Senior Director of Operations

Hunter Hamilton; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Hunter Hamilton partners with an established consumer health and wellness manufacturer seeking a Senior Director of Manufacturing Operations to lead manufacturing and operational performance across multiple U.S. facilities.

This executive-level role provides strategic and hands‑on leadership across manufacturing, procurement, supply chain, demand planning and logistics, ensuring safe, compliant, reliable and cost‑effective operations while developing leaders and scalable systems.

Qualifications

• Direct experience managing or building drug manufacturing operations.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing or plant operations leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success leading complex multi-site or multi-shift manufacturing operations.
• Experience leading significant teams, budgets and operational performance.
• Experience in a regulated manufacturing environment such as Pharmaceuticals, Dietary supplements, Personal care, Chemicals or other FDA/GMP-regulated products.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the multi-site manufacturing strategy, annual operating plan and long-term capacity roadmap.
• Lead day-to-day and long-range performance across multiple manufacturing facilities.
• Align production, labor, materials, equipment and warehouse capacity with business requirements.
• Establish and manage KPIs for safety, quality, service, cost, productivity and people.
• Provide executive leadership with forecasts, risks, trade-offs and recommendations.
• Lead procurement, demand planning, logistics and broader supply chain performance.
• Partner with Sales and Finance to strengthen S&OP, production scheduling, inventory management and customer service.
• Manage supplier relationships, material availability, inventory accuracy and continuity of supply.
• Improve schedule adherence, on-time/in-full delivery and overall supply reliability.
• Champion a strong safety culture through visible leadership and training.
• Ensure manufacturing compliance with SOPs, specifications and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain audit readiness and support investigations and CAPA processes.
• Identify and mitigate risks involving capacity, labor, equipment, suppliers, utilities and logistics.
• Establish a practical continuous-improvement culture focused on root-cause analysis and measurable results.
• Strengthen ERP/MRP utilization, data integrity and operational reporting.
• Lead facility expansions, equipment investments and capital projects from business case to ramp-up.
• Develop workforce planning and succession strategies.
• Partner effectively with Finance, Commercial, R&D, Quality and other executives.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Operations management

Strategic planning

Executive communication

Financial acumen

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, supply chain, business

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

We are partnering with an established and growing consumer health and wellness manufacturer seeking a Senior Director of Manufacturing Operations to lead manufacturing and operational performance across multiple U.S. facilities.

This executive-level position will provide strategic and hands‑on leadership across manufacturing, procurement, supply chain, demand planning and logistics. The successful candidate will be responsible for translating growth objectives into safe, compliant, reliable and cost‑effective operations while developing strong leaders and scalable operating systems.

This is an excellent opportunity for a manufacturing leader with experience in a regulated environment who has successfully managed complex operations, driven continuous improvement and supported organizational growth.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing & Operations Leadership

• Develop and execute the multi‑site manufacturing strategy, annual operating plan and long‑term capacity roadmap.
• Lead day‑to‑day and long‑range performance across multiple manufacturing facilities.
• Align production, labor, materials, equipment and warehouse capacity with business requirements.
• Establish and manage key performance indicators for safety, quality, service, cost, productivity and people.
• Provide executive leadership with clear forecasts, operational risks, trade‑offs and recommendations.

Supply Chain & Planning

• Lead procurement, demand planning, logistics and broader supply chain performance.
• Partner with Sales and Finance to strengthen S&OP, production scheduling, inventory management and customer service.
• Manage supplier relationships, material availability, inventory accuracy and continuity of supply.
• Improve schedule adherence, on‑time/in‑full delivery and overall supply reliability.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Champion a strong safety culture through visible leadership, training, risk reduction and accountability.
• Partner with Quality leadership to ensure manufacturing compliance with approved SOPs, specifications and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Maintain audit readiness and support effective investigations and CAPA processes.
• Ensure operations meet applicable FDA, GMP, OSHA, customer and certification requirements.

Operational Excellence & Growth

• Establish a practical continuous‑improvement culture focused on root‑cause analysis and measurable results.
• Improve yield, throughput, labor productivity, cycle time, changeovers and waste.
• Standardize operating processes and routines across facilities.
• Strengthen ERP/MRP utilization, data integrity and operational reporting.
• Lead facility expansions, equipment investments and capital projects from business case development through implementation and ramp‑up.
• Identify and mitigate risks involving capacity, labor, equipment, suppliers, utilities and logistics.

Leadership & Culture

• Build, coach and retain a high‑performing multi‑site leadership organization.
• Establish clear expectations, accountability and performance standards.
• Develop workforce planning, leadership development and succession strategies.
• Partner effectively with Finance, Commercial, R&D, Quality and other executive functions.

Qualifications

Required

• Direct experience managing or building drug manufacturing operations.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing or plant operations leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success leading complex multi‑site or multi‑shift manufacturing operations.
• Experience leading significant teams, budgets and operational performance.
• Experience in a regulated manufacturing environment such as:
• Pharmaceuticals
• Dietary supplements
• Personal care
• Chemicals
• Other FDA/GMP‑regulated products
• Working knowledge of GMPs, FDA regulations, quality systems and applicable OSHA, customer and certification requirements.
• Strong financial and operational acumen with demonstrated results improving safety, quality, delivery, cost and productivity.
• Experience with ERP/MRP and manufacturing or inventory management systems.
• Strong executive communication, judgment and cross‑functional leadership skills.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, supply chain, business or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred

• Advanced degree or certifications such as Lean/Six Sigma, APICS/ASCM or project management.
• Experience supporting rapid growth through facility expansion, automation or new technology.
• Experience with S&OP, new product introduction and supplier development.
• Experience working with external contract manufacturing partners.