Director of Manufacturing

Location: Metro Detroit (Onsite)

Industry: Industrial Automation / Custom Machinery / Manufacturing

Reports to: Executive Leadership

Direct Reports: Manufacturing Management Team

Span of Control: ~75 Hourly + Salaried Leaders

P&L Responsibility: Yes

Position Overview

We are seeking a senior-level Director of Manufacturing to lead and scale a fast-growing industrial automation and custom machinery operation in the Metro Detroit area. This role has full operational ownership of manufacturing performance and will act as a key business leader with direct P&L accountability.

The Director will oversee all shop operations in a Build-to-Order / project-driven manufacturing environment, leading complex, custom equipment builds from kickoff through delivery. This role requires a hands-on, floor-driven leader who can balance strategic planning with day-to-day execution.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

Own all manufacturing operations including machining, fabrication, assembly, electrical build, testing, and final delivery.
Lead and develop the full management team (Manufacturing Managers, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Maintenance, etc.).
Maintain a strong floor presence; visible leadership across all shifts.
Drive execution in a Build-to-Order manufacturing environment with changing customer requirements, tight timelines, and complex project schedules.
Ensure alignment between engineering release, production scheduling, and final assembly.

Financial & P&L Accountability

Full responsibility for manufacturing P&L performance.
Manage budgets, labor costs, overhead, and capital expenditures.
Improve margins through operational efficiency, cost control, and labor optimization.
Partner with executive leadership on forecasting, growth planning, and capital investment decisions.

People & Culture

Lead ~75 hourly employees and the full salaried leadership team.
Build a culture of accountability, safety, ownership, and continuous improvement.
Coach and develop frontline supervisors and managers in a custom, project-based environment.
Lead workforce planning, hiring, performance management, and succession planning.

Process, Quality & Continuous Improvement

Implement Lean principles tailored to Build-to-Order and low-volume / high-mix manufacturing.
Drive continuous improvement across safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
Establish KPIs, dashboards, and project-based performance metrics.
Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

Cross-Functional & Customer Alignment

Collaborate closely with Engineering, Project Management, and Sales to ensure successful project execution.
Support customer interactions including project reviews, delivery commitments, and escalation management.
Align manufacturing capacity and execution with incoming project demand.

Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or related field (preferred).
10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
Required: Proven experience in a Build-to-Order, custom machinery, or project-based manufacturing environment.
Experience with industrial automation, custom equipment, metal fabrication, machining, and electrical build strongly preferred.
Demonstrated P&L ownership or senior operational financial responsibility.
Experience leading large hourly workforces and multi-layer management teams.
Strong Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement background adapted for high-mix operations.

Leadership Profile

Business-minded manufacturing leader who understands how execution drives profitability.
Hands-on, floor-focused leader comfortable in dynamic, non-repetitive manufacturing environments.
Strong communicator capable of aligning executives, managers, and hourly teams.
Decisive, accountable, and execution-oriented.

Why This Role

Executive-level role with true operational and financial ownership.
High-impact leadership position in a growing automation business.
Long-term growth opportunity with visibility at the executive level.

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