Director of Operations

THE COMPANY

Our client is a privately owned contract manufacturing organization with multiple plants across Mexico, providing plastic injection molding, sheet-metal stamping, assembly, and clean-room manufacturing for leading clients in the medical, automotive, electronics, and industrial sectors, among others. The company’s philosophy blends Japanese manufacturing excellence with global innovation, delivering quality, agility, and value to its customers.

THE POSITION

This is a high-impact leadership role with full responsibility for end-to-end manufacturing operations and P&L performance across three plants in Tijuana, Mexico.
The Director of Operations will be a hands-on operator and strategic leader, tasked with leading both an operational and cultural turnaround – stabilizing, optimizing, and scaling operations while building a high-performance culture. This role is critical in driving throughput, cost discipline, quality, and operational rigor across injection molding and metal fabrication environments.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• • Own and execute the multi-site operations strategy, aligning performance with business objectives
  • Deliver against production, cost, quality, safety, and on-time delivery targets
  • Drive operational excellence across molding and metal fabrication processes
  • Improve OEE, productivity, scrap reduction, and overall plant performance
  • Develop and standardize processes, systems, KPIs, and operating discipline across all facilities.
  • Lead plant expansions, transfers, and operational transformations
  • Ensure robust maintenance and asset reliability strategies to maximize uptime.
  • Strengthen quality systems, compliance, and audit readiness
  • Build and lead a high-performing, multi-site leadership team which includes three plant operations managers, Tijuana operations Facility manager, OPEX Manager and two Project Managers (for CAPEX Projects and Process Improvement Projects).
  • Implement lean manufacturing, automation, and continuous improvement initiatives

THE CANDIDATE

A proven multi-site manufacturing leader with the ability to operate at both strategic and execution levels.

Experience & Background

• • 12+ years in manufacturing with multi-plant leadership experience. May consider leadership experience overseeing a large complex site (but not preferred).
  • Background as Director of Operations, Manufacturing Director, or General Manager
  • Experience with partial P&L Management and contribution margin. Good business acumen.
  • Strong experience in plastic injection molding (preferred) and metal fabrication/stamping (preferred)
  • Experience in a highly regulated manufacturing environment is highly preferred. Medical Devices experience would be ideal.

• • Track record driving operational improvements, cost reduction, and productivity gains
  • Experience with process engineering, maintenance, and automation
  • Solid exposure to ERP/MRP systems (implementation experience a plus)

Leadership Profile

• • Data-driven decision maker with strong systems thinking
  • Proven ability to lead change and operational transformation
  • Strong executive presence and communication skills
  • Results-oriented with a hands-on leadership style
  • Builds accountability, discipline, and continuous improvement cultures
  • Possess sound emotional intelligence, resilience and is adaptable to change.

Education, Skills & Certifications

• • Engineering degree (industrial, manufacturing, mechanical, mechatronics) or equivalent is required, MBA or advanced degree preferred
  • Bilingual English/Spanish required
  • Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (preferred)
  • ISO 9001 / IATF 16949 / ISO 14001 / ISO 45001 (preferred)
  • TPM and/or Lean Manufacturing
  • APICS CPIM (preferred)

SUCCESS PROFILE

This leader will succeed by:

• • Creating robust processes and systems across multiple plants.
  • Driving measurable improvements in OEE, cost, and delivery performance
  • Creating consistency and discipline across multiple plants
  • Building a scalable, high-performance operating model
  • Delivering sustainable operational and financial results

WHY THIS ROLE
This is a transformational opportunity to lead and elevate a multi-site manufacturing platform, with direct impact on profitability, operational performance, and long-term growth.