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.
