Director, North America Operations

Director of Manufacturing Operations | Machine Tool / Custom Machine Builds

Location: Chicago area, onsite (facility relocating within the Chicago metro in early 2027)

Reports to: General Manager

Team: Approximately 15 across production, warehouse, machining, and skilled trades, including machinists, machine builders, electricians, and quality inspection

Scope: Manufacturing, production planning, inventory management, quality, and project execution for North America

Relocation: Not available. Local candidates only.

A precision machine tool manufacturer building custom, engineered-to-order equipment is hiring a Director of Manufacturing Operations to lead production, scheduling, inventory, and quality across its North America operations.

This is a low-volume, high-mix build environment. Machines are built one at a time to customer specification, with custom builds, standard orders, and new product introductions running in parallel. It is a hands-on role in a lean organization. The Director is expected to be on the floor and directly engaged in daily execution, not managing exclusively through others.

The Opportunity

The business is growing, and the company is investing in its North America manufacturing footprint. That investment includes a move into a new state-of-the-art facility and a planned expansion from a single weekday shift to two shifts. The Director will lead the operational side of both while production continues uninterrupted, a rare chance to shape how an operation runs from the layout up.

The operation is well staffed, with strong machinists and capable leaders already in place. This role is about building on that foundation as the business scales, bringing structure and rhythm to scheduling, labor planning, and capacity as volume and complexity grow.

What You'll Own

Manufacturing Operations

Lead all manufacturing and operational functions, including machining, assembly, production planning, inventory control, logistics, and facilities. Set operational strategy, establish key performance metrics, and drive continuous improvement that measurably moves productivity, quality, and delivery performance. Maintain strong alignment across Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Project Management, Sales, and Service.

Scheduling, Labor Planning & Project Execution

Own production scheduling, resource planning, inventory management, and material availability so that custom machine builds, customer orders, and new product introductions are executed to commitment. Establish disciplined labor planning and capacity management practices. Coordinate priorities across concurrent builds and product lines while proactively addressing capacity constraints, bottlenecks, supplier risk, and forecast requirements.

Facility Transition & Shift Expansion

Lead the operational side of the move into the new facility, including equipment relocation, layout and workflow design, and sequencing the transition to protect delivery performance throughout. Plan and execute the expansion to two shifts, including staffing, supervision coverage, and shift handoff practices.

Quality, Continuous Improvement & Financial Performance

Ensure compliance with customer requirements, quality standards, and internal procedures. Use operational metrics and data-driven decision making to improve throughput, productivity, quality, and delivery. Lead Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Six Sigma, and root-cause problem-solving initiatives. Manage operational budgets, labor utilization, manufacturing costs, and capital investment in support of gross margin improvement.

Leadership & Organizational Development

Build and develop a high-performing operations team through accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and safety. Develop organizational capability, succession plans, and workforce strategy while supporting hiring, engagement, and leadership development.

Health, Safety & Compliance

Champion a culture of safety and operational discipline. Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental regulations, company policy, and industry standards, and lead initiatives that reduce risk across the operation.

Required Qualifications

- Manufacturing operations leadership in a machine tool, custom machine build, engineered-to-order, capital equipment, or automation environment. Candidates whose experience is exclusively in high-volume or repetitive production will not be a fit for this role.

- 10+ years of progressive manufacturing and operations leadership, including responsibility for production, planning, inventory, supply chain, and workforce management.

- Demonstrated strength in production scheduling and labor planning.

- Strong command of Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Six Sigma, ERP/MRP systems, inventory management, and manufacturing financials.

- Highly organized, a strong multitasker, and comfortable operating hands-on in a lean organization.

- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Business, or a related field.

- Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

- Plant startup, facility relocation, or site consolidation experience.

- Experience scaling an operation from one shift to two.

- Integration experience supporting acquisitions.

Onsite role in the Chicago area. Relocation assistance is not provided. Chicagoland candidates only.