Director, Manufacturing Operational Excellence

About the role

The Director of Manufacturing Operational Excellence will lead the design, deployment, and continuous improvement of systems, processes, and capabilities to drive world-class manufacturing performance for MP Materials' Magnetics division. This role partners closely with Operations, Quality, Engineering, EHS, and Supply Chain to develop and execute an Operational Excellence roadmap.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a plant-wide Operational Excellence strategy aligned with business objectives (capacity, yield, cost, quality, delivery).
• Establish standardized methodologies for continuous improvement across manufacturing (Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, etc.).
• Build and sustain governance systems to track performance, prioritize initiatives, and deliver measurable results.
• Lead structured root cause analysis and corrective action processes (e.g., Fishbone, 5 Why, PFMEA).
• Drive resolution of critical manufacturing issues impacting yield, scrap, throughput, and reliability.
• Facilitate cross-functional "tiger teams" to address complex production challenges.
• Identify and execute initiatives to improve process capability, cycle time, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Implement robust process control systems to reduce variability and improve predictability.
• Lead efforts to improve first-pass yield and reduce scrap, rework, and defects.
• Standardize and deploy problem-solving tools, reporting systems, and performance dashboards across the organization.
• Ensure effective use of digital tools and platforms for tracking improvement activities and validating results, including IIOT and Industry 4.0 technologies.
• Establish data-driven performance management systems across operations.
• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing Operational Excellence team (Black Belts, CI Engineers, etc.).
• Develop problem-solving capabilities at all levels of the organization through coaching and training.
• Partner with functional leaders to embed operational discipline and accountability.
• Work closely with Operations, Quality, EHS, and Engineering to ensure alignment on priorities and execution.
• Support scaling of manufacturing processes from pilot to full production.
• Partner with external stakeholders (customers, suppliers) as needed to support quality and delivery objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field, with MS or MBA viewed favorably.
• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing, operations, or continuous improvement roles.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing technical or operations teams.
• Demonstrated experience leading Lean Six Sigma or operational improvement projects within a manufacturing environment, with Black Belt strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, plant operations, quality systems, and process optimization methodologies, and how they interact.
• Experience in high-growth or ramp-up manufacturing environments is highly preferred.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong analytical, statistical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to interpret complex operational data and drive actionable improvements.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and adaptable, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.