Technical Department Head Job Berea area,Kentucky USA,Manufacturing / Production

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or related Engineering field
10-15+ years of automotive manufacturing engineering experience
5-7+ years of leadership experience managing engineering teams within a manufacturing plant
Strong knowledge of automotive manufacturing processes
Proven experience with APQP and PPAP
Experience leading new product/vehicle launches from concept through production
Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma experience
Experience with root cause analysis methodologies (8D, 5-Why, etc.)
Knowledge of IATF 16949 standards and core quality tools (FMEA, Control Plans, SPC)
Maintenance and equipment reliability leadership experience
Experience driving OEE improvements, uptime initiatives, and operational excellence programs
Strong cross-functional leadership skills across Engineering, Operations, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain

Plusses:

Master's Degree (Engineering or MBA)
Experience leading major vehicle launch programs
Background in automation, robotics, Industry 4.0, or smart manufacturing technologies
Expertise in predictive maintenance systems
Experience with large-scale manufacturing transformations
Proven track record of developing engineering leaders and succession planning initiatives

Day-to-Day:

Lead all Production Engineering, Process Engineering, New Model Launch, and Maintenance functions
Drive manufacturing performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity metrics
Optimize equipment reliability, asset utilization, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
Resolve production issues impacting downtime, scrap, throughput, and efficiency
Champion Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and continuous improvement initiatives
Lead value stream mapping and waste reduction activities
Develop and implement standardized manufacturing processes and best practices
Monitor plant KPIs including cycle time, scrap, labor efficiency, cost per unit, and equipment uptime
Drive automation, robotics, and Industry 4.0 initiatives
Oversee APQP and PPAP activities for new model launches
Manage tooling validation, process development, manufacturing readiness, and launch stabilization efforts
Partner with Product Engineering, Program Management, Quality, Operations, and Supply Chain teams
Lead preventive and predictive maintenance strategies
Support capital equipment planning, upgrades, and long-term asset management
Develop engineering talent, succession plans, and organizational capability
Establish plant technical strategies focused on growth, capacity, and technology adoption
Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and quality standards

Job Description:

Insight Global is seeking a Technical Department Head for a top automotive manufacturing client. This individual will serve as the senior technical leader for the plant, overseeing Production Engineering, Process Improvement, New Model Launches, and Maintenance operations. They will be responsible for driving manufacturing excellence through equipment reliability, operational efficiency, continuous improvement, and successful execution of vehicle launch programs.

This leader will work closely with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management teams to ensure plant goals surrounding safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity are achieved. The ideal candidate is a strategic manufacturing leader with deep automotive experience, a strong background in lean and operational excellence, and a proven ability to lead high-performing engineering organizations while delivering measurable business results.

This is an excellent opportunity to influence plant strategy, drive advanced manufacturing initiatives, and lead critical growth and launch activities within a highly visible leadership role.