DIRECTOR OF MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS

Wood-Mizer Products•Batesville, IN

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Manufacturing Operations leads Wood-Mizer's Batesville, Indiana, manufacturing facility and is accountable for production output, cost, quality, safety, facility maintenance, manufacturing engineering, product release to production, and shipping performance for the plant. The role drives operational efficiency, cost reduction, and automation across the site while sustaining Wood-Mizer's culture of employee engagement and ownership. Working closely with the President, Wood-Mizer Americas, the Director shapes manufacturing strategy, the Annual Operating Plan (AOP), and capital and facility investment for the site. This role leads multiple direct reports, with a total span of control of approximately 225 employees. It is an on-site position at our Batesville facility, and some domestic and international travel may be required.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience
Demonstrated track record of driving cost reduction and productivity improvement in a manufacturing environment, with results measured in real savings and efficiency gains
Hands-on experience identifying, justifying ROI for, and implementing manufacturing automation and process technology (e.g., robotics, vision systems, lights-out manufacturing, IoT, collaborative robots, automated workflows)
Demonstrated success designing, implementing, leading, and sustaining Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement programs
Strong, visible safety leadership track record
Experience managing capital projects
Leading, developing, and retaining cross-functional manufacturing teams
Analytical, budgeting, and organizational skills
Verbal and written communication, including presenting to executive leadership
Lean / continuous improvement methods
Adopting and applying AI and emerging technology in manufacturing
Collaborating across a hybrid corporate structure; flexible and open-minded
Approachable, engaging leadership style; represents the plant to visitors, customers, and new employees
Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed up to 5%

Nice To Haves

Experience in industrial equipment, heavy machinery, or metal fabrication environments

Responsibilities

Owns the facility's cost and efficiency performance, setting and driving a continuous pipeline of cost-savings and productivity initiatives across labor, materials, and overhead.
Identifies, justifies, and leads automation projects (equipment, robotics, material handling, controls/software) to reduce manual labor, cycle time, and unit cost.
Directs daily manufacturing operations, including manufacturing engineering and the release of new and enhanced products to production in coordination with product development, so production schedules, quality standards, and unit cost targets are consistently met.
Leads, coaches, and manages the performance of the plant leadership and shop-floor teams, keeping a visible, engaged presence on the plant floor that builds morale and a positive, high-performance culture.
Owns plant safety performance and culture, sustaining low recordable incident rates (TRIR) and ensuring compliance with all applicable safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
Formalizes and leads a Lean/continuous improvement program that delivers measurable productivity, quality, and cost gains.
Oversees facility maintenance, including preventive maintenance programs, equipment reliability, and building and grounds upkeep, to reduce downtime and maintenance cost.
Oversees logistics and shipping, including outbound scheduling, carrier performance, and inventory accuracy, and works with the SIOP leader to set and maintain inventory goals and operations plans.
Leads capital equipment planning and facility infrastructure projects, including automation investments and major expansions, and partners with the President to deliver manufacturing's portion of the AOP, including budget ownership and cost-savings targets.
Coordinates with the HR leader on workforce planning, staffing, training, and succession, including labor needs as automation is introduced; represents manufacturing in cross-functional planning with Sales, Engineering, and executive leadership; and hosts customers, dealers, and visitors on plant tours.
Follows all Wood-Mizer safety, quality, and company policies and procedures.
Performs other duties as assigned.