Director of Manufacturing Operations

Novanta•Irvine, CA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Novanta is seeking a Director of Manufacturing Operations to provide strategic and hands-on leadership for all manufacturing operations at the Irvine site. This role has full accountability for safety, quality, delivery, and cost. The Director will oversee assembly, machine shop, clean room operations, manufacturing engineering, and production planning, ensuring disciplined execution, operational excellence, and reliable performance. The position drives continuous improvement through Lean principles, robust planning and capacity management, and data-driven decision-making, while fostering a high-performance culture focused on safety, engagement, and results. This role partners closely with Operations leadership and cross-functional teams, including Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, and Finance, to support business growth, new product introductions, and scalable manufacturing operations. The business unit, Positioning Solutions, designs and manufactures high-precision, custom-engineered motion subsystems and electromechanical assemblies for medical, life sciences, robotics, and automation markets, acting as an engineering partner to OEMs.

Requirements

Progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operations, ideally within regulated, precision, medical device, life sciences, semiconductor, or clean-room environments.
Proven success leading multifunction manufacturing organizations, including production, manufacturing engineering, and production planning, with accountability for safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
Demonstrated ability to drive operational excellence, including Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, disciplined problem-solving, and KPI-driven execution with measurable results.
Strong operational and financial acumen, with the ability to translate business strategy into effective execution, capacity planning, and resource alignment.
Effective leader and change agent, capable of influencing across functions and levels, developing high-performing teams, and fostering a culture of safety, engagement, and continuous improvement.
Ability to stand and walk in manufacturing and production areas.
Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.
Ability to wear required PPE and clean-room gowning.
Frequent movement between production, assembly, and operational areas.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end manufacturing operations for the Irvine site, including assembly, machine shop, clean room, manufacturing engineering, and production planning, with full accountability for safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
Drive operational excellence and continuous improvement, embedding Lean principles, disciplined problem-solving, and KPI-driven execution to improve throughput, cycle time, yield, and cost performance.
Ensure reliable production planning and capacity management, aligning labor, equipment, and resources to demand while supporting on-time delivery, inventory management, and customer commitments.
Partner cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, Finance, and business line leaders to support new product introductions, process robustness, and execution of business strategy.
Build and lead a high-performance manufacturing organization, developing leaders and teams, establishing clear accountability, and fostering a culture of safety, engagement, and continuous improvement.