Senior Director Manufacturing

Morgan-Fleming & Partners; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan-Fleming & Partners seeks a Senior Director, Manufacturing Operations for the Fort Wayne, IN facility. This role provides decisive operational leadership, sets the site's direction, drives performance, and builds a high‑performing leadership team.

You will shape long-range operating plans, production scheduling, capacity allocation, and process improvements while fostering safety, quality, and accountability.

Qualifications

• Significant senior operations or manufacturing leadership experience within a large CPG manufacturing business.
• Experience leading complex, high-volume manufacturing operations with a strong understanding of production processes, plant performance & operational systems.
• A track record of improving manufacturing performance across safety, quality, service, cost, productivity & profitability.
• Experience developing leaders and building accountable, engaged & high-performing teams.
• Strong commercial & financial acumen, including the ability to interpret operating & financial statements & understand the impact of operational decisions on P&L performance.
• Demonstrated success leading change, continuous improvement & organizational development.
• Experience in a privately owned or entrepreneurial manufacturing business would be highly beneficial.
• A degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations or a related discipline would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Promote and sustain a strong culture of health, safety, product quality and operational accountability.
• Develop, implement and monitor day-to-day operating systems and processes, providing clear visibility of performance, priorities, progress and barriers.
• Lead, coach and develop the site leadership team, building capability and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Improve manufacturing processes and management systems to increase plant performance, optimize workflow, improve yields and efficiencies, and deliver budget commitments.
• Develop and execute manufacturing strategies that align with the company’s business goals and long-term growth plans.
• Establish and maintain effective quality systems to ensure products consistently meet or exceed customer expectations.
• Monitor production performance to ensure efficiency, productivity and profitability targets are achieved.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, optimize production workflows and reduce operating costs.
• Work cross-functionally with other business areas to ensure effective coordination and communication throughout the manufacturing operation.
• Set clear expectations for functional leaders, drive engagement and hold teams accountable for business performance and results.
• Ensure compliance with applicable state and federal regulations and company policies.
• Lead operational readiness for new equipment, systems & process investments, ensuring requirements for safety, quality, cost, consumers, customers & security are met.
• Partner with Human Resources on recruitment, training, retention & employee development to ensure the workforce has the skills & support needed to succeed.
• Work with sales, customer-facing & product development teams to ensure manufacturing capabilities support customer & consumer requirements.

Skills

Senior operations leadership

Large-scale CPG

Change management

Continuous improvement

Financial acumen

Stakeholder management

Education

Engineering degree or related field

Job description

Senior Director, Manufacturing Operations

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Company Overview

Our client is a large, privately owned consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturer with an established presence in the North American market. The business operates a substantial manufacturing network and supplies a diverse portfolio of everyday consumer products to major retail and commercial customers. With a long-term ownership mindset, an entrepreneurial culture and a continued focus on investment, innovation and operational excellence, the company is committed to sustainable growth and consistently high standards of product quality and customer service.

Position Overview

• The Senior Director, Manufacturing Operations will provide overall operational leadership for the company’s manufacturing facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This individual will be responsible for setting the site’s operational direction, delivering strong manufacturing performance and developing a high-performing leadership team. Working closely with senior business and site leadership, the role will help shape and execute long-range operating plans, including production planning, scheduling, capacity and resource allocation.
• The successful candidate will drive improvements that positively impact the site’s P&L and support the company’s wider growth objectives. They will establish and reinforce a culture built around safety, quality, accountability, employee engagement and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Promote and sustain a strong culture of health, safety, product quality and operational accountability.
• Develop, implement and monitor day-to-day operating systems and processes, providing clear visibility of performance, priorities, progress and barriers.
• Lead, coach and develop the site leadership team, building capability and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Improve manufacturing processes and management systems to increase plant performance, optimize workflow, improve yields and efficiencies, and deliver budget commitments.
• Develop and execute manufacturing strategies that align with the company’s business goals and long-term growth plans.
• Establish and maintain effective quality systems to ensure products consistently meet or exceed customer expectations.
• Monitor production performance to ensure efficiency, productivity and profitability targets are achieved.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, optimize production workflows and reduce operating costs.
• Work cross-functionally with other business areas to ensure effective coordination and communication throughout the manufacturing operation.
• Set clear expectations for functional leaders, drive engagement and hold teams accountable for business performance and results.
• Ensure compliance with applicable state and federal regulations and company policies.
• Lead operational readiness for new equipment, systems & process investments, ensuring requirements for safety, quality, cost, consumers, customers & security are met.
• Partner with Human Resources on recruitment, training, retention & employee development to ensure the workforce has the skills & support needed to succeed.
• Work with sales, customer-facing & product development teams to ensure manufacturing capabilities support customer & consumer requirements.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be an experienced manufacturing leader and a practical, technically credible problem solver who can set direction while remaining close to the operation. They will bring the pace, commercial awareness and leadership capability required to deliver results in a large-scale CPG manufacturing environment.

Experience & Background

• Significant senior operations or manufacturing leadership experience within a large consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturing business.
• Experience leading complex, high-volume manufacturing operations, with a strong understanding of production processes, plant performance & operational systems.
• A track record of improving manufacturing performance across safety, quality, service, cost, productivity & profitability.
• Experience developing leaders & building accountable, engaged & high-performing teams.
• Strong commercial & financial acumen, including the ability to interpret operating & financial statements & understand the impact of operational decisions on P&L performance.
• Demonstrated success leading change, continuous improvement & organizational development.
• Experience in a privately owned or entrepreneurial manufacturing business would be highly beneficial.
• A degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations or a related discipline would be advantageous.

Leadership Attributes

• Strong leadership, communication, analytical & decision-making skills.
• Collaborative & team-oriented, with the confidence to make timely decisions & set clear direction when required.
• Able to operate independently, prioritize effectively & deliver in a fast-paced environment.
• Customer-focused, with an appreciation for the importance of reliable, consistent service.
• Skilled at building relationships & credibility with stakeholders at all levels of an organization.
• A strong problem solver who communicates clearly & persuasively.
• Able to identify, motivate, mentor & develop high-performing talent.
• A hands-on leader willing to roll up their sleeves and establish best-in-class operating processes.
• Adaptable, detail-oriented & able to manage competing priorities with tact & sound judgment.
• A trusted leader who earns engagement & respect throughout the organization.
• An effective change-management leader, capable of motivating teams through business & organizational transformation.