Senior Director, Manufacturing Excellence

Axon•Phoenix, AZ

About The Position

Join Axon and be a Force for Good. At Axon, we’re on a mission to Protect Life. We’re explorers, pursuing society’s most critical safety and justice issues with our ecosystem of devices and cloud software. Like our products, we work better together. We connect with candor and care, seeking out diverse perspectives from our customers, communities and each other. Life at Axon is fast-paced, challenging and meaningful. Here, you’ll take ownership and drive real change. Constantly grow as you work hard for a mission that matters at a company where you matter. Your Impact As Senior Director, Global Manufacturing Excellence, you will play a critical leadership role in shaping how Axon scales its global manufacturing network to support rapid growth, product innovation, and operational excellence. Reporting to the SVP, Global Manufacturing Operations, you will lead Axon’s contract manufacturing strategy and execution while building the systems, processes, and partnerships needed to deliver world-class performance across our global operations network. You will have the opportunity to influence both external manufacturing partners and internal teams, ensuring we deliver against cost, quality, delivery, capacity, and innovation goals. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a broad and lasting impact. You will help define Axon’s global manufacturing footprint, strengthen strategic partner relationships, and build the operational excellence capabilities that enable the business to scale. If you are energized by transforming complex operations, leading high-performing teams, and building for the future, this is a chance to drive meaningful impact at a mission-driven company.

Requirements

10–15+ years of experience in manufacturing, operations, or supply chain leadership
Significant experience managing contract manufacturers at scale, ideally across global, multi-partner networks
Proven track record of driving operational excellence and continuous improvement transformations
Experience in high-growth, complex hardware or industrial environments strongly preferred
Demonstrated success leading large, cross-functional teams and influencing executive stakeholders
Deep expertise in manufacturing operations, supplier performance management, and quality systems
Strong financial acumen, including cost modeling and margin optimization
Data-driven decision-making experience, including use of analytics and digital tools
Excellent executive communication and negotiation skills
Ability to operate strategically while driving strong executional detail
Results-oriented with a strong bias for action
Brings an external mindset and the ability to build and manage high-stakes partnerships
Proven change agent with experience leading transformation at scale
High accountability and ownership mentality
Ability to influence across boundaries and lead through complexity

Responsibilities

Own performance of global contract manufacturers, including cost, quality, delivery, capacity, and responsiveness
Partner with Strategic Sourcing to develop and execute Axon’s global contract manufacturing strategy, including partner selection, segmentation, and footprint optimization
Establish and manage executive-level relationships with key manufacturing partners
Partner with Global Supply Chain to support contract negotiations and ongoing supplier governance
Drive accountability through robust governance, scorecards, and performance management systems
Ensure manufacturing scalability to support rapid growth, new product introduction (NPI), and geographic expansion
Define and implement a standardized manufacturing excellence framework across internal and external operations
Drive best-in-class performance in safety, quality, delivery, and cost (SQDC)
Establish global standards for manufacturing processes and operational metrics
Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and execution teams to ensure seamless product industrialization, production ramp, and capacity utilization
Champion digital manufacturing, automation, and data-driven operations in partnership with the Operations Business Accelerators team
Lead enterprise-wide continuous improvement initiatives, including Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen
Build and scale a culture of continuous improvement across global teams and manufacturing partners
Identify and execute productivity, cost reduction, and efficiency opportunities
Drive business process standardization and simplification across manufacturing operations
Partner with Operations Business Accelerators across data, automation, and manufacturing operating systems to embed scalable solutions
Partner closely with Supply Chain, Product, Engineering, Quality, and Finance to ensure aligned execution
Drive strong integration between contract manufacturers and internal teams
Support new product introduction and ensure smooth transitions into volume production
Align manufacturing capabilities with Axon’s product roadmap and business strategy
Build and lead a high-performing global team across contract manufacturing management and operational excellence functions
Develop leadership bench strength and succession plans
Establish clear goals, accountability, and performance expectations
Foster a culture of ownership, urgency, and continuous learning