Operations Director

Flex; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Flex is seeking a Director of Operations, based in Libertyville, IL, to provide strategic and operational leadership for a highly technical manufacturing site serving regulated industries.

You will manage day-to-day operations, ensure customer commitments, quality, and financial targets while driving Lean transformation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or Master's preferred.
• 10+ years manufacturing leadership experience, including 5–7+ years in senior operations roles.
• Experience in Medical Device, Pharmaceutical, Life Sciences, or other highly regulated environments preferred.
• Engineering background or significant technical manufacturing experience preferred.
• Experience managing complex, highly technical sites utilizing advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Strong experience with high-tech molding operations, automation equipment, and precision manufacturing.
• Demonstrated success deploying Lean Manufacturing and Lean Business Systems.
• Deep understanding of Lean methodologies including Value stream mapping, 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, etc.
• Proven track record of improving operational performance while maintaining quality and compliance.
• Strong P&L ownership and leadership presence.

Responsibilities

• Guarantee production and customer deliveries are completed on time, within specifications, and cost-effectively.
• Define and achieve operational financial goals, including productivity and cost-improvement targets.
• Lead operations with accountability for staffing, business results, and P&L management.
• Establish and execute Business Unit goals, objectives, and performance expectations.
• Define and execute operational programs aligned with strategic plans and annual goals.
• Review KPIs with Executive Leadership on a regular basis.
• Participate in quarterly business reviews with customers and stakeholders.
• Partner cross-functionally to support growth and operational excellence.
• Direct Purchasing, Production Control, Planning, Manufacturing Engineering, Test Engineering, Maintenance, Manufacturing, and Logistics.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement through Lean initiatives.
• Lead value stream optimization to improve efficiency, throughput, quality, and customer satisfaction.
• Drive Lean tools and systems: 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, Visual Management, Standard Work, Lean Daily Management.
• Implement workforce strategies to attract, develop, and retain a motivated team.
• Foster servant leadership, accountability, collaboration, and employee development.
• Navigate organizational change while maintaining stability and commitments.
• Inspire teams through coaching and leading by example.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

P&L management

Servant leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Coaching/mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations/Business/Manufacturing

MBA or Master's degree

Tools

Automation equipment

High-tech molding operations

Job description

Flex is the diversified manufacturing partner of choice that helps market-leading brands design, build and deliver innovative products that improve the world.

A career at Flex offers the opportunity to make a difference and invest in your growth in a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative environment. If you are excited about a role but don't meet every bullet point, we encourage you to apply and join us to create the extraordinary.

Job Summary

Flex is the diversified manufacturing partner of choice that helps market-leading brands design, build and deliver innovative products that improve the world.

A career at Flex offers the opportunity to make a difference and invest in your growth in a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative environment. If you are excited about a role but don't meet every bullet point, we encourage you to apply and join us to create the extraordinary.

Job Summary

To support our extraordinary team who build great products and contribute to our growth, we're looking to add a Director, Operations located in Libertyville, Illinois .

Reporting to the General Manager , the Director, Operations will provide strategic and operational leadership for a highly technical manufacturing site serving the Medical Device and other regulated industries . This leader will be responsible for managing day-to-day operations and core business functions to achieve and maintain operational excellence while ensuring customer commitments, quality standards, and financial objectives are consistently met.

The ideal candidate will bring experience leading complex manufacturing operations, preferably within highly regulated environments, and have a proven track record driving Lean transformation, developing high-performing teams, and delivering strong business results in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment.

What a typical day looks like:

• Guarantee production and customer deliveries are completed in full, on time, within specifications, and at the most cost-effective levels.
• Define and achieve operational financial goals, including productivity, profitability, and cost improvement targets.
• Lead operational performance with full accountability for staffing, business results, and P&L management.
• Establish, communicate, and execute Business Unit goals, objectives, and performance expectations.
• Define and execute operational programs aligned with strategic plans and annual operating goals.
• Meet with Executive Leadership on a regular basis to review and evaluate key operational performance indicators (KPIs).
• Participate in quarterly business reviews with key customers and stakeholders.
• Partner cross-functionally to establish strategic plans that support business growth and operational excellence.
• Direct and oversee Purchasing, Production Control, Planning, Manufacturing Engineering, Test Engineering, Maintenance, Manufacturing, and Logistics functions.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement through Lean Manufacturing methodologies and operational excellence initiatives.
• Lead value stream optimization efforts to improve efficiency, throughput, quality, and customer satisfaction.
• Drive Lean tools and business systems including 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, Visual Management, Standard Work, and Lean Daily Management.
• Implement workforce strategies that attract, retain, and develop a highly engaged and motivated team.
• Foster a culture of servant leadership, accountability, collaboration, and employee development.
• Navigate organizational change effectively while maintaining operational stability and customer commitments.
• Serve as a visible and approachable leader who inspires teams through influence, coaching, and leading by example.

The experience we're looking to add to our team:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, Manufacturing, or a related discipline required; MBA or Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of manufacturing leadership experience , including 5-7+ years in senior operations management roles within large manufacturing organizations or Director-level responsibility within a smaller organization.
• Experience within Medical Device, Pharmaceutical, Life Sciences, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments strongly preferred.
• Engineering background or significant technical manufacturing experience preferred.
• Experience managing complex, highly technical manufacturing sites utilizing advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Strong experience with high-tech molding operations, automation equipment, precision manufacturing, and engineering-driven production environments .
• Demonstrated success deploying and sustaining Lean Manufacturing and Lean Business Systems across manufacturing operations.
• Deep understanding and application of Lean methodologies which may include Value stream mapping, 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, etc.
• Proven track record of driving operational performance improvements while maintaining quality, compliance, and customer satisfaction.
• Strong P&L ownership and