Senior Director of Operational Excellence

Jobgether; United States; Remote; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote in the United States

Job summary

Jobgether, on behalf of a partner, seeks a Senior Director of Operational Excellence based in the United States. This executive role leads a manufacturing transformation across a U.S. network, reporting to the COO, shaping OE strategy and building a scalable operating system.

You will drive OEE, throughput, cost reductions, and EBITDA, embed continuous improvement, and coach plant leaders across functions to sustain results with accountability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business or related field.
• 12+ years of progressive leadership in manufacturing operations or operational excellence.
• Experience designing and sustaining manufacturing operating systems across multiple facilities.
• Experience in food manufacturing, CPG, or high-volume environments preferred.
• Proven improvements in OEE, productivity, waste reduction, costs, and profitability.
• Strong command of Lean, Six Sigma, TPM; Black Belt preferred.
• Financial acumen to connect improvements to business value.
• Leadership and influence across functions and locations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a network-wide Operational Excellence strategy aligned with growth and priorities.
• Design and implement a standardized manufacturing operating system for visibility and consistency.
• Partner with plant leadership to set roadmaps, expectations, and disciplined execution.
• Lead initiatives to improve OEE, throughput, productivity, asset utilization, and capacity.
• Drive sustainable cost reductions through waste elimination and efficiency gains.
• Quantify improvements with Finance and Operations; deliver EBITDA impact.
• Advance Lean/CI methods and structured problem-solving.
• Build a culture of accountability with cross-functional collaboration.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Total Productive Maintenance

Leadership

Financial Acumen

Change Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations/Business

Job description

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Director of Operational Excellence based in the United States.

This is a high-impact executive leadership opportunity for an experienced manufacturing transformation leader to drive operational performance across a U.S. manufacturing network. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, the Senior Director will shape the organization's Operational Excellence strategy, strengthen plant capabilities, and establish a scalable manufacturing operating system. The role combines strategic direction with hands-on execution to improve productivity, efficiency, cost performance, and profitability. Working closely with plant leaders and cross-functional teams, this individual will embed continuous improvement into everyday operations while building a culture of accountability and ownership. The successful candidate will translate operational opportunities into measurable financial results and create sustainable improvements that support long-term business growth.

Accountabilities

• Operational Excellence Strategy & Transformation:
  • Develop and execute a network-wide Operational Excellence strategy aligned with business growth and manufacturing priorities.
  • Design and implement a standardized manufacturing operating system to improve performance visibility, accountability, and operational consistency.
  • Partner with plant leadership to establish improvement roadmaps, performance expectations, and disciplined execution practices.
  • Identify, document, and scale best practices across manufacturing facilities.
• Manufacturing Performance & Financial Impact:
  • Lead strategic initiatives to improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), throughput, labor productivity, asset utilization, and manufacturing capacity.
  • Drive sustainable cost reductions through waste elimination, improved material yields, equipment reliability, and greater manufacturing efficiency.
  • Collaborate with Finance and Operations to quantify improvement opportunities, validate savings, and deliver measurable EBITDA improvements.
  • Establish relevant performance metrics and management routines that strengthen ownership, accelerate problem-solving, and sustain results.
• Continuous Improvement & Operational Discipline:
  • Advance the adoption of the KCOP Continuous Improvement program and structured problem-solving methodologies.
  • Strengthen operational consistency through standard work, visual management, root cause analysis, and performance accountability.
  • Lead cross-functional initiatives to eliminate manufacturing losses and unlock additional capacity.
  • Build sustainable processes and capabilities that make continuous improvement part of daily operations.
• Leadership, Culture & Capability Building:
  • Champion a high-performance, merit-based culture built on personal accountability, operational ownership, and measurable outcomes.
  • Coach and influence plant leaders and cross-functional teams to strengthen execution, problem-solving, and change leadership.
  • Develop organizational capabilities through targeted training, leadership development, and knowledge sharing.
  • Foster collaboration across Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, and Human Resources to accelerate transformation.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, or a related discipline. An advanced degree is preferred.
• Professional Experience: At least 12 years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operations, Operational Excellence, or continuous improvement.
• Multi-Site Transformation: Demonstrated success designing, implementing, and sustaining manufacturing operating systems across multiple facilities.
• Industry Background: Experience in food manufacturing, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or comparable high-volume manufacturing environments is strongly preferred.
• Operational Performance: Proven ability to deliver measurable improvements in OEE, productivity, waste reduction, manufacturing costs, and profitability.
• Continuous Improvement Expertise: Strong command of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), and structured continuous improvement methodologies. Black Belt certification or equivalent is preferred.
• Financial Acumen: Ability to connect operational performance improvements to measurable business value and financial outcomes.
• Leadership & Influence: Exceptional leadership, communication, and influencing skills, with a track record of driving organizational change across functions and locations.
• Strategic & Execution Mindset: Ability to combine long-term transformation planning with practical manufacturing expertise and disciplined implementation.
• Culture Building: Strong ability to develop leaders, encourage accountability at every level, and establish sustainable continuous improvement practices.

Benefits

• Competitive Salary: Annual salary range of $180,000-$240,000.
• Remote Work: Fully remote position based in the United States.
• Executive Visibility: Direct reporting relationship to the Chief Operating Officer and close partnership with plant leadership teams.
• Strategic Impact: Opportunity to shape manufacturing performance, build organizational capabilities, and drive lasting operational improvements across a U.S. manufacturing network.