• Develop and execute optimization plans that improve resilience and prepare the business for future growth.
• Lead capacity planning and prioritize capital investment across the sites.
• Lead and develop Site Managers across the network.
• Build strong operational leadership capability and succession plans at site level.
• Create an accountable, engaged, and performance-focused culture.
• Develop and retain operational talent aligned with Noratel’s values and long-term objectives.

Skills

Shop-floor leadership

Lean manufacturing

Multi-site leadership

Financial discipline

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing/Industrial/Mechanical engineering

MBA or Master’s degree (advantage)

Tools

Sage 500

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Noratel is seeking a hands-on Operations Director to lead its North American manufacturing network across three sites in the United States and Mexico. Based in Hobart, Indiana, you will drive on-time delivery, productivity, cost control, and working capital while embedding Lean practices and strong site leadership.

You will collaborate with site leaders, ensure safety and quality, and optimize ERP/MRP usage (Sage 500).