Capacity Launch Director

Eaton Corporation • Charlotte, NC

1d • $165,000 - $242,000

About The Position

The Director, Capacity Launch & Operational Readiness is a highly visible leadership role responsible for building and leading manufacturing launches across Eaton’s Electrical segment. The role owns end-to-end manufacturing launch and ramp-up of new facilities, from design and construction through commissioning, pilot production, full production ramp, and transition to plant leadership.

The Director leads a dedicated cross-functional team spanning Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, EHS, and Operations Readiness, establishing the operating discipline and execution model needed for facilities to launch on time and achieve expectations for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity. The role is the single point of accountability for manufacturing readiness and startup execution, anticipating risks, removing barriers, aligning functions, and ensuring people, processes, equipment, materials, and operating systems are ready for production.

Working closely with Project Managers, Plant Managers, Product Lines, functional leaders, and executive leadership, the Director develops a scalable approach to launching manufacturing capacity and influences the business’s growth. The role is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, requires up to 50% domestic travel, and offers relocation within the United States. The expected annual salary range is $165,000–$242,000, with eligibility for a variable incentive program. Eaton does not provide employment immigration sponsorship support for this position.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering field; mechanical or industrial engineering is preferred.
• At least 10 years of experience in plant operations, program management, product or process launch, operations, manufacturing, or industrial engineering.
• Strong plant operations, project management, and strategic planning skills.
• Demonstrated ability to assess and build organizational capability.
• Ability to lead large-scale project work across various locations.
• Comfort with technology and system solutions.
• Experience with plant operations startup, process development, and change management.
• Proven ability to motivate technical staff, manage remote locations, lead by influence, drive results, and build teams.
• Knowledge of PROLaunch or an equivalent phase/gate development process.
• Ability to travel domestically up to 50%.
• Applicants must not require employment immigration sponsorship support for this position.

Nice To Haves

• Mechanical or industrial engineering degree.
• Knowledge of PROLaunch or an equivalent phase/gate development process.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support functional operations startup for new manufacturing facilities.
• Develop and execute integrated launch roadmaps, milestones, and governance processes.
• Direct and coordinate dedicated launch resources across projects and align operational functions.
• Serve as the executive escalation point for launch-related risks and barriers.
• Develop launch containment and risk-mitigation plans.
• Develop capacity plans and ramp strategies.
• Drive cross-site learning and replication of best practices.
• Coordinate manufacturing process, production line, and equipment readiness and commissioning.
• Coordinate quality system deployment and customer quality readiness.
• Conduct supplier readiness assessments.
• Establish material flow design and standards.
• Ensure production planning readiness.
• Ensure each facility achieves manufacturing readiness before production launch.
• Facilitate startup reviews, operational readiness assessments, and launch gate approvals with the Project Director.
• Establish success-factor criteria and implement corrective actions for startup issues.
• Manage end-to-end manufacturing launch and ramp-up from design and construction through commissioning, pilot production, full production ramp, and transition to plant leadership.
• Anticipate risks, remove barriers, drive cross-functional alignment, and ensure people, processes, equipment, materials, and operating systems are ready for production.

Benefits

• Relocation within the United States is offered.
• Eligible employees may receive health and welfare benefits, retirement benefits, and programs providing paid and unpaid time away from work.
• Variable incentive program eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director