Director of Manufacturing
Company Overview
A leading North American manufacturer serving the residential, renovation, and light commercial building products markets is seeking a Director of Manufacturing to lead a large-scale production campus. The organization operates multiple manufacturing facilities across North America and is known for its commitment to operational excellence, employee development, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Position Overview
This role provides strategic and operational leadership for a highly visible manufacturing site consisting of approximately 780 employees across four production buildings. The Director of Manufacturing will be responsible for driving performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People (SQDCP) while leading long-term operational transformation initiatives.
This individual will partner closely with senior leadership, engineering, supply chain, HR, and commercial teams to develop and execute operational strategies, improve plant performance, and build a high-performing leadership culture.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership
- Lead daily operations across a large, complex manufacturing campus with multiple value streams.
- Drive performance in safety, quality, productivity, delivery, and financial metrics.
- Establish accountability and operational discipline throughout the organization.
Strategic Planning & Continuous Improvement
- Develop and execute long-term operational strategies and improvement roadmaps.
- Identify opportunities for plant optimization, capacity expansion, and margin improvement.
- Drive Lean Manufacturing initiatives, Kaizen events, and daily management systems.
- Create and manage multi-year capital investment plans.
Leadership & Talent Development
- Build, coach, and develop plant leadership teams.
- Foster a highly engaged, people-first culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement.
- Partner with HR on workforce planning, succession planning, retention, and employee development.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work effectively within a matrixed environment across operations, engineering, supply chain, finance, and commercial teams.
- Serve as the operational representative for executive leadership discussions and strategic initiatives.
- Maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
Financial & Capital Management
- Lead site budgeting and financial planning activities.
- Support major capital projects and productivity initiatives.
- Utilize ROI and financial analysis to prioritize investments and operational improvements.
Preferred Background
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field.
- Master's degree (MBA or related) preferred.
- 10-15+ years of manufacturing leadership experience.
- Proven experience leading large-scale manufacturing operations with 500+ indirect employees.
- Experience as a Plant Manager, Operations Manager, Manufacturing Manager, or Director-level manufacturing leader.
- Strong Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, and Operational Excellence background.
- Experience managing large capital projects.
- Knowledge of automation, ERP systems, digital manufacturing, and Industry 4.0 initiatives.
- Strong financial acumen including budgeting, cost management, ROI, and capital planning.
Key Leadership Traits
- Strategic thinker capable of leading transformation initiatives.
- Strong people leader who develops talent and drives engagement.
- Hands-on leadership style with high visibility on the production floor.
- Data-driven decision maker.
- Comfortable operating in complex, matrixed organizations.
- Skilled at leading change and improving organizational performance.
Site Priorities
Near-Term Focus
- Improve operational stability.
- Strengthen safety and quality performance.
- Increase process visibility and leadership accountability.
- Support operational audits and corrective actions.
Mid-Term Focus
- Optimize workflows through Lean methodologies.
- Improve workforce development and leadership capability.
- Leverage digital tools and operational technology.
Long-Term Vision
- Drive manufacturing transformation and future-state operational improvements.
- Support facility modernization and layout optimization.
- Develop sustainable, scalable production processes
- Annual Incentive Opportunity
- Relocation Assistance Available
- Comprehensive Benefits Package
- 401(k) with Company Contributions
- Profit Sharing Program
- Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO, and Parental Leave Benefits
FAQs
Congratulations, we understand that taking the time to apply is a big step. When you apply, your details go directly to the consultant who is sourcing talent. Due to demand, we may not get back to all applicants that have applied. However, we always keep your resume and details on file so when we see similar roles or see skillsets that drive growth in organizations, we will always reach out to discuss opportunities.
Yes. Even if this role isn’t a perfect match, applying allows us to understand your expertise and ambitions, ensuring you're on our radar for the right opportunity when it arises.
We also work in several ways, firstly we advertise our roles available on our site, however, often due to confidentiality we may not post all. We also work with clients who are more focused on skills and understanding what is required to future-proof their business.Â
That's why we recommend registering your resume so you can be considered for roles that have yet to be created.Â
Yes, we help with CV and interview preparation. From customized support on how to optimize your CV to interview preparation and compensation negotiations, we advocate for you throughout your next career move.