Operations Director

Delve Search - Global Search Consultants; Swanzey (NH); On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Delve Search - Global Search Consultants in New Hampshire (Swanzey) seeks an experienced Operations Director to own the operational performance across manufacturing, engineering, supply chain and quality. You will lead a ~100-strong team, implement robust planning for bespoke equipment, and drive continuous improvement in a technically sophisticated environment. This is a hands-on, strategic leadership role with significant scope for impact.

Qualifications

• Senior operations leadership in specialist machine building or engineered manufacturing.
• Experience managing large, multidisciplinary manufacturing teams.
• Strong background in ETO/MTO or low-volume/high-complexity environments.
• Proven track record of improving on-time delivery, productivity and quality.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Quality.
• Lead and develop the operations leadership team and the wider workforce.
• Drive improvements in on-time delivery, capacity utilisation and efficiency.
• Develop robust production planning for engineered-to-order manufacturing.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Project Management to transition projects to manufacture.
• Establish and monitor operational KPIs and use data for decisions.
• Embed a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Lead Lean and Six Sigma initiatives to optimise processes.

Skills

Machine building leadership

Operations leadership

ETO/MTO experience

Lean Six Sigma knowledge

Data-driven decision making

Cross-functional leadership

Job description

Operations Director - Bespoke Machine Build / Engineered Equipment

New Hampshire - Swanzey

The Opportunity

We are working with a highly successful bespoke machine build and engineered equipment organisation based in New Hampshire, supporting customers across a range of technically demanding industries.

With approximately $40M in annual revenue and 130 employees, the business designs and manufactures highly customised machinery and complex equipment for customers where precision, performance and engineering capability are critical.

As the business continues to grow, they are looking to appoint an experienced Operations Director to take overall responsibility for the operational performance of the organisation and help drive the next stage of its development.

This is a highly visible leadership position, working closely with the senior leadership team and providing strategic and operational direction across manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, quality and continuous improvement.

The Role

As Operations Director, you will be responsible for ensuring the business can consistently deliver complex, high-value equipment on time, to specification and profitably.

You will lead and develop a multidisciplinary operations organisation of approximately 100 employees, establishing the processes, systems and accountability required to support continued growth.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Providing strategic leadership across Manufacturing, Production, Engineering, Supply Chain, Purchasing and Quality.
• Leading, developing and mentoring the operations leadership team and wider workforce.
• Driving improvements in On-Time Delivery, productivity, capacity utilisation, quality and operational efficiency.
• Developing robust production planning and scheduling processes for a highly engineered-to-order / bespoke manufacturing environment.
• Working closely with Engineering and Project Management to ensure new projects transition effectively from design through to manufacture, assembly, testing and delivery.
• Identifying and removing operational bottlenecks across the manufacturing process.
• Establishing and monitoring meaningful operational KPIs and using data to drive decision-making.
• Developing and embedding a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence throughout the organisation.
• Leading Lean Manufacturing / Lean Six Sigma initiatives to improve flow, reduce waste, increase productivity and optimise manufacturing processes.
• Applying structured problem-solving methodologies such as DMAIC, 5S, Kaizen, Root Cause Analysis and Value Stream Mapping where appropriate.
• Identifying opportunities to improve manufacturing processes, workflows, facility utilisation and resource allocation.
• Working with Supply Chain and Purchasing to improve supplier performance, material availability and inventory management.
• Ensuring appropriate quality systems and processes are embedded throughout manufacturing and assembly.
• Supporting capacity planning, capital investment and facility development decisions as the business continues to grow.
• Maintaining a strong focus on cost control, operational margin and overall business profitability.
• Ensuring the organisation maintains a strong culture of safety, quality, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Working collaboratively with Sales, Engineering, Finance and Project Management to ensure operational strategy is aligned with wider business objectives.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for an experienced senior operations leader who has built their career within a specialist machine building, capital equipment, automation or complex engineered manufacturing environment.

You are likely to have experience operating within an organisation where products are highly customised rather than high-volume, repetitive manufacturing.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Significant senior operations leadership experience within machine building, capital equipment, automation or complex engineered manufacturing.
• Experience leading sizeable multidisciplinary manufacturing/operations teams.
• A strong understanding of Engineered-to-Order (ETO), Make-to-Order (MTO) or low-volume/high-complexity manufacturing environments.
• Experience managing complex production, assembly, integration and testing processes.
• A demonstrable track record of improving On-Time Delivery, productivity, quality, throughput and operational efficiency.
• Strong commercial understanding, including operational cost control, budgeting and profitability.
• Experience implementing structured processes, operational KPIs and continuous improvement programmes.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma principles.
• Formal Lean Six Sigma certification would be advantageous, but practical experience delivering measurable operational improvements is more important.
• Experience with Kaizen, 5S, Value Stream Mapping, Root Cause Analysis, visual management or similar continuous improvement methodologies.
• The ability to work effectively across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality and Project Management.
• Strong people leadership skills, with the ability to develop teams and create a culture of accountability.
• The ability to operate both strategically and hands-on, with the credibility to engage with engineers, technicians, managers and senior executives.

The Person

This role would suit an operational leader who enjoys working within a technically sophisticated, entrepreneurial machine-building environment.

You will be comfortable dealing with complexity, changing priorities and bespoke customer requirements, whilst bringing the structure, processes and operational discipline required to scale the business.

You will be someone who naturally looks at an operation and asks:

Where are we losing time? Where are we creating waste? Where are the bottlenecks? And how can we build a better, more scalable process?

You will be comfortable using data and structured problem-solving to make decisions, whilst recognising that successful operational improvement ultimately comes down to people, leadership and culture.

Most importantly, you will be a hands‑on, commercially minded leader who can translate business strategy into operational execution.

Why Join?

• Leadership position within an established $40M specialist engineering organisation.
• Opportunity to influence the next phase of growth and operational development.
• Lead a team of approximately 100 employees.
• Highly technical, bespoke machinery and engineered equipment.
• Significant opportunity to implement Lean, Six Sigma and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Exposure to senior leadership and wider business strategy.
• Opportunity to make a tangible impact across the entire operational function.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package.