Director of Manufacturing

About the role

A growing, highly regulated manufacturing and refurbishing operation in Aurora, IL is seeking an experienced Director of Manufacturing. Reporting directly to the VP of Operations, you will lead a close‑knit facility that specializes in precision component refurbishment and aftermarket part production.

Key responsibilities

• Lead all manufacturing operations with 8 direct reports across the production floor.
• Ensure full compliance with all applicable regulatory certifications and industry requirements.
• Develop and implement operational strategies tied to financial, customer, process, and organizational targets.
• Monitor KPIs and operational trends, holding the team accountable to performance targets set by the VP of Operations.
• Drive profitability, efficiency, and growth through quality service delivery and customer satisfaction.
• Partner cross‑functionally with quality, engineering, materials, and supply chain to keep the operation running smoothly.
• Champion a culture of safety, reliability, and continuous improvement across the facility.
• Support acquisition of new customers by ensuring operational capabilities exceed market expectations.

Required profile

• BS degree required; mechanical engineering or a related field strongly preferred.
• 7+ years of operations management leadership experience in a highly precise or custom job‑shop environment.
• Background in aerospace, medical device, automotive, or related precision manufacturing preferred.
• Mechanically inclined with a strong understanding of complex, custom manufacturing or refurbish environments.
• Team player with high emotional intelligence and the ability to lead through ambiguity.
• Experience in high‑growth operations.

Required skills

• Mechanical engineering knowledge.
• Expertise in precision manufacturing processes.

What we offer

• Salary range $150,000‑$190,000 plus bonus potential.
• Comprehensive benefits package supporting an employee‑centric organization.
• Relocation assistance available for the right out‑of‑area candidate.