Acquisition Integration, Agriculture, Business Administration, Business Case, Business Strategy, Capital Expenditure (CAPEX), Coaching, Compensation and Benefits, Continuous Improvement, Corporate Policies, Cost Benefit Analysis, Customer Support/Service, Distribution Services, Establish Priorities, Finance, Financial Analysis, Leadership, Lean Manufacturing, Lean Six Sigma, Machining, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Operations, Metal Manufacturing, Operational Audit, Operational Strategy, Operational Support, Operations Management, Performance Analysis, Performance Metrics, Problem Solving Skills, Product Development, Productivity Management, Project Management Professional (PMP), Provincial Laws and Regulations, Return on Investment (ROI), Robotics, Safety/Work Safety, Site Evaluation, Six Sigma Certification, Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Strategic Planning, Supply Chain, Supply Chain Operations, Welding
At Dexter, we manufacture and distribute axles, accessories, and towing components primarily serving the commercial trailer, RV, marine, agriculture, and manufactured housing markets. We’re building products and systems that are rooted in a culture of safety, collaboration, and innovation.
Headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, Dexter has manufacturing and distribution locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Employing state-of-the-art robotics, precision welding equipment, and automated machining processes, Dexter has achieved over 65 years of success through a commitment to the principles of superior quality, continuous improvement, and unparalleled customer service.
For more information about our company, access Dexter's web site at www.dextergroup.com.
Make a measurable impact across a growing manufacturing network.
Dexter UpFit is seeking a high-impact Strategic Operations Leader to accelerate productivity, CapEx planning, strategic projects, and organizational readiness across nine U.S. manufacturing locations. This role is ideal for a hands-on manufacturing leader who can assess site performance, uncover gaps, build credible business cases, challenge assumptions, and help teams deliver measurable results. This position is located in or near the Dallas/Fort Worth, TX region utilizing a remote home office with significant presence at the manufacturing site locations.
SCOPE: Nine (9) Dexter UpFit U.S. site locations
FOCUS: Productivity, CapEx, strategic projects, operational gaps, and growth readiness
IMPACT: Revenue enablement, capacity, cost, quality, safety, execution, and talent strength
Why This Role Is Compelling
- Enterprise-level influence across a nine-site manufacturing network.
- Direct impact on productivity, capacity, revenue enablement, and operational execution.
- High visibility to senior leadership in a role built for practical, measurable results.
What You Will Do
- Assess operational performance across Dexter UpFit sites and identify opportunities to improve productivity, capacity, quality, safety, cost, and revenue.
- Lead and support strategic projects that improve site execution and accelerate business performance.
- Identify, scope, and develop CapEx requests with clear business justification, ROI, payback, implementation plans, and expected results.
- Partner with finance, engineering, operations, supply chain, HR, and site leadership to prioritize projects, remove barriers, and validate results.
- Challenge current-state thinking, uncover performance gaps, and implement practical improvement plans.
- Support critical operational issues, leadership gaps, or business disruptions through hands-on support or temporary coverage as needed.
- Assess talent, coach leaders, and help structure organizations for growth across the network.
What You Will Bring
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, Supply Chain, Industrial Technology, or a related field.
- 10+ years of progressive manufacturing operations experience, including plant, operational excellence, engineering, or transformation leadership.
- Experience leading or supporting multi-site manufacturing operations.
- Proven ability to deliver measurable improvements in productivity, cost, quality, safety, capacity, or revenue.
- Strong experience developing, supporting, or executing CapEx projects and business cases.
- Financial and analytical strength, including ROI, payback, cost-benefit analysis, KPI management, and benefit tracking.
- Practical Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, root cause problem solving, and change leadership experience.
- Ability to influence across sites and functions, communicate from the shop floor to executives, and travel regularly to nine U.S. Dexter UpFit locations.
Preferred Qualifications
- MBA, master's degree, Lean Six Sigma certification, or PMP certification.
- Experience in upfitting, trailer, vehicle, automotive, specialty equipment, metal fabrication, assembly, or industrial manufacturing.
- Experience supporting growth, turnaround, acquisition integration, site expansion, or organizational transformation.
Who Thrives Here
You are a strategic operator who can walk a plant floor, identify constraints, align teams around action, build a compelling business case, and help deliver results. You bring operational urgency, financial discipline, and the leadership maturity to improve today's performance while building the organization for future growth.
We care for our people. Here are some of our great, comprehensive Benefits:
- Dexter offers a competitive wage
- Full benefits package including Health, Dental, Vision, Life, STD, LTD, FSA, HSA
- 3% profit sharing in our Safe Harbor program
- 401(k) Plan with company contributions
- Opportunities for internal career development and growth
Apply now to join an industry leader and make a difference in what we do for the customers we serve!
Dexter is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining a highly qualified, dedicated workforce. We hire and promote individuals based on their qualifications, performance, and abilities.
It is the policy of the Company to provide equal opportunity to all qualified individuals without discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, veteran status, citizenship status or any other protected characteristic as outlined by applicable U.S. and Canada equal rights legislation protected by federal, state, province or local law.