Director, Operational Excellence & Capability

Swisher•Jacksonville, FL

16h

About The Position

The Director of Operational Excellence, Capability & Training is responsible for leading enterprise operational capability initiatives across manufacturing operations, with direct oversight of operational excellence systems, SOP governance, frontline capability development, compliance training, and manufacturing skills training programs. This role serves as a strategic partner to Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, Safety, Compliance, and HR leadership to ensure the organization maintains standardized operational practices, a highly capable workforce, and sustainable continuous improvement systems.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Industrial Technology, Organizational Development, Business, or related field
Minimum of 8–10 years of progressive leadership experience within a manufacturing environment
Minimum of 5 years leading Operational Excellence, Manufacturing Training, Capability Development, or Continuous Improvement functions
Strong experience creating, governing, and maintaining SOP systems and operational procedures within a manufacturing environment
Demonstrated experience managing manufacturing training programs for hourly/bargaining workforces
Experience developing workforce capability frameworks, training matrices, qualification systems, and operational certification programs
Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement methodologies, and operational performance systems
Experience managing teams within training, capability, compliance, or operational excellence functions
Strong leadership, coaching, facilitation, and organizational development capabilities
Excellent communication and cross-functional partnership skills
Proficiency with Learning Management Systems (LMS), ERP systems, training tracking systems, and Microsoft Office Suite

Nice To Haves

Masters degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Industrial Technology, Organizational Development, Business, or related field
Lean Six Sigma Certification (Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent)
Experience within CPG, tobacco, food manufacturing, pharmaceutical, or regulated manufacturing industries
Experience working within a unionized manufacturing environment
Knowledge of FDA, GMP, OSHA, quality systems, and compliance-driven manufacturing operations
Experience supporting startup operations, automation implementation, or large-scale operational transformations
Experience with learning management systems and electronic training record systems

Responsibilities

Lead Operational Excellence strategy and workforce capability initiatives across manufacturing operations to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity performance
Establish and maintain governance processes for all manufacturing SOPs, work instructions, operational procedures, and training documentation to ensure standardization, version control, compliance, and operational consistency
Oversee the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of manufacturing training programs for bargaining employees, frontline leadership, and operational support teams
Direct all compliance and manufacturing skills training programs, including onboarding, qualification training, retraining, annual compliance requirements, operational certifications, and process-specific skill development
Ensure training programs align with GMP requirements, operational standards, safety expectations, quality systems, labor agreements, and regulatory requirements
Lead the creation and maintenance of training matrices, certification tracking systems, qualification processes, and operational skill progression programs
Manage and develop a team responsible for operational training, SOP administration, compliance coordination, and workforce capability execution
Partner with Operations and HR leadership to identify workforce capability gaps and develop targeted development plans to improve operational effectiveness and leadership readiness
Facilitate the implementation of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies to eliminate waste, improve throughput, reduce downtime, and strengthen operational performance
Lead operational assessments, root cause analysis activities, and continuous improvement initiatives related to operational inefficiencies, process deviations, quality concerns, and training effectiveness gaps
Establish operational accountability systems, visual management tools, standard work processes, and KPI review structures to support performance management across all shifts
Develop and monitor operational KPIs related to training effectiveness, SOP compliance, operational capability, labor efficiency, downtime, quality, and productivity
Support organizational change initiatives, startup operations, automation implementation, and operational transformations through structured capability-building and change management strategies
Ensure operational training systems are audit-ready and capable of supporting internal audits, customer audits, regulatory inspections, and compliance reviews
Drive a culture of accountability, continuous learning, operational discipline, and employee development throughout the manufacturing organization