Operations Leader: Manufacturing Excellence & Quality

Mesa Laboratories, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Base compensation range shown

Annual bonus opportunity

Equity awards

401(k) with match

Paid time off

Health, dental, vision insurance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Holidays

Job summary

Mesa Labs in the San Diego area seeks a Director of Operations to lead Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Production Planning, Warehouse, Facilities, and Quality. You will ensure safe, compliant, efficient, and scalable manufacturing while aligning with strategic growth plans.

You will partner with Engineering, Product Management, Regulatory, Finance, and Commercial teams to remove constraints, drive Lean initiatives, and deliver compelling metrics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or related technical discipline; Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing or operations leadership experience.
• Experience leading Operations and Quality within a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting product commercialization, new product introduction, manufacturing transfers, and production scaling.
• Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, capacity planning, inventory management, and production systems.
• Proven ability to build high-performing teams, coach leaders, and drive organizational change.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing operating budgets, capital investments, and productivity initiatives.
• Excellent executive communication and cross-functional leadership skills; Lean Six Sigma certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and day-to-day leadership for Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Production Planning, Warehouse, Facilities, Operational Excellence, and Quality.
• Lead and develop managers and future operational leaders, building capability and succession.
• Own operational performance across safety, quality, delivery, inventory, productivity, cost, and customer satisfaction.
• Develop and execute annual operating plans, workforce strategies, and roadmaps.
• Lead S&OP, capacity planning, inventory strategy, and resource planning.
• Drive readiness for new product introductions, engineering changes, and product lifecycle management.
• Partner with Engineering, R&D, Product Management, Commercial, Regulatory, and Finance to improve manufacturability and support commercialization.
• Build cross-functional partnerships to resolve complex operational challenges while balancing customer needs and compliance.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional leadership

Financial acumen

Executive communication

Change management

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations/Business

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Mesa Labs in the San Diego area seeks a Director of Operations to lead Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Production Planning, Warehouse, Facilities, and Quality. You will ensure safe, compliant, efficient, and scalable manufacturing while aligning with strategic growth plans.

You will partner with Engineering, Product Management, Regulatory, Finance, and Commercial teams to remove constraints, drive Lean initiatives, and deliver compelling metrics.