Senior Director Manufacturing

Hunter Shore Group; Indiana; On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Hunter Shore Group is retained to recruit a Senior Director of Manufacturing for a leading multi-site food manufacturing organization based in Indiana. The role focuses on translating strategy into reliable on-floor execution across two high-speed facilities, partnering with Plant Managers and cross-functional teams to drive SQCDP and continuous improvement.

The successful candidate will coach leaders, lead root-cause analysis, and strengthen changeover, SMED, 5S and HACCP compliance while

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing operations leadership within food manufacturing.
• Experience at Plant Manager, Director or multi-site level.
• Strong background in high-speed, continuous-motion food production.
• Proven ability to drive OEE, yield, reliability and operating discipline.
• Familiarity with HACCP, GMPs, FSMA/PCHF and third-party audits.
• Ability to coach and influence leaders without direct reporting authority.

Responsibilities

• Drive daily execution across safety, quality, cost, delivery and people (SQCDP).
• Lead and reinforce tiered daily management routines across both manufacturing sites.
• Monitor and improve key manufacturing metrics including OEE, yield, schedule attainment, downtime and cost performance.
• Coach Plant Managers, supervisors and frontline leaders on standard work, problem solving and operational discipline.
• Lead structured root-cause analysis and corrective actions around chronic performance losses.
• Partner cross-functionally with production, maintenance, quality, planning and warehouse teams to ensure schedule attainment.
• Strengthen changeover performance, SMED, 5S, autonomous maintenance and continuous improvement practices.
• Maintain a strong presence across shifts, reinforcing accountability, safety, food quality and execution.
• Identify performance gaps between sites and shifts and replicate best practices across the manufacturing network.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

Plant management

Multi-site leadership

OEE improvement

Food production

Change management

Job description

Senior Director, Manufacturing | Multi-Site Food Manufacturing

Hunter Shore Group has been retained by a leading food manufacturing organization to identify a Senior Director of Manufacturing to help drive operational execution across two high-speed production facilities.

Reporting to the Head of Manufacturing, this is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role responsible for translating manufacturing strategy into consistent execution across the plant floor.

The successful candidate will spend the majority of their time in the operations, partnering closely with Plant Managers and their production, maintenance and quality teams to strengthen operating discipline, improve performance and build capability across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive daily execution across safety, quality, cost, delivery and people (SQCDP).
• Lead and reinforce tiered daily management routines across both manufacturing sites.
• Monitor and improve key manufacturing metrics including OEE, yield, schedule attainment, downtime and cost performance.
• Coach Plant Managers, supervisors and frontline leaders on standard work, problem solving and operational discipline.
• Lead structured root-cause analysis and corrective actions around chronic performance losses.
• Partner cross-functionally with production, maintenance, quality, planning and warehouse teams to ensure schedule attainment.
• Strengthen changeover performance, SMED, 5S, autonomous maintenance and continuous improvement practices.
• Maintain a strong presence across shifts, reinforcing accountability, safety, food quality and execution.
• Identify performance gaps between sites and shifts and replicate best practices across the manufacturing network.

Ideal Background

• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing operations leadership, including experience at the Plant Manager, Director or multi-site level within food manufacturing.
• Strong experience in high-speed, continuous-motion food production.
• Experience in protein bars, snack or cereal bars, nutritional products, powders, confectionery or chocolate is particularly relevant.
• Demonstrated success improving OEE, yield, reliability and operating discipline.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, FSMA/PCHF and third-party food safety certification environments.
• Proven ability to coach and influence leaders and teams, including in environments where the role does not have direct reporting authority.
• A hands-on leadership style and genuine desire to spend time on the production floor. S

Location & Travel

The position is based in Indiana, with regular travel to a second manufacturing facility and HQ.

This is an excellent opportunity for a manufacturing leader who enjoys being close to the operation, developing people and turning operational standards into measurable performance.