Associate Director, Manufacturing Operations Strategy

Role Summary

The Associate Director, Manufacturing Operations Strategy leads long-term strategic planning, optimization, and transformation of the manufacturing network to ensure efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with the company’s business goals. This role combines deep understanding of technical operations and business strategy, and works cross-functionally with senior leadership, operations teams, and external stakeholders to drive initiatives that streamline operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and support long-term business success.

Responsibilities

• Strategy Development and Analysis:
  • Lead the formulation of operations strategies aligned with overall business objectives and develop business cases to support executive decisions
  • Analyze evolving supply requirements including demand forecast and recommend long term manufacturing network footprint, new technologies and operational improvements to senior management, utilizing data-driven insights
  • Conduct analysis to identify opportunities for process optimization, cost reduction, and operational efficiency
• Long term capacity planning:
  • Lead long term capacity utilization evaluation including sensitivity analysis for demand scenarios and options to manage supply requirements
  • Gather and lead a cross functional team to determine long term capacity expansion options and develop capital estimates to support the business case development
• Financial acumen:
  • Demonstrate a robust understanding of cost accounting, capital budgeting, and financial modeling, allowing for the accurate assessment of complex manufacturing investments and operational improvements
  • Evaluate ROI, IRR, and net present value (NPV) for proposed strategic initiatives, ensuring that all recommendations are grounded in sound financial analysis
  • Assess the impact of operational changes on gross margin, cost of goods sold (COGS), and overall profitability, and identify cost drivers and efficiency opportunities across the manufacturing network
  • Collaborate with finance to ensure that proposed strategies align with both short- and long-term financial goals, integrating scenario analysis and risk assessment into all business cases
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  • Partner with key departments—including marketing, finance, and supply chain—to ensure that operational strategies support the organization’s overall objectives
  • Facilitate communication between senior leadership and operational teams, ensuring strategic priorities are understood and actionable implementation plans are developed
• Leadership skills:
  • Establish strong connections with senior leaders to gain meaningful insights into their perspectives and uncover strategic opportunities
  • Provide guidance in a matrixed environment, bringing together diverse functions to collaboratively shape strategies and build persuasive business cases
• Market & Industry Insights:
  • Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to keep company operations innovative and competitive
  • Perform competitive analysis and benchmarking to ensure our operational approach remains forward-thinking and effective
• Risk Management:
  • Proactively identify and assess risks across the manufacturing network, addressing vulnerabilities in supply continuity, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance
  • Develop robust mitigation strategies—including contingency planning and scenario analysis—to ensure operational resilience in the face of disruptions

Qualifications

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in Science, Engineering or Supply Chain with a minimum 10 years of experience reflecting a strong strategic and operational background. Equivalent experience equals a master’s degree with 8 years of relevant experience or a PhD and 6 years of experience
• Required: Demonstrated experience with engagement in supply chain and engineering
• Required: Leadership experience in a matrix environment
• Required: Strong project management skills and expertise
• Required: Proficiency in data analysis, statistical modeling, and financial analysis
• Required: Excellent communication and facilitation skills