Senior Director, General Manager, Gas Purification Systems

Ladders; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 240,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) plan with employer match

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Flexible work schedule

11 paid holidays

PTO policy

Education assistance

Job summary

Ladders seeks a Senior Director, General Manager for Gas Purification Systems to lead a high‑tech manufacturing business. You will drive operational performance, growth, and customer value by partnering with Sales, Marketing, Engineering, and global teams to align strategy and delivery.

You will guide product direction, strengthen customer relationships, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement in a complex, US‑based facility in San Luis Obispo.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field; MBA preferred.
• 15+ years of management experience, including 5+ years in a senior leadership role with P&L responsibility.
• Experience in product management, engineering, and product development.
• Success scaling businesses with $200M+ in revenue, ideally with global operations.
• Background in semiconductor process equipment or related markets.
• Expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and operational excellence metrics.
• Hands-on experience managing customer relationships and articulating product value.
• Experience in publicly traded or private equity-owned organizations.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams to achieve strategic goals.
• Establish a customer-focused operating culture through process-driven leadership.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive growth strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Leverage market insights to guide strategy and product roadmaps.
• Align forecasts with Sales and Marketing for reliable customer delivery.
• Monitor performance metrics to consistently exceed business goals.
• Oversee new product development projects for timely, market-aligned solutions.
• Build strong relationships with global teams, customers, and partners.
• Mentor and develop team members, identifying high-potential individuals.

Skills

Leadership

P&L management

Product management

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic planning

Lean Six Sigma

Customer relationships

Global collaboration

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering

MBA preferred

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Senior Director, General Manager, Gas Purification Systems to join the team of a leader in the Manufacturing & Automotive space. This role will provide overall leadership for a business focused on driving operational performance, growth, and customer value in a highly technical manufacturing environment. The position will partner closely with Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Product Development, and global teams to align strategy, execution, and delivery. You will also guide product direction, strengthen customer relationships, and build a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Location: San Luis Obispo, CA - US based candidates only, no visa sponsorship available

Compensation: $240,000 - $300,000 annually

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams to achieve strategic goals
• Establish a customer-focused operating culture through process-driven leadership
• Develop and execute a comprehensive growth strategy aligned with business objectives
• Leverage market insights to guide strategy and product roadmaps
• Align forecasts with Sales and Marketing for reliable customer delivery
• Monitor performance metrics to consistently exceed business goals
• Oversee new product development projects for timely, market-aligned solutions
• Build strong relationships with global teams, customers, and partners
• Mentor and develop team members, identifying high-potential individuals

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field; MBA preferred
• 15+ years of management experience, including 5+ years in a senior leadership role with P&L responsibility
• Proven experience in product management, engineering, and product development
• Success scaling businesses with $200M+ in revenue, ideally with global operations
• Background in semiconductor process equipment or related markets
• Expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and operational excellence metrics
• Hands-on experience managing customer relationships and articulating product value
• Experience in publicly traded or private equity-owned organizations

Benefits

• Generous 401(K) plan with strong employer match
• Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance packages
• Flexible work schedule and 11 paid holidays a year
• Paid time off (PTO) policy for recharging
• Education assistance to support learning journeys
• Values-driven culture centered around People, Accountability, Creativity, and Excellence

Our client is an equal opportunity employer.