Regional Director – Metal Stamping Engineering, North America

Responsibilities

Lead the North American metal stamping engineering strategy, translating global objectives into actionable regional initiatives that improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and profitability. Provide leadership and development for plant and regional engineering teams, building technical capability, strengthening succession plans, and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Standardize and optimize stamping processes across multiple manufacturing sites, including tooling, die systems, press operations, process controls, maintenance practices, and engineering governance.

Drive operational excellence initiatives focused on improving OEE, reducing scrap and downtime, increasing throughput, extending tool life, and lowering total manufacturing costs. Develop and execute regional technology and capital investment roadmaps, including automation, digital manufacturing, advanced sensing, analytics, and smart manufacturing solutions. Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure successful product launches, manufacturing transfers, capacity expansions, tooling readiness, process validation, and operational ramp-up activities.

Serve as the primary engineering liaison between North America and global leadership, providing strategic direction, performance visibility, investment recommendations, and technical expertise.

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical discipline; advanced degree preferred. Significant experience in metal stamping manufacturing, including expertise in stamping processes, press systems, tooling, and progressive and/or compound die technologies. Proven leadership experience managing engineering teams across multiple manufacturing sites, business units, or regions within a matrixed organization. Demonstrated success improving manufacturing performance through lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, statistical analysis, root-cause problem solving, and process optimization.

Experience leading new product introductions, tooling launches, equipment installations, manufacturing transfers, and process validation activities. Strong business and financial acumen, with experience developing capital plans, building investment business cases, evaluating risk, and validating return on investment. Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders, lead transformation initiatives, and travel regularly throughout North America.

The Freudenberg Group is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion. Employment opportunities are available to all applicants and associates without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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