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Job Summary:

The Director of Operations is responsible for leading the execution of manufacturing operations across sites, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy, operational goals, and customer requirements. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Manufacturing, this position plays a critical leadership role in planning, organizing, and optimizing production activities to support on-time delivery, quality, and cost performance. The Director of Operations ensures that manufacturing execution is consistent with organizational priorities, driving continuous improvement, operational efficiency, and workforce engagement.

Essential Functions:

• Oversee manufacturing operations including production planning, execution, and workforce management to ensure efficient and timely delivery of products.

• Translate strategic objectives from the VP of Manufacturing into actionable manufacturing initiatives, policies, and performance targets.

• Lead and mentor plant managers, fostering a culture of safety, quality, and accountability.

• Drive operational performance across key metrics: schedule adherence, quality, labor utilization, and cost control.

• Collaborate with cross-functional departments including engineering, quality, supply chain, and program management to resolve production challenges and align on priorities.

• Ensure manufacturing operations are in full compliance with internal procedures, customer requirements, and relevant industry standards (e.g., ISO, AS9100).

• Champion lean manufacturing principles, continuous improvement initiatives, and process optimization across the production floor.

• Support the development and execution of capacity planning, capital projects, and resource planning aligned with growth forecasts.

• Identify and mitigate risks in production execution and escalate critical issues to the VP of Manufacturing with proposed solutions.

• Participate in strategic planning, workforce development, and production technology investments.

• Provide regular updates and reporting on manufacturing performance to executive leadership.

• Represent manufacturing in program reviews, customer audits, and internal process improvement initiatives.

Supervisory Responsibility:

This position is responsible for the oversight and management of all site, Plant Managers.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Specific knowledge that can be determined objectively, suggested vocabulary below

• Strong understanding of manufacturing systems, ERP/MRP planning tools, and production control processes.

• This role requires regular travel to all US-based facilities with occasional travel to customers or supplier locations as required. Approximately 70% travel from the home location.

• Proven track record in leading high-mix, low- to medium-volume production environments.

• Demonstrated success in improving production throughput, quality, and cost performance.

• Deep knowledge of lean principles, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and team-building skills.

• Experience working with cross-functional and executive-level stakeholders.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, or a related field, such as industrial engineering, business administration, or supply chain management. Experience in manufacturing or operations management is also crucial, with many employers requiring several years of experience in a related role or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in manufacturing, with a significant portion in leadership roles. This experience should demonstrate success in driving operational excellence, implementing continuous improvement, and leading teams in a complex manufacturing environment.

Background Prerequisites:

• Must undergo and meet company standards for background check, employment verification, reference checks and controlled substance testing.

Preferred Qualifications but not required:

• Project Management Professional (PMP), Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt, Certified Operations Manager (COM)

Working Conditions and Physical Demands:

With or without reasonable accommodations, requires the physical and mental capacity to perform effectively all essential functions. In addition to other demands, the demands of the job include:

• Office and manufacturing floor environment.

• Ability to stand or walk for extended periods and perform light material handling during floor walkthroughs or audits.

• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

American Rheinmetall provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or marital status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.