Director of Contract Manufacturing

Steffes•Dickinson, ND

About The Position

The Director of Contract Manufacturing leads the Contract Manufacturing value stream, focusing organizational activities and resources on value creation and business success. Unlike Steffes’ product-line business units, Contract Manufacturing markets and sells Steffes’ engineering and manufacturing services, producing to customer designs, specifications, and requirements. The Director is responsible for strategy, customer relationship management, pricing, margins, profitability, and business development. The role requires strong business, manufacturing, and technical knowledge, as well as the ability to communicate effectively and influence people inside and outside the organization. The Director develops sales and promotional strategies, grows revenue and market share, supports customer programs from quoting through production and delivery, and oversees the customer experience. The role evaluates customer requirements and designs, establishes competitive pricing, monitors financial forecasts and performance, and works with internal teams to address capacity, process, quality, cost, lead-time, and delivery issues. Occasional overnight travel is required. The position requires walking, sitting, or standing to a significant degree; lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds; pushing or pulling up to 50 pounds; climbing ladders or stairs; and stooping, crouching, kneeling, bending, handling, feeling, and gripping for some activities. Visual acuity is needed to inspect completed work. The role may involve internal and external environmental conditions and requires learning tasks, remembering processes, maintaining focus, working independently, making timely workflow decisions, communicating with visitors, and completing tasks under speed or productivity quotas.

Requirements

Five years of experience working in engineering, manufacturing, marketing, or sales.
Experience selling or managing engineering and/or contract manufacturing services with customers.
Intermediate computer knowledge, including Windows, email, and internet use.
Written and verbal communication skills.
Occasional overnight travel is required.
Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds, and push and/or pull up to 50 pounds.
Ability to climb ladders and/or stairs; stoop, crouch, kneel, bend, handle, feel, and grip as required.
Visual acuity to inspect completed work.
Ability to learn tasks, remember processes, maintain focus, complete tasks independently, make timely decisions in a workflow, communicate with visitors, and complete tasks subject to speed or productivity quotas.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or equivalent experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Maintain responsibility for the assigned business unit, including profitability, business development, and budgeting.
Develop sales and promotional strategies for Steffes’ engineering and manufacturing services within the value stream.
Set the vision and direction, influence and inspire others, and align and lead teams to create value and grow the business.
Increase and track contract manufacturing revenue and market share.
Advance key customer relationships and maintain responsibility for the overall customer experience and customer care.
Work with department leaders to allocate resources and capacity to achieve business results.
Coach and assist team members.
Set expectations for the customer program life cycle, from quote through production and delivery, and ensure the team understands goals and expectations.
Identify risks and establish appropriate actions.
Maintain a deep understanding of Steffes’ engineering and production processes, capabilities, and capacity.
Ensure accurate and timely technical reviews of customer designs, drawings, and requirements.
Establish pricing based on cost estimates and market value to meet market share and profitability goals.
Maintain knowledge of competing contract manufacturers and engineering service providers, including capabilities, marketing strategies, and relative costs, and communicate this information to sales and other functions.
Work with account managers to develop strategies for selling engineering and manufacturing services to current and prospective customers.
Ensure contract manufacturing services are competitive in quality, reliability, cost, lead time, and on-time shipping; identify deficiencies and initiate corrective action.
Maintain monthly financial forecasts and price reviews.
Communicate regularly with internal staff to understand business problems and help find solutions.
Maintain a positive, collaborative work atmosphere with customers, suppliers, coworkers, and management.
Help the company meet its Strategic, Quality, and Safety objectives.
Assist with development and execution of annual sales plans.
Establish and maintain guidelines for pursuing and accepting new business.
Monitor shipping activity, costing, and pricing daily to ensure sales and profitability goals are being achieved.
Assist the CFO with reviewing Terms & Conditions and MSAs, and negotiate with customers to resolve differences.
Ensure prompt and satisfactory resolution of external quality issues involving customer parts and assemblies.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Perform work in compliance with EHS training and procedures; report EHS incidents or concerns and contribute to the EHS program.
Participate in job-specific quality training and follow standard work, processes, and procedures; notify a supervisor if work cannot be completed as required.
Demonstrate and support the Steffes Code of Conduct, policies, and procedures, including professional communication, quality work, punctuality, and promoting a positive image of Steffes.