Director, Foundry Operations

About the role

The Director, Foundry Operations plays a key leadership role within Emerson’s Professional Tools business. Reporting directly to the President of Urick, the incumbent oversees all foundry functions, including manufacturing, sales, customer service, technical services, engineering, finance, and supply chain.

Responsibilities

• Establish and execute a multi-year strategy that aligns Urick’s capabilities with customer needs and business growth goals.
• Maintain awareness of market trends, capacity needs, and emerging technologies to ensure the foundry can support future demand.
• Make strategic decisions on product mix, insourcing vs. outsourcing, customer diversification, and capital investments.
• Represent Urick within Emerson, clearly communicating the foundry’s capabilities, challenges, and opportunities.
• Promote a strong safety culture focused on accountability, engagement, and proactive risk reduction.
• Oversee all foundry operations—melting, molding, core making, pouring, finishing, maintenance, and metallurgy—to ensure consistent, high-quality production.
• Demand Lean and continuous improvement initiatives to increase throughput, reduce scrap, improve labor efficiency, and enhance equipment reliability.
• Ensure disciplined execution of production schedules, materials flow, and capacity planning to meet delivery commitments.
• Lead capital planning to modernize equipment, improve reliability, and support long-term asset needs.
• Oversee full P&L performance, including annual plans, budgets, and monthly forecasts.
• Drive initiatives that improve profitability, cost competitiveness, and asset utilization.
• Grow third-party sales through targeted strategies aligned with capacity and Urick’s technical strengths.
• Approve pricing, quotes, and commercial agreements to ensure sustainable, profitable growth.
• Build strong relationships with Ridge Tool and external trade customers to ensure alignment on quality, delivery, cost, and new product needs.
• Lead technical and customer service teams to provide responsive support, casting expertise, and effective issue resolution.
• Strengthen Urick’s position as a preferred supplier through reliable performance, technical capability, and customer trust.
• Build a high-performance, collaborative culture that attracts and develops strong technical and operational talent.
• Partner with HR to maintain positive employee and union relationships, including participation in negotiations and grievance processes.
• Promote a culture of accountability, innovation, continuous improvement, and shared success across all teams.
• Ensure compliance with corporate policies, ethical standards, environmental regulations, and safety requirements.
• Represent Urick in community, governmental, and industry forums to strengthen the company’s reputation and influence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, metallurgy, business, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing, preferably within foundry, metal casting, or heavy industrial environments.
• Leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success leading full P&L performance, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning.
• Proven background in Lean, continuous improvement, and operational excellence with measurable results.
• Experience building and leading high-performing teams, including leadership development and organizational change.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Strong track record of driving safety performance and fostering a culture of accountability and engagement.
• Able to lead effectively in a unionized environment, including participation in negotiations and labor-management relations.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States (no sponsorship provided).

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering, business administration (MBA), or a related field.
• Familiarity with metallurgical processes, precision casting operations, and technical problem-solving.
• Experience growing third-party/business-to-business sales in an industrial setting.
• Background in multi-site or enterprise-level leadership.

Skills

• Strategic thinking and vision.
• Operational excellence and process improvement.
• Financial management and budgeting.
• Customer relationship management.
• Team leadership and development.
• Safety management and risk reduction.
• Communication and relationship-building.
• Union management and negotiation.

Benefits

Emerson offers competitive compensation packages, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for professional growth and development. Details will be provided during the interview process.

Pay

Competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Schedule

Full-time position with standard business hours.