Director, Factory Automation Systems

Evolution Motion Solutions•Auburn Hills, MI

14h•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Factory Automation Systems (FAS) provides strategic and operational leadership across the manufacturing and fabrication operations for FAS. This role is accountable for driving performance excellence through the development and execution of business plans that achieve financial targets, operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and workforce engagement. The Director leads a team of functional managers and supervisors, fosters a culture of continuous improvement, and ensures compliance with quality, safety, and regulatory standards. This position is a key driver of profitability and long-term organizational sustainability. Some overnight travel to company facilities, customer locations, or supplier sites may be required. Work outside normal business hours may be required from time to time based on operational needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial, or related discipline), Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field
Minimum 5 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including senior management or multi-site leadership responsibilities
Experience leading multi-site manufacturing or fabrication operations in engineered-to-order (ETO), make-to-order (MTO), or custom manufacturing environments
Demonstrated experience managing operational budgets, capital expenditure, planning, and business performance metrics
Experience operating within AS9100 or ISO9001-certified Quality Management Systems
Experience partnering cross-functionally with Sales, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Customer Service teams
Proven experience driving continuous improvement initiatives focused on operational efficiency, quality, delivery, performance, and profitability
Strong financial and operational acumen, including experience with budgeting, forecasting, KPI management, and capital investment planning
Professional communication skills to ensure effective correspondence, meetings, presentations, and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders
Experience with MRP/ERP systems and Microsoft Office software programs, including CoPilot and Fabric/Power BI
Strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
Strong commitment to customer satisfaction and operational excellence
Ability to build, develop, and retain high-performing cross-functional teams

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Autodesk Inventor/Vault preferred
Experience with lean manufacturing, cellular manufacturing, and Just-In-Time (JIT) production environments preferred
Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, Lean certification, or equivalent continuous improvement certification preferred

Responsibilities

Establishes and communicates a clear operational vision aligned with company objectives; translate strategy into actionable goals, KPIs, and accountability structures across all Factory Automation Systems manufacturing sites.
Develops and executes multi-year strategic operational plans for Factory Automation Systems that drive margin improvement and competitive differentiation.
Identifies, evaluates, proposes, and leads capital investment and resource allocation decisions that improve manufacturing capacity, efficiency, and return on investment.
Contributes to the development and manages the annual operating budget; ensures adequate controls are in place and that reporting is accurate, timely, and actionable.
Monitors and analyzes key performance indicators (KPIs) including cost of poor quality (COPQ), on-time delivery (OTD), cost variances to quote/budget, and customer satisfaction scores; implements corrective actions as needed.
Directs day-to-day multi-site manufacturing operations to ensure safe, compliant, efficient, and cost-effective production output that meets or exceeds quality and delivery commitments.
Balances the needs of the engineered-to-order (ETO) and make-to-order (MTO) business segments within Factory Automation Systems’ planning, project management, production, and engineering functions.
Leads and oversees the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of lean manufacturing practices, including 5S, value stream mapping, kaizen, and Just-In-Time (JIT) methodologies.
Oversees Factory Automation Systems production planning and scheduling in coordination with Supply Chain and Sales to optimize resource utilization and fulfill customer demand.
Ensures all Factory Automation Systems manufacturing operations, procedures, and processes comply with AS9100 Quality Management System (QMS) requirements; leads or supports internal audits and management review processes.
Periodically reviews and coordinates the update of the Quality Policy, Quality Manual, Standard Operating Procedures, and Work Instructions to ensure continued effectiveness and alignment with business goals.
Leads and facilitates the Entrepreneurial Operating System process within the Factory Automation Systems team.
Partners with engineering, sales, and customers to support design-for-manufacturability (DFM) initiatives on quantity and repeat builds.
Partners with engineering, sales, and customers on the creation of custom, engineered-to-order Factory Automation Systems solutions, including solutions that incorporate adjacent internal product categories (Custom Hydraulic Systems, Mobile Electronic Systems).
Builds, develops, and retains a high-performing team of managers and supervisors capable of executing on operational priorities.
Manages the full employee lifecycle including workforce planning, recruiting, onboarding, performance management, coaching, career development, and, when necessary, disciplinary action or separation, in compliance with Company policy and applicable law.
Establishes clear performance expectations, conducts quarterly performance reviews, and creates individualized development plans to grow internal talent.
Fosters an inclusive, engaged, and accountable workplace culture that reflects company values and promotes psychological safety, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Ensures appropriate staffing levels, skills, and succession plans are in place to support current and projected operational needs.
Champions a culture of quality and operational excellence across all Factory Automation Systems sites; ensures all products meet or exceed defined quality standards before delivery.
Ensures full compliance with all applicable health, safety, and environmental regulations; leads proactive safety programs that drive toward zero incidents.
Identifies and mitigates operational, financial, and compliance risks across the Factory Automation Systems manufacturing and project management footprint.
Drives root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) processes to eliminate recurring defects and process failures.
Serves as the senior Factory Automation Systems point of contact for internal stakeholders, including Sales, Engineering, Finance, and Supply Chain; proactively identifies and resolves cross-functional issues impacting customer commitments.
Collaborates with sales channels to understand customer requirements, responds to escalations, and delivers on commitments that build long-term customer relationships.
Represents Factory Automation Systems in business reviews, customer visits, and strategic planning sessions.
Partners with Customer Service team in the relentless pursuit of customer delight.
Partners with Supply Chain leadership to develop and sustain high-performing supplier relationships that support quality, cost, and delivery objectives.
Establishes supplier performance metrics and leads improvement initiatives where gaps exist; participates in strategic supplier reviews.
Perform other duties as assigned.