Director of Manufacturing
SkyWater Search Partners, Minneapolis, MN, United States
The Director of Manufacturing will lead manufacturing performance and plant operations to deliver safe, efficient, and high-quality production aligned with business objectives. This role is responsible for end-to-end operational performance, ensuring finished products consistently meet customer and quality expectations.
The Director of Manufacturing collaborates closely with cross-functional teams (Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, Finance, HR, R&D, etc.) to ensure production, processes, and people strategies are aligned with company goals. This is a hands-on leadership role that blends execution, team leadership, and continuous improvement in a fast-paced, growing environment.
Responsibilities
- People and Organization Leadership
- Lead, coach, and develop plant leadership to drive accountability and performance
- Foster a culture of safety, engagement, and continuous improvement across the facility
- Build strong frontline leadership capability across production and maintenance teams
- Partner with HR to assess talent, develop succession plans, and strengthen leadership bench
- Promote a culture of ownership, transparency, and collaboration across all levels of the plant
- Drive employee engagement and retention through effective communication and leadership presence
Manufacturing Operations Leadership
- Own overall plant performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity metrics
- Ensure reliable, efficient, and consistent daily operations within a 24/7 manufacturing environment
- Establish and reinforce operational routines (daily huddles, shift handoffs, KPI tracking)
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and reduce waste
- Ensure compliance with food safety, regulatory, and quality standards
- Partner with Quality to improve product consistency, reduce defects, and minimize customer complaints
- Develop and manage plant budgets, forecasts, and cost improvement initiatives
Technical & Process Leadership
- Partner with engineering and maintenance to ensure equipment reliability and operational uptime
- Support capital projects and process improvements that enhance plant capability and capacity
- Ensure effective preventive maintenance programs and operational discipline
- Act as a technical and operational resource to troubleshoot production challenges and drive root cause resolution
Strategy and Growth Leadership
- Support plant scalability to meet increasing demand and future growth initiatives
- Lead implementation of new products and process changes within the facility
- Partner with cross-functional leaders to align production capabilities with business strategy
- Contribute to longer-term operational planning, including capacity and infrastructure needs
- Help build the foundation for future multi-site operations as the organization grows
Desired Skills And Experience
- Minimum Qualifications
- Minimum of 8–12 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience
- Prior experience in a food, beverage, or consumer packaged goods manufacturing environment
- Experience leading teams in a production setting, including frontline leadership development
- Strong understanding of food safety, quality systems, and regulatory requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or related field preferred
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in high-growth or evolving manufacturing environments
- Exposure to both processing and packaging operations
- Demonstrated success driving continuous improvement (Lean, TPM, or similar methodologies)
- Strong problem-solving skills with a hands-on, floor-oriented leadership approach
- Ability to balance strategic thinking with day-to-day operational execution
- Strong business acumen and ability to manage cost, efficiency, and performance