The Opportunity:
Korn Ferry has partnered with an innovative machinery manufacturer experiencing exponential growth which is looking for a Director of Manufacturing to lead a team responsible for the assembly of intricate machinery with the opportunity to expand their scope of responsibility from the main product line to all product lines and is next in line for the VP of Operations for the company.
Location:
The role will be based in the Boston, MA area (north side)
Full time in office.
Role Description:
- Reporting to the Vice President of Operations, the Director of Manufacturing will be responsible for overseeing all day-to-day activities for the main product line at the company’s manufacturing plant and driving the implementation of long-term strategies to enhance operational efficiency, quality, and value-add capabilities.
- Manages the manufacturing floor, production personnel, ensures adherence to standardized manufacturing processes, and supports the introduction of new products.
- Accountable for production scheduling, labor performance, safety compliance, workplace organization (7S), and continuous improvement initiatives that optimize cycle time, reduce waste, and ensure on-time, high-quality delivery to customers.
Responsibilities:
- Supervise and develop production and test personnel, including leads and shift teams.
- Manage workforce scheduling, time and attendance, shift planning, PTO, and overtime.
- Develop capacity planning models (labor, equipment, material) that inform facilities and staffing plans..
- Conduct performance evaluations, set objectives, provide coaching, and manage employee relations.
- Ensure compliance with manufacturing processes, safety protocols, and quality standards.
- Implement and manage training and cross-training programs for production personnel.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, throughput, yield, and efficiency.
- Serve as primary escalation point for personnel, supply, or quality issues.
- Lead daily production meetings to align priorities with the Master Production Schedule.
- Collaborate with Test Engineering to align on test specifications, protocols, and pass/fail criteria.
- Leverage production and test databases (Build Record/Test Records) to support operations and recommend enhancements
- Coordinate closely with Logistics to manage shipping and receiving activities.
- Oversee maintenance and calibration of tools, equipment, and the test bay area.
- Proactively identify material shortages and collaborate with Purchasing and Planning to resolve them.
- Drive resolution of production-related challenges and implement productivity improvements.
- Champion 7S and Lean manufacturing initiatives across operational areas.
Education, Experience & Skills
- Minimum 10 years of supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment, leading teams of 10+ employees.
- Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills. Must be a hands-on leader spending time on the floor
- Ability to effectively communicate goals and hold employees accountable
- Experience in complex assembly environments (medical device, automation control, robotics, etc.)
- Experience with ISO-9001 standards and core quality tools (PFMEA, SPC, 5-Why, 8D, DFX).
- Proficiency in Lean and Six Sigma methodologies (DFT, takt time, kanban, 5S/7S, Kaizen, DOE).
- ERP system experience; strong skills in MS Office Suite, MS Visio, Access, and Project.( EPICOR and AEGIS experience is a plus)
- Mechanical aptitude with experience in cleanroom manufacturing, assembly, and testing.
- Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Engineering or a related technical field, or equivalent experience.
Notes:
No sponsorship is available for this role
