Director Manufacturing Operations

About the role

The Director of Operations for the Electronics Edge business will lead multi-site manufacturing operations, driving operational excellence, efficiency, and alignment with business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute manufacturing strategies to enhance efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and product quality across Edge sites.
• Lead initiatives to drive Standex Electronics Core Value Drivers (CVDs) by setting and achieving operational improvement targets.
• Partner with functional leadership to deploy maturity models aligned with long-term business objectives.
• Optimize the operational footprint and capacity by collaborating with the commercial organization to align roadmaps with future business requirements.
• Monitor and manage site performance metrics, including production output, cost control, safety, and quality.
• Ensure manufacturing sites comply with regulatory, environmental, and safety standards.
• Drive a behavior-based safety culture to promote safe practices throughout operations.
• Lead Lean Transformation, Six Sigma, and other improvement methodologies to optimize manufacturing operations.
• Cultivate a culture of problem-solving to foster continuous improvement.
• Drive capacity expansion and achieve productivity cost savings through lean transformation initiatives.
• Develop and manage the manufacturing operations budget, ensuring cost-effective solutions and financial discipline.
• Identify, plan, and execute capital equipment projects, ensuring timely completion, budget compliance, and achievement of business outcomes.
• Align productivity improvements with strategic business objectives across multiple sites.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to site leaders, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Build a culture of continuous improvement by mentoring and training employees at all organizational levels.
• Evaluate and ensure teams are properly structured and equipped to meet both immediate operational needs and long-term business goals.
• Identify training and skill development needs, ensuring appropriate development plans are in place.
• Evaluate production capabilities and implement strategies to meet customer demand and business growth.
• Proactively develop risk mitigation strategies to address supply chain disruptions, workforce challenges, and other potential risks.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with supply chain, engineering, quality, and R&D teams to achieve business objectives.
• Serve as a liaison between operations teams and senior leadership to communicate progress and align priorities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, partners, and customers to enhance value streams.
• Utilize data-driven decision-making to assess the effectiveness of improvement efforts.
• Report progress and outcomes to stakeholders through presentations and documentation.
• Maintain transparency and accountability for key operational metrics.
• Identify and implement opportunities for technological advancements and automation to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs.
• Develop and execute a strategy to transform manufacturing sites into future-ready factories through automation and innovation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Business, Operations Management, or a related field (master’s degree preferred).
• 10+ years of manufacturing leadership experience, with a proven track record in multi-site operations.
• Demonstrated success in lean deployment, Six Sigma, business process improvements, and operational excellence.
• Experience managing budgets, capital expenditures, and cost control initiatives.
• Strong understanding of safety, compliance, and quality regulations in manufacturing.
• Willingness and ability for regular travel to manufacturing sites (estimated 50-75%).

Qualifications

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt certification preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Exceptional leadership and team-building skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools and ERP systems.
• Knowledge of quality standards such as ISO 9001 and compliance regulations.
• Strategic thinking and visionary leadership.
• The ability to influence and drive cultural change.
• Results-oriented with a focus on measurable impact.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Able to lead and collaborate with teams across global sites.
• Effective training and development capabilities across all organizational levels.
• Combination of office and manufacturing floor environment.