Senior Operations Director

Confero Partners; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Confero Partners is seeking a Senior Operations Director to oversee six manufacturing sites within a high-performance regional network generating about $500 million in annual revenue.

This senior role drives P&L performance, turnaround of underperforming plants, margin improvement, and sustainable results across safety, quality, delivery, and cost for the region.

Qualifications

• Proven senior operations leadership in Tier 1 automotive manufacturing.
• Multi-site leadership with significant P&L responsibility.
• Track record of operational turnaround and profitability improvement.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing financials, cost structure & margins.
• Experience turning around underperforming plants with structured recovery plans.
• Expertise in Lean, continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Ability to lead Plant Managers and senior leadership teams.
• Experience working with automotive OEMs and major programs.
• Willingness to travel across the manufacturing network.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational and financial performance across six manufacturing facilities.
• Own regional P&L performance, including profitability, margin improvement, cost control and cash generation.
• Develop and execute turnaround plans for underperforming plants.
• Drive improvements across safety, quality, delivery, labour productivity, scrap, downtime, inventory and manufacturing cost.
• Establish clear KPIs, operating reviews and recovery plans across the region.
• Partner with Finance on budgeting, forecasting and cost visibility.
• Identify and deliver sustainable cost-reduction and margin-improvement initiatives.
• Lead restructuring, footprint optimisation, capacity planning and operational transformation where required.
• Develop and challenge Plant Managers and senior operational leaders.
• Support customer escalations, major launches and programme recoveries.
• Build a culture of accountability, ownership and high performance across the region.

Skills

Senior operations leadership

Multi-site leadership

Lean manufacturing

Continuous improvement

Plant Managers leadership

Automotive manufacturing

P&L understanding

Travel ability

Job description

Our client, a leading Tier 1 automotive supplier, is seeking a Senior Operations Director to lead a six-site manufacturing network generating approximately $500 million in annual revenue.

This is a senior regional leadership role with responsibility for P&L performance, operational turnaround, margin improvement and overall business performance across the region.

The successful candidate will lead Plant Managers and senior functional teams, with a strong focus on improving underperforming operations, strengthening accountability and delivering sustainable financial and operational results.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational and financial performance across six manufacturing facilities.
• Own regional P&L performance, including profitability, margin improvement, cost control and cash generation.
• Develop and execute turnaround plans for underperforming plants.
• Drive improvements across safety, quality, delivery, labour productivity, scrap, downtime, inventory and manufacturing cost.
• Establish clear KPIs, operating reviews and recovery plans across the region.
• Partner with Finance on budgeting, forecasting and cost visibility.
• Identify and deliver sustainable cost-reduction and margin-improvement initiatives.
• Lead restructuring, footprint optimisation, capacity planning and operational transformation where required.
• Develop and challenge Plant Managers and senior operational leaders.
• Support customer escalations, major launches and programme recoveries.
• Build a culture of accountability, ownership and high performance across the region.

Required background

• Significant senior operations leadership experience within Tier 1 automotive manufacturing.
• Proven multi-site leadership experience with substantial P&L responsibility.
• Strong track record of operational turnaround and profitability improvement.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing financials, cost structure and margin drivers.
• Experience leading underperforming plants through structured recovery plans.
• Strong background in Lean manufacturing, operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Proven ability to lead Plant Managers and senior leadership teams.
• Strong commercial awareness and experience working with major automotive OEMs.
• Experience with restructuring, footprint optimisation or plant transformation would be highly desirable.
• Ability to travel regularly across the manufacturing network.