Senior Manufacturing Operations Leader | Growth & Efficiency

Upside Search; Lorain (OH); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

This well-established, family-owned manufacturer is seeking a Director of Operations to lead the on-site manufacturing operation (50,000 sq ft) spanning Engineering, Machine Shop, Fabrication, Paint, Assembly, and Final Testing.

Reporting to the COO, the Director will manage 6–7 Managers, drive continuous improvement, establish KPIs, optimize throughput and inventory, and partner with executive leadership on capacity planning and new product introductions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive plant operations and manufacturing leadership experience.
• Experience leading within an industrial manufacturing environment.
• Experience with modern ERP systems such as NetSuite, SAP, JD Edwards, or similar platforms.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and direction for the company's manufacturing operation, including Engineering, Machine Shop, Fabrication, Paint, Assembly, and Final Testing.
• Lead, coach, and develop approximately 6–7 Managers and Supervisors while creating greater accountability throughout the operation.
• Serve as the senior day-to-day operations leader and trusted partner to the COO.
• Evaluate current manufacturing processes and identify opportunities to improve throughput, productivity, quality, and overall operating efficiency.
• Identify and eliminate operational bottlenecks while improving workflow and coordination between departments.
• Establish meaningful plant KPIs and operating metrics to improve visibility, accountability, and decision-making.
• Develop and implement stronger SOPs, standardized processes, and operating procedures to support continued growth.
• Improve communication and coordination across Engineering, Manufacturing, and other functional areas of the organization.
• Mentor and develop existing Managers and Supervisors to strengthen the company's operational leadership capabilities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and foster a culture focused on problem-solving, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Improve inventory management practices and identify opportunities to reduce overall inventory levels.
• Support the implementation and optimization of NetSuite, leveraging the ERP system to improve operational visibility, reporting, and decision-making.
• Partner with executive leadership on capacity planning, operational strategy, new product introductions, and other initiatives necessary to support continued growth.
• Maintain a visible, hands-on presence throughout the manufacturing floor by working directly with employees and Managers to understand challenges and implement practical solutions.
• Help build the processes, systems, people, and operational structure necessary to support the company's growth

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Mentoring

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field

Tools

NetSuite

SAP

JD Edwards

Job description

This well-established, family-owned manufacturer is seeking a Director of Operations to lead the on-site manufacturing operation (50,000 sq ft) spanning Engineering, Machine Shop, Fabrication, Paint, Assembly, and Final Testing.

Reporting to the COO, the Director will manage 6–7 Managers, drive continuous improvement, establish KPIs, optimize throughput and inventory, and partner with executive leadership on capacity planning and new product introductions.