Director of Manufacturing

A

Avero

Director of Manufacturing

Elkhart, IN
Full Time
Paid
  • Responsibilities

    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.