Sr Director of Operations

To provide direct leadership and continual evaluation and improvement of the respective multi-site manufacturing platform operations, including P&L performance, forecast/Outlook management, revenue and profit growth, operational excellence, maintenance, safety, quality/compliance, engineering, and human resources, with the goal to improve throughput and productivity, increase efficiency and profitability, and optimize customer satisfaction and employee retention, career satisfaction and growth. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee – in one or more sites - production, quality, safety, maintenance, materials management and distribution, ensuring an efficient, safe, and cost-effective operation.
• Plan, develop, and oversee implementation of comprehensive operating plans with the goals of continually increased throughput, consistent quality process control, and on time delivery, especially where needed to support increased demand from current accounts.
• Cultivate a safety-awareness culture and ensure compliance of all safety and EHS standards, training and protocols, as established by the company.
• Evaluate and act on new purchasing/design/manufacturing/distribution ideas and champions. Continuous Improvement programs like 5S, Lean, 6 Sigma, etc. looking always to improve our operations and processes in order to become more efficient.
• Responsible for enhancing technical and functional competencies, including ongoing review of needs and evaluation of all CAPEX spending related to the plant including ensuring on-budget, on-time delivery of all approved capital projects.
• Support the site management team in establishing long-term growth and profitability goals for the company, as well as professional and leadership development in the organization. Vital contributor to assessment/selection for senior plant leaders and other critical plant positions.
• Assess Plant Utilization and metrics such as Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) to optimize assets and inform decisions regarding CapEx investments, expansion, divestiture, and synergies.
• Must shape the plant culture through example and key leadership events; engaging, enabling and energizing staff at all levels.  Bring issues that may arise in a plant environment to prompt and fair resolution.   
• Supports the weekly S&OP cadence and identifies long-term planning and priorities to inform financial budgeting process to support the forecast prepared by the commercial team and controls expenditures within approved budgetary parameters.
• Utilizes a system of key performance indicators to measure plant performance to ensure that product demand is manufactured and delivered on time and in compliance, recommending actions necessary to improve results.
• Drives compliance with all applicable regulations and requirements in safety, quality and labor laws, and sets the tone for plant readiness and compliance for internal and external audits.
• Supports transition of new product development to manufacturing through Production Readiness and Production Transfer phases. Ensure reliable revenue stream from funded Development projects with appropriate purchasing management through all design stages.
• Promotes new product quotations and sustains current customer relationships, acting as key contributor to pipeline opportunities and onsite customer visits. Enables the company to be able to secure new business from pipeline opportunities by supplying technical packages where required to accompany RFQs.
• Keeps the SVP & GM, Components & Device and Integrated Operations leadership informed of all important matters, which may require immediate action or attention at that level in the organization.
• Performs other accountabilities as apparent or assigned.
• May serve in a dual role of managing a plant, directly as well as managing a plant indirectly, through the reporting of the plant manager to this position.

Responsibility for Work of Others:

• Direct supervision over:
  • Plant Manager(s) Molding Technologies
    • Minneapolis
    • New Brighton
    • Pittsfield
    • Reynosa

Qualifications

•    A minimum of 10 years of experience in molding and tooling processes, particularly within the medical device sector.
•    Demonstrated experience managing engineering projects of varied scale, highlighting robust leadership and technical expertise.
•    Proven capabilities in customer engagement, with a history of building and maintaining strong relationships.
•    Comprehensive understanding of manufacturing processes, input material properties, and output product applications.
•    An initiative-taking interest in enhancing knowledge of the COE and the application of products by customers.
•    Proficient in tooling design and Design for Manufacturing (DFM) strategies.

Skills and Abilities

•    An analytical thinker who excels both as a team leader and an individual contributor.
•    Maintains exceptional performance standards with a firm commitment to quality and excellence, demonstrated by meticulous diligence.
•    Inventive and creative, with the persistence to see projects through to completion.
•    Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with an emphasis on conflict resolution.
•    Excellent organizational and people skills, capable of thriving in a collaborative team

Physical Demands
•    Must be able to assist production activities as required, in the office and the production floor