Director of Manufacturing
About The Position
Build a career powered by innovations that matter! At Novanta, our innovations power technology products that are transforming healthcare and advanced manufacturing—improving productivity, enhancing people’s lives and redefining what’s possible. We create for our global customers engineered components and sub-systems that deliver extreme precision and performance for a range of mission-critical applications—from minimally invasive surgery to robotics to 3D metal printing. Novanta is one global team with over 26 offices located in The Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Looking for a great place to work? You have found it with a culture that embraces teamwork, collaboration and empowerment. Come explore Novanta. Summary The Director of Manufacturing provides strategic and hands‑on leadership for all manufacturing operations at the Irvine site, with full accountability for safety, quality, delivery, and cost. This role oversees assembly, machine shop, clean room operations, manufacturing engineering, and production planning, ensuring disciplined execution, operational excellence, and reliable performance in support of customer and business commitments. The Director 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 position 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.
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.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
No Education Listed
Number of Employees
501-1,000 employees
