US Director of Operations

(Director of Operations) for US Locations

• To establish strategies for development and implementation of continuous improvement, maintenance, and quality systems in order to establish a manufacturing system in the US locations that consistently eliminates waste, satisfies the customer, improves manufacturing costs, sponsors EHS, and provides the leadership required to respond to the rapid changing markets.
• To deploy the knowledge and learning from Technology and Machinery divisions into the manufacturing systems, process parameters and best manufacturing practices across the plants.
• To support implementation of lean manufacturing, maintenance and quality systems among the US plants.
• To provide the leadership to Plant Managers to support driving rapid change throughout the organization to respond to the marketplace.
• To provide leadership, support, and alternatives, for decision making to Plant Managers.
• To facilitate sharing and deployment of best practices among the North American plants.
• To ensure issues/topics of common interest are shared among the plants.
• To oversee the systems at each location to confirm a quality product is manufactured in a timely manner and in a way that meets the customer’s needs.
• To review the findings of external customer audits and ensure that audit findings are responded to timely, thoroughly, and to the customer’s satisfaction.
• To audit the course of events when a customer complaint is filed: the complaint is investigated, the root causes found and corrective actions are established, executed and effective.

Within the US organization, this position is responsible for providing the leadership for the deployment of Lean Manufacturing and a work environment that captures the discretionary effort of our employees. This position has 3 Plant Managers and a US Continuous Improvement Manager reporting directly to it. The position has significant coordination with the Commercial and Planning functions of the business, and reports directly to the CEO.

• BS in Engineering or BA Business
• 15+ years of experience required managing and directing others in a manufacturing operation with assignments that have been progressively more complex.
• Ability to manage complex budget and cost centers.
• Proven skills in managing within a Matrix Organization structure.
• Excellent communication skills and organizational skills.
• Experience in manufacturing process, quality and production arenas.
• Background in quality and customer service philosophies.
• Strong leadership and conflict-resolution skills.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing and experience implementing state of the art maintenance and quality systems is a must.