TBest Services Inc. is seeking an experienced Director of Manufacturing Operations to support one of our clients in the electronics manufacturing and industrial automation industry.
This is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing manufacturing operations, engineering program execution, production planning, process improvement, supply chain coordination, quality performance, and operational scalability. The Director will work closely with executive leadership, engineering, production, quality, supply chain, finance, and customer-facing teams to ensure production goals, customer requirements, delivery timelines, and business performance targets are met.
The ideal candidate has a strong manufacturing operations background with experience in industrial automation, electronics manufacturing, electromechanical assembly, engineering-driven production, program execution, Lean manufacturing, ERP/MRP systems, and cross-functional leadership. A technical or engineering background is strongly preferred.
Key Responsibilities
Manufacturing Operations Leadership
Lead daily and long-term manufacturing operations across production, assembly, quality, materials, and operational support functions
Ensure production schedules, customer requirements, quality standards, and delivery commitments are met
Oversee workflow, capacity planning, labor utilization, resource allocation, and manufacturing priorities
Identify operational bottlenecks and implement practical solutions to improve throughput, delivery, quality, and cost performance
Create structure, accountability, and clear execution priorities across manufacturing teams
Support operational scalability as the business grows and production complexity increases
Program and Engineering Operations
Lead cross-functional execution of manufacturing programs from planning through production delivery
Partner with engineering, design, production, quality, and supply chain teams to move projects from concept, prototype, or engineering release into production
Support engineering-to-production handoffs, new product introduction, process changes, and technical build requirements
Ensure technical requirements are translated into clear production plans, labor needs, material requirements, timelines, and deliverables
Support design-for-manufacturing and design-for-assembly improvements
Coordinate internal teams to keep customer programs, technical builds, and manufacturing projects on schedule
Production Planning and S&OP Support
Oversee production planning, capacity planning, demand alignment, and manufacturing readiness
Collaborate with leadership, sales, finance, supply chain, and production teams to align customer demand with operational capacity
Use ERP/MRP systems and operational data to improve scheduling, inventory visibility, material planning, and resource allocation
Monitor labor capacity, material availability, equipment constraints, lead times, and production risks
Support S&OP/SIOP-related processes to improve planning discipline and cross-functional alignment
Continuous Improvement and Lean Manufacturing
Lead continuous improvement initiatives across production, engineering operations, materials flow, and manufacturing workflows
Apply Lean tools such as 5S, Kaizen, root cause analysis, value stream mapping, visual management, standard work, and waste reduction
Improve productivity, first-pass yield, quality performance, delivery performance, labor efficiency, and overall operational effectiveness
Establish and track key operational KPIs, including on-time delivery, throughput, yield, downtime, labor efficiency, rework, scrap, and cost performance
Develop a culture of structured problem-solving, accountability, and measurable improvement
Quality, Safety, and Compliance
Partner with quality leadership to ensure manufacturing processes meet internal standards, customer requirements, and applicable regulatory or certification requirements
Support corrective actions, root cause analysis, process control, documentation accuracy, and quality improvement initiatives
Ensure production teams follow safety procedures, OSHA requirements, company policies, and internal work standards
Promote a safe, disciplined, and quality-focused manufacturing environment
Supply Chain and Materials Coordination
Work closely with purchasing, procurement, supply chain, warehouse, and production teams to ensure material availability and production readiness
Help resolve material shortages, supplier delays, inventory constraints, and production-impacting supply chain issues
Support supplier performance improvement, lead-time reduction, cost control, and inventory optimization initiatives
Ensure engineering, production, and supply chain teams are aligned on material requirements, build priorities, and delivery timelines
Financial and Operational Performance
Monitor manufacturing costs, labor utilization, production efficiency, operational budgets, and cost-saving opportunities
Use operational and financial data to support decision-making and improve business performance
Identify opportunities to reduce waste, improve margins, control expenses, and increase return on operational resources
Support budget planning, cost reduction initiatives, productivity improvements, and operational forecasting
Provide executive leadership with clear reporting on operational performance, risks, progress, and improvement priorities
Team Leadership and Development
Lead, coach, and develop managers, supervisors, engineers, production leads, and operational staff
Build strong communication and accountability between production, engineering, quality, supply chain, finance, and leadership teams
Support hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and workforce planning
Develop leadership capability within the manufacturing organization
Create a performance-driven culture focused on quality, execution, problem-solving, and continuous improvement
Executive Reporting and Strategic Execution
Report directly to executive leadership on manufacturing performance, program status, operational risks, KPIs, staffing needs, and strategic initiatives
Translate business goals into operational plans, team priorities, and measurable execution steps
Support long-term manufacturing strategy, operational structure, systems improvement, and growth planning
Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve delivery, productivity, quality, scalability, and customer satisfaction
Requirements
10+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, engineering operations, industrial production, program management, supply chain, or related operational leadership
5+ years of experience leading managers, supervisors, engineers, production teams, or cross-functional manufacturing teams
Experience in electronics manufacturing, industrial automation, electromechanical assembly, contract manufacturing, control panels, cable/harness assemblies, or related technical manufacturing environments strongly preferred
Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production planning, capacity planning, materials flow, quality performance, and cost control
Experience leading engineering-driven production, technical programs, new product introduction, or engineering-to-manufacturing handoffs
Strong experience with Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, root cause analysis, standard work, and operational KPIs
Experience using ERP/MRP systems and manufacturing planning tools
Ability to work cross-functionally with executive leadership, engineering, production, quality, supply chain, finance, and customer-facing teams
Strong leadership, communication, financial discipline, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills
Ability to drive change, improve processes, and hold teams accountable in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Management, Operations Management, or related field
Master’s degree in Engineering Management, Business, Operations, or a related field preferred
Engineering background or strong technical manufacturing experience preferred
Experience with S&OP/SIOP processes
Experience with Oracle, SAP, NetSuite, Epicor, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar ERP/MRP systems
Lean Six Sigma, PMP, Scrum, or related certification preferred
Experience leading MES, ERP, MRP, WMS, or manufacturing systems improvement projects
Experience with supplier improvement, manufacturing strategy, cost reduction, and operational transformation
Benefits
Health insurance
401(k) with employer match
Paid time off
Professional development and training opportunities
Location: Elkridge, MD
Job Type: Full-Time, On-Site
Compensation: $130,000–$150,000 annually