Senior Director, Manufacturing & Vendor Management

POSITION SUMMARY

This position has full ownership of the company’s scanning product line. This Senior Director role is responsible for oversight of all aspects of the manufacturing business unit operations, vendor management, and supply chain function. This is a remote, work-from-home position, but will require you to come to our Minneapolis area office 3-4 days out the week the first few months.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Business Operations

Serve as a key member of the division management team that sets the company’s strategic direction and formulates both long and short-range plans, policies, programs and objectives.

Collaborate with ELT to develop vision, executes the vision for growth, participated in sales strategy and activities for company products and services, monitors industry and competitor's product sales tactics and marketing tactics; makes recommendations for course adjustments based on analysis of trends.

Develop and implement a comprehensive manufacturing strategy that aligns with the company's overall objectives, focusing on scalability, cost-efficiency, and quality improvement

Collaborate closely with engineering, supply chain, quality assurance, and sales departments to ensure product specifications are met and to identify opportunities for improving efficiency and reducing costs

Lead multiple, complex projects to comply with cost, schedule, and performance requirements with minimal assistance, identify risks, triage issues, and communicate appropriate expectations to stakeholders

Establish metrics, measurements, tools to improve efficiency and communication; ensuring the requirements of the customer are met, optimizing product value, reducing cost and ensuring on time delivery

Support production objectives to meet monthly, quarterly, and annual delivery targets, to the deployment of both tactical and strategic operational, vendor, and supply chain initiatives.

Maintain highest standards of production quality and timely delivery to meet customer expectations and achieve corporate objectives.

Assemble and communicate business level reports and presentations to executive stakeholders

Implement and manage expert knowledge base and documentation related to manufacturing and engineering, as well as vendors and partners

Vendor/Partner Management

Develop and manage all engineering outsourcing / vendor programs, including daily coordination with partners and vendors.

Identify appropriate outsourcing partners for mechanical and electrical engineering partners, as well as contract manufacturers

Gather requirements, define scope of work, allocate resources, and manage project communication plans for significant manufacturing projects, including component redesign and outsourcing initiatives

Review progress continually to attain performance objectives, including ongoing assessment of vendor/supplier performance and quality management

Partner with stakeholders to optimize order-to-shipment efficiency and drive daily operations to ensure on-time delivery of products to customers and distributors around the globe

Supply Chain Management

Oversight of supply chain, forecasting and demand planning, order fulfillment and logistics, and communication of ongoing performance and results to senior leadership.

Spearhead management, negotiation, and optimization of the international and domestic supply chain to support growth and enhance margin performance

Collaborate with various departments to ensure efficient procurement, production, distribution, and inventory management of after-sale replacement parts

Develop and implement comprehensive supply chain strategies to meet organizational goals and objectives

Identify and manage supply chain risks related to cost, lead time, business continuity and regulatory compliance

Management of Staff

Researches, understands, and assigns the appropriate duties to staff.

Plans, directs, and coordinates the efforts of staff toward attainment of goals and objectives.

Develops staff.

Provides advice and guidance to staff regarding client relationships and projects.

Identifies developmental and growth opportunities for staff members.

Ensures appropriate training is provided to staff.

Provides coaching, communication, and feedback and completes formal performance appraisals for each assigned staff member.

Participates in the selection process for new employees to ensure adequate staffing.

Ensures the team develops and grows internal and external client relationships to accelerate the company’s vision.

Create cross functional working teams with and without having direct management responsibility for those team members.

Ensures the team successfully collaborates with team members inside and outside department.

Develops and maintains an environment that is optimal for employee productivity, employee engagement and job satisfaction.

Provide consistent clear communication and direction to staff.

Coordinate with the People Department to determine appropriate disciplinary actions for performance conduct quality attendance or other actions that are deemed inappropriate or non-productive

Measure and constantly adjust activities to increase productivity and efficiency for staff and processes.

Set and achieve key performance measures.

Balance resources to workload and provide recommendations to adjust.

Perform special projects as needed.

Establish and manage significant department budgets and assets for department

Develops and implements service goals and objectives and monitors progress.

Manage the team with several projects consecutively and produce consistent, positive results.

REQUIRED SKILLS/EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION

Bachelor’s Degree required. Electrical, Mechanical Engineering or Manufacturing related field strongly preferred

Minimum 10 years of experience in a manufacturing environment that includes:

Business Operations experience including leading multiple, concurrent initiatives with a focus on scalability, cost-efficiency, and quality improvement

Managing end-to-end delivery of customer-facing products (from procurement to delivery to aftersales support)

Working with outsourcing partners and vendors to successfully optimize timely delivery of products

Supply chain management, including management of part obsolescence and redesign

Travel required? 10%

Familiarity with ECAD tools, Schematics, PCB, CAD drawings, BOMs, and ECOs

Familiarity with UL compliance and regulatory compliance

Proven Proficiency using MS Office applications

Able to develop and execute plans to further initiatives

Proficient in time management, prioritizing, and multi-tasking

Strong supervisory leadership and management skills

Ability to manage in stressful situations

Excellent organization and planning skills

Proficiency in managing multiple tasks and prioritizing workload

Ability to show urgency and flexibility in completing tasks when needed

Proven ability to successfully communicate with, present to, and collaborate with others at various levels within and outside the organization

PHYSICAL / MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Sit frequently at a desk

Able to travel and navigate inspections on manufacturing floor

Frequent fine hand and finger movements (keyboard, writing, mouse movement)

Continual close visual acuity for reading

Hearing and Speaking for communication within and outside of company.

May be required to lift/push/pull up to 10 pounds for set up/movement of office equipment,

Mental Requirements – must be able to consistently:

Learn new tasks,

Remember Processes,

Maintain focus,

Complete tasks independently

Make timely decisions in the context of a workflow,

Ability to communicate effectively,

Able to adhere to process protocol in a timely manner