Director of Manufacturing Operations

Morgan Latif is a specialist leadership search & development consultancy. We partner with clients across the Medical & Dental Technology, Packaging, Consumer, E-mobility, and Industrial Technology sectors to support their transformation and diversity objectives. Our mission is to combine traditional recruitment and coaching methodologies with innovative technology to deliver tailored solutions to both clients and candidates.Position OverviewA well-established precision manufacturing organisation is seeking a Manufacturing Director to lead and transform shop floor operations within a complex, high-mix, regulated manufacturing environment.This role is a critical leadership hire, with responsibility for driving operational excellence across machining and assembly operations, embedding structured problem-solving, and implementing KPI-led daily management systems.The Manufacturing Director will be accountable for professionalising shop floor operations, shifting the culture from reactive firefighting to data-driven, continuous improvement, and building the leadership capability required to sustain long-term performance.This position requires a hands-on, visible leader with deep Lean expertise, strong emotional intelligence, and the ability to influence at all levels—from shop floor operators to executive leadership.Key ResponsibilitiesLead the transformation of manufacturing operations through standardisation, Lean methodologies, and continuous improvementEstablish and sustain daily management systems aligned to SQDP (Safety, Quality, Delivery, Productivity)Drive a structured problem-solving culture, enabling teams to resolve issues quickly using data-driven approachesImprove operational performance across key metrics including OTD, productivity, quality, and labor/machine efficiencyCoach teams to think in end-to-end value streams (SIPOC) and understand broader operational impactPartner cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Quality, and EHS to drive aligned outcomesSupport the development and optimisation of leading KPI frameworks in collaboration with senior leadershipDrive cultural change toward accountability, ownership, and continuous improvementLead organisational design and restructuring initiatives where required to optimise performanceBuild and lead a high-performing manufacturing leadership teamDevelop Production Managers to adopt a problem-solving, people-centric leadership styleFoster a culture of ownership, engagement, and continuous improvement across the shop floorQualifications & ExperienceBachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field10+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operationsProven experience in complex, regulated manufacturing environments (medical device, aerospace/defense preferred)Demonstrated success leading operational transformation and cultural change initiativesDeep expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologiesStrong understanding of OEE, cycle times, throughput, and production flow optimisationExperience implementing KPI-driven daily management systemsStrong cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management capabilityExperience in machining or precision manufacturing environments is highly desirableUS Citizen or Green Card holder onlyWe look forward to your application!