Vice President of Manufacturing & Product Development
We are seeking a compassionate, people-oriented, and results-driven Vice President of Manufacturing & Product Development to lead and continuously improve all aspects of our manufacturing operations and product development initiatives. This executive leader will be responsible for driving operational excellence, fostering innovation, and building a high-performance culture rooted in integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement.
The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in plastic injection molding manufacturing, product research and development, automation, robotics, and lean manufacturing environments. They will possess a strong growth mindset, remain open to new ideas and technologies, and demonstrate the ability to balance operational efficiency with employee engagement and development.
This leader will be responsible for maintaining world-class operational metrics, including a 99.7% or greater on-time delivery rate, while continually identifying opportunities to improve quality, increase capacity, reduce downtime, optimize ROI on capital investments, and strategically manage vendor relationships to control costs without sacrificing quality or service.
The VP will partner closely with senior leadership to support the company's continued growth through innovation, operational excellence, and a commitment to developing people.
Additional Responsibilities
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Lead all manufacturing, engineering, product development, and continuous improvement initiatives.
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Drive research and development efforts to support new product innovation and improve existing product performance.
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Evaluate, implement, and optimize robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing technologies to improve productivity and profitability.
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Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to productivity, quality, safety, customer satisfaction, and on-time delivery.
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Maintain and improve a minimum 99.7% on-time delivery performance through effective production planning and execution.
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Analyze and justify capital expenditures through measurable ROI assessments and business case development.
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Establish and maintain strategic vendor relationships while identifying opportunities to reduce costs and improve supply chain performance.
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Champion employee development, engagement, succession planning, and leadership growth throughout the organization.
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Foster a culture built on integrity, accountability, innovation, teamwork, and continuous learning.
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Lead organizational change initiatives while remaining open to new ideas, technologies, and best practices.
Updated Qualifications
Required Qualifications
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Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, or related field; Master's degree preferred.
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10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including senior executive or plant leadership roles.
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Extensive experience in plastic injection molding manufacturing environments.
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Proven success managing high-volume automated manufacturing operations.
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Experience with robotics, automation systems, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
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Demonstrated expertise in research and development, product commercialization, and process improvement.
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Strong financial acumen with experience developing budgets, managing costs, and evaluating ROI on capital investments.
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Proven ability to improve operational performance while maintaining exceptional customer service and delivery metrics.
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Experience implementing and maintaining ISO 9001 or similar quality management systems.
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Strong ERP, data analytics, and manufacturing systems experience.
Leadership Competencies
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Compassionate and employee-focused leader who values people as the company's greatest asset.
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Strong leadership presence with the ability to inspire, develop, and retain high-performing teams.
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Unwavering integrity and commitment to ethical business practices.
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Growth mindset with a passion for continuous learning and improvement.
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Open-minded and receptive to new ideas, technologies, and perspectives.
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Collaborative leadership style with excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
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Hands-on executive who leads by example and is willing to work alongside the team when needed.
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Strategic thinker capable of balancing long-term growth initiatives with daily operational demands.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The successful candidate will be a highly respected manufacturing leader who combines operational excellence with genuine care for employees. They will have a track record of building strong teams, driving innovation through product development and automation, improving profitability through smart cost management and ROI-focused decision making, and maintaining exceptional customer performance metrics. Most importantly, they will embrace our culture of integrity, continuous improvement, and growth while helping lead the organization into its next phase of success.
