Position Title: Director, Manufacturing Operations
Location: Durham, NC
Job Summary:The Director, Manufacturing Operations is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and strategic direction of Bell and Howell's manufacturing operations, including Manufacturing Engineering, Integration, Assembly, Production Operations, and Continuous Improvement activities.
Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer and serving as a key member of the leadership team, this position is accountable for achieving operational and financial objectives through the effective management of manufacturing resources, inventory, labor, quality, productivity, capital investments, and continuous improvement initiatives.
The Director partners closely with Finance, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Service Operations, and Executive Leadership to ensure manufacturing operations support the company's strategic growth objectives while delivering exceptional customer satisfaction, operational excellence, and profitability.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Manufacturing Leadership & Operational Excellence- Lead all manufacturing operations, including Manufacturing Engineering, Integration, Assembly, Testing, and Production activities.
- Develop and execute short- and long-term manufacturing strategies aligned with company goals and financial objectives.
- Establish operational goals, performance metrics, and accountability measures to drive safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost performance.
- Ensure manufacturing resources, staffing levels, equipment, and processes support customer demand and business requirements.
- Lead Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence initiatives throughout the organization.
- Promote a culture of accountability, ownership, teamwork, safety, and continuous improvement.
Financial Leadership & Business Performance- Own manufacturing financial performance, including labor productivity, manufacturing costs, inventory management, and operational efficiency.
- Develop, manage, and monitor annual operating budgets and capital expenditure plans.
- Identify and execute cost reduction initiatives while maintaining quality and customer service standards.
- Monitor and improve key financial and operational metrics, including:
- Labor efficiency
- Manufacturing absorption
- Inventory turns
- Cost of quality
- Scrap and rework
- Manufacturing cycle time
- On-time delivery
- Working capital performance
- Partner with Finance to support forecasting, budgeting, variance analysis, and strategic planning activities.
- Evaluate capital equipment investments and manufacturing technologies to maximize productivity and return on investment.
Manufacturing Engineering & New Product Introduction- Partner with Engineering and Product Development teams during design reviews to improve manufacturability, quality, reliability, and cost effectiveness.
- Lead manufacturing readiness activities for new product introductions, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships.
- Develop manufacturing plans including workflow design, labor content, tooling requirements, facility layout, and production strategies.
- Evaluate make-versus-buy decisions and support sourcing strategies that optimize cost and operational performance.
- Ensure manufacturing processes, assembly methods, testing procedures, and product documentation are established and maintained.
Quality, Safety & Compliance- Ensure compliance with all company policies, quality standards, safety regulations, and operational procedures.
- Partner with Quality and Engineering teams to drive root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous quality improvement.
- Establish and maintain effective manufacturing controls, inspections, testing procedures, and quality systems.
- Foster a safe working environment and maintain a strong safety culture throughout the organization.
Inventory, Supply Chain & Customer Support- Partner with Supply Chain leadership to optimize inventory levels, material availability, supplier performance, and working capital.
- Support Sales, Service Operations, and Customer Support teams to ensure customer commitments are achieved.
- Resolve manufacturing-related customer concerns and implement corrective actions as needed.
- Participate in Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) activities to align manufacturing capacity with business demand.
Talent Development & Organizational Leadership- Lead, coach, mentor, and develop manufacturing managers, supervisors, engineers, technicians, and production personnel.
- Build organizational capability through workforce planning, succession planning, and employee development initiatives.
- Establish performance expectations and hold teams accountable for results.
- Coordinate technical training, leadership development, and continuous improvement education programs.
- Foster employee engagement and maintain a positive, high-performance work environment.
Continuous Improvement- Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce waste, improve quality, and streamline operations.
- Lead operational improvement projects that support growth, scalability, and profitability.
- Develop and implement best practices across manufacturing operations.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Direct: Up to 35, or as required by the business
Competencies (Skills, Knowledge and Abilities):- Strong manufacturing and operational leadership capabilities.
- Strong financial and business acumen.
- Ability to analyze operational and financial data and translate insights into actionable business decisions.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and executive-level influencing skills.
- Strong project management, planning, and organizational abilities.
- Ability to drive change and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
- Experience with ERP/MRP systems, manufacturing analytics, and operational reporting tools.
- Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and leadership skills.
Education and Experience:- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Master's degree preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
- Minimum of 5 years leading managers, engineers, supervisors, and cross-functional operational teams.
- Experience managing operational budgets, capital expenditures, and manufacturing financial performance.
Travel:- This position requires some travel in the United States and Canada.
Physical Requirements:- Ability to work in both office and manufacturing environments.
- Ability to walk manufacturing facilities and inspect operations regularly.
- Ability to operate standard office equipment and computer systems.
- Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
- Ability to travel as business needs require.
Other DutiesPlease note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
