Director of Manufacturing, Indianapolis

Dandy • Indianapolis, IN

48d • Onsite

About The Position

We are looking for an experienced Director of Manufacturing to oversee the end-to-end processes associated with manufacturing dental restorations (e.g., dentures, night guards), lead various cross-functional initiatives, ensure optimal use of equipment, and enforce quality & safety adherence. This role involves driving the development and scaling of new SKUs, which includes managing novel manufacturing processes in close partnership with our R&D department, as well as transitioning production from third-party providers to our state-of-the-art, digital-only facility. You will manage a team of 150+ technicians with varying levels of dental experience and have access to the latest technology to build out your team and drive optimization of both existing and new processes. You will be responsible for ensuring that orders are fabricated at the highest quality standards, meet customer deadlines, and achieve company-set financial targets. If you’re looking to disrupt an industry’s status quo, develop innovative manufacturing practices, and develop a team with aggressive growth targets, this is the right place for you!

Requirements

• 10-15 years of manufacturing experience, preferably currently holding a similar role in a manufacturing environment or having increasing management responsibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related technical field from an accredited four-year institution.
• Strong operational experience with scaling production processes and implementing new manufacturing workflows.
• Experience collaborating with R&D or equivalent technical teams to integrate product innovations into operations.
• Relentless drive for excellence and ability to create a culture that values high performance.
• Excellent people manager who can motivate and create a positive employee experience.
• Energizing leader who elevates the thinking and output of everyone around them.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven analytical, evaluative and problem-solving abilities, with keen attention to detail.
• Proficient with Excel or similar.
• Is coachable - regularly solicits feedback from teammates above, below, and adjacent, and demonstrates agility by making clear behavioral changes.
• Ability to be onsite at the facility daily Mon-Fri.

Nice To Haves

• MBA or advanced degree.
• Strong financial acumen.
• Experience in insourcing or transitioning manufacturing processes.
• Outstanding professional references to share.
• APICS, CQE, Six sigma or Continuous Improvement credentials preferred.
• Possess working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing techniques including: Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, Kanban, Visual Management and JIT Lean manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Own the site’s overall performance, including the successful development and production of new SKUs.
• Set targets, drive execution, and hold the team accountable for meeting deadlines, quality standards, and hiring targets.
• Manage labor and operating costs in alignment with budgets & strategic plans.
• Drive standardization and scale-up initiatives to meet growing volume demands.
• Partner with R&D to ensure seamless implementation of new processes for innovative products.
• Oversee the insourcing of production previously managed by third-party providers, ensuring efficient knowledge transfer and ramp-up.
• Develop strategies for scaling production volumes while maintaining quality and efficiency.
• Translate business goals from the Head of Manufacturing into actionable plans.
• Leverage first-principle thinking to address complex challenges, particularly in the development of new workflows.
• See problems and development areas as opportunities and foster an environment open to innovation.
• Tackle change by leading with the “why” and inspiring buy-in & action at all levels.
• Coach and develop existing experts in the dental lab industry into leaders who will build and manage high performing teams.
• Mentor and lead direct reports. Create a culture of regular coaching and professional development.
• Work with Human Resources to continuously onboard, motivate, and develop employees in the most efficient & effective ways.
• Motivate front line employees to see the big picture and provide daily feedback to guide them toward enabling the company’s vision.

Benefits

• For full-time positions, Dandy offers a wide range of best-in-class, comprehensive, and inclusive benefits tailored to each country where we operate. Our local benefits packages typically include healthcare, dental, mental health support, parental planning resources, retirement savings options, and generous paid time off—ensuring our team members are supported no matter where they live and work.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees