Senior Director of Operations

Shape Technologies Group•Baxter Springs, KS

22h•Onsite

About The Position

At KMT Waterjet, a Shape Technologies Group (SHAPE) company, we’re devoted to a single goal: delivering innovative manufacturing process solutions that propel our customers to success. SHAPE is a strategic ecosystem of companies, including Advanced Pressure Systems (APS), Flow International, Shape Process Automation, KMT Waterjet, H20 Jet, Aqua Dyne, Aquarese, Pro Jet System, and TOPS. Collectively, we provide an extensive portfolio of manufacturing process solutions to customers around the world. Spanning 100 countries and a broad array of industries, SHAPE is expanding its reach through a growing number of direct and indirect channels. By partnering with our customers, we become integral to the successful design and manufacture of their next-generation products. We continually scour the globe for new, industry-leading technologies to add to our differentiated portfolio of offerings and grow our customer base. Our vision is to become the preeminent advanced process solutions partner handling the highly engineered products of tomorrow. Shape Technologies Group - Baxter Springs is seeking a Senior Director of Operations to join our team. In this role, you will be the senior site leader responsible for the end-to-end performance of a large, complex manufacturing facility. This role has full accountability for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people leadership, while driving operational stability, continuous improvement, and long-term capability development. The Director is expected to operate as a general manager at the site level, translating enterprise strategy into disciplined execution, leading through strong systems and leaders, and ensuring predictable, scalable performance. This role requires a leader who is highly visible, data-driven, people-focused, and relentlessly execution oriented.

Requirements

Demonstrated ability to lead large, complex manufacturing operations with multi-shift workforces.
Proven success driving measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery/service, cost, and productivity metrics.
Strong business acumen with the ability to manage operating budgets, capital expenditures, and operational trade-offs.
Strong leadership, communication, and team development skills with the ability to build accountability and engagement at all organizational levels.
Ability to drive execution through disciplined systems, processes, and performance management.
Strategic mindset with the ability to align site performance and operational priorities to broader business objectives.
Proven ability to lead effectively through ambiguity, change, operational challenges, and high-pressure situations.
Demonstrated credibility and presence on the production floor, fostering trust and engagement with both hourly and salaried employees.
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related field.
Minimum of 15 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including senior site-level operational responsibility.
Extensive experience leading large-scale manufacturing operations with responsibility for safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and financial performance.

Nice To Haves

Experience operating in private equity-owned organizations and/or business transformation environments.
Experience within high-mix, engineered-to-order, or complex industrial manufacturing operations.
Proven ability to lead operational stabilization and performance improvement initiatives during periods of organizational change or disruption.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) or other advanced technical degree.
Additional experience leading continuous improvement, operational excellence, or transformational business initiatives.

Responsibilities

Own full site P&L execution and operational performance, including safety, quality, delivery, cost, inventory, and productivity.
Serve as the senior site leader, setting clear expectations, decision rights, and accountability across all functions.
Establish a culture of discipline, transparency, and performance ownership, aligned with enterprise operating principles.
Act as primary escalation and decision authority for site-level operational issues.
Champion a zero-incident safety culture and ensure full compliance with EHS, regulatory, and internal governance standards.
Ensure robust quality systems are in place and consistently executed; drive prevention-based quality performance.
Lead response to significant safety events, quality escapes, customer escalations, and audits.
Translate demand plans into executable production strategies that meet customer service, cost, and inventory objectives.
Ensure effective daily management systems (tiered meetings, KPIs, leader standard work) are rigorously applied.
Stabilize operations through standard work, capacity planning, labor planning, and equipment reliability.
Lead cross-functional problem-solving to address constraints in throughput, yield, downtime, labor stability, and material flow.
Drive a structured continuous improvement roadmap focused on flow, efficiency, cost, and capability development.
Ensure disciplined use of OpEx tools (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, structured problem solving).
Balance short-term recovery actions with long-term structural improvements to sustain results.
Lead capital investment prioritization and execution to support growth, resilience, and productivity.
Build and develop a high-performing site leadership team with strong bench strength and succession plans.
Coach leaders at all levels to improve decision-making, accountability, and people leadership effectiveness.
Partner closely with HR to manage labor strategy, engagement, performance management, and workforce stability.
Foster an environment of trust, inclusion, and employee engagement across hourly and salaried teams.
Partner with Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Commercial teams to ensure site alignment with enterprise priorities.
Support enterprise initiatives related to footprint optimization, cost reduction, risk mitigation, and growth.
Provide clear, fact-based communication to senior leadership on site performance, risks, and action plans.