Director of Manufacturing

Director of Manufacturing

Location: Elkhart County, Indiana
Department: Manufacturing / Operations

Position Summary

The Director of Manufacturing provides strategic and operational leadership for all manufacturing activities within a mid-size production facility of approximately 160 associates. This role is responsible for driving operational excellence, achieving production targets, and building a high-performance culture grounded in safety, quality, continuous improvement, and accountability. The Director serves as a key member of the leadership team and collaborates cross-functionally with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Human Resources to support business growth and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Production

• Lead all day-to-day manufacturing operations to meet production schedules, cost targets, and quality standards.
• Develop and execute short- and long-range operational plans aligned with business objectives and customer demand.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) including OEE, throughput, scrap, on-time delivery, and cost-per-unit; implement corrective actions as needed.
• Oversee production planning and capacity management to optimize labor and equipment utilization.
• Partner with Supply Chain to ensure raw material availability and effective inventory management.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, develop, and retain a workforce of approximately 100 associates, including supervisors, team leads, and hourly employees.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and accountable workplace culture.
• Partner with Human Resources on recruiting, workforce planning, performance management, and employee engagement initiatives.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and professional development opportunities to strengthen leadership capabilities across the organization.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations and address performance concerns in a timely and professional manner.

Safety & Compliance

• Promote a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with OSHA regulations and environmental, health, and safety (EHS) policies.
• Drive continuous improvement in workplace safety by reducing incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local manufacturing regulations.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Lead quality and continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other CI methodologies.
• Collaborate with Quality teams to ensure products consistently meet customer specifications and internal standards.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) processes related to quality and operational issues.
• Identify and implement process improvements that reduce waste, increase efficiency, and lower overall operating costs.

Financial Management

• Develop and manage departmental budgets, including labor, overhead, and material costs.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and lead capital expenditure planning and justification efforts.
• Provide regular operational and financial performance updates to senior leadership.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related field required.
• MBA or other advanced degree preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive manufacturing experience, including at least 2 years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven success managing a workforce of 100+ associates in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Experience in RV, automotive, specialty vehicle, industrial manufacturing, or related industries preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives with measurable results.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership presence with the ability to motivate, influence, and develop teams at all levels.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Data-driven decision-making skills with experience using ERP systems and manufacturing analytics tools.
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles including 5S, Kaizen, SMED, and value stream mapping.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• High level of integrity and commitment to safety, quality, and ethical business practices.