Job Opportunity: Head of Manufacturing

Kitson Human Capital Solutions (on behalf of a confidential client in the life sciences manufacturing sector)

Location: Kansas City, Missouri

Reports To: General Manager, Americas (with close collaboration with France and China affiliates)

Executive Leadership: Member of the U.S. Executive Leadership Team

About the Opportunity

Our client, a rapidly growing organization in the life sciences and advanced manufacturing space, is seeking a Head of Manufacturing to oversee daily operations at a new Kansas City manufacturing facility. This role is ideal for a hands-on operations leader who thrives in scaling environments and is adept at driving performance, developing people, and improving processes in a dynamic and evolving business. As the key on-site leader, you will ensure that production, safety, quality, and cost goals are achieved while laying the foundation for scalable growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily manufacturing operations to meet or exceed production targets and customer expectations.

• Implement and monitor KPIs related to safety, quality, productivity, and efficiency.

• Coordinate scheduling, resource planning, and materials flow to ensure smooth operations.

• Lead, mentor, and develop production staff and support personnel while fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration.

• Collaborate closely with global affiliates in France and China to align practices and share best-in-class processes.

• Identify and execute lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to streamline workflows and reduce waste.

• Promote a proactive safety culture and ensure compliance with all health, safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.

• Partner with the Quality team to ensure adherence to customer specifications and internal standards; lead root cause analysis when issues arise.

• Assist leadership in scaling operations, including capital planning, equipment purchases, and facility expansion efforts.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Supply Chain, and Sales to align plant operations with strategic business goals.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing, with 2+ years in a manufacturing leadership or supervisory role.

• Proven ability to lead teams in a fast-paced production environment.

• Familiarity with lean manufacturing, 5S, and continuous improvement tools.

• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field (preferred but not required).

• Experience in life sciences manufacturing and operations is highly preferred

The Ideal Candidate

You are a hands-on, entrepreneurial operations leader who thrives in dynamic, high-growth manufacturing environments. You understand the challenges of scaling a new facility and are equally comfortable on the shop floor and in the boardroom. Most importantly, you view operational excellence as a driver of business success—enhancing safety, quality, and efficiency to enable sustainable growth.

Kitson Human Capital Solutions

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