Job Details

Director, Operations, ICSDivision

Based at our largest manufacturing facility in Clinton, SC. Reporting to the Vice President, IC, the Director of Operations will lead manufacturing, continuous improvement, and quality initiatives for the IC Division of Nordson. The Director will oversee all operations functions to ensure peak efficiency and deliver high‑quality products.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop, lead, and communicate a vision to reach key operational initiatives in alignment with the divisional strategic plan and annual budget plan objectives to drive operational performance and financial results and NBS Next deliver divisional operational goals and KPI's.
• Champions an operation focused on Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS), driving a zero‑incident culture by leading and directing staff to accomplish goals consistent with established manufacturing and safety procedures.
• Create an operational culture of exceeding customer expectations, ensuring that the organization is highly responsive to internal stakeholders and external customer needs and issues alike.
• Foster a culture of accountability and ownership through agile and effective communications, processes and execution with transparency, empowerment, calmness, resilience, and confidence.
• Establish key performance indicators that drive change and visibility to the team. Track, trend, and monitor routinely with active data analysis and visual management to target and deliver results. Drive fiscal accountability and knowledge managing key operating metrics, budgets and schedules.
• Ensure there is a routine resource planning process and assessment that ensures teams coordinate the hiring, training, coaching and annual performance reviews of operations staff across sites, ensuring clear objectives and expectations are set. Drive change through improved organizational capability, ensuring motivation and retention of a high‑performance management team and workforce.
• Develops, recommends and executes on Continuous Improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives with NBS Next framework and a focus on on‑time delivery, productivity, cost reduction and overall margin improvement.
• Establish procedures for maintaining high standards of manufacturing operations to ensure products meet established customer and company quality standards.
• Develop labor capacity models and material plans needed to meet sales forecasts, while maintaining flexibility to minimize cost and inventory levels.
• Formulates and recommends manufacturing policies and programs that guide the organization in maintaining and improving its competitive position.
• Directs and coordinates various programs essential to daily manufacturing procedures (e.g., training, safety, housekeeping, cost reduction, worker involvement, security, etc.)
• Develop a high performing team and promote team concepts, diversity and inclusion, coaching, mentoring, training, talent / succession management, and individual development. Promotes and encourages the development of people to ensure leadership continuity. Reviews organization and staffing plans to ensure that they are consistent and competitive for attainment of division objectives.
• Hires, trains, develops and evaluates staff. Takes corrective action as necessary on a timely basis and in accordance with company policy. Ensures compliance with current federal, state and local regulations. Consults with Human Resources Department as appropriate.
• Perform miscellaneous duties and projects as assigned and required.

Education And Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required, B.S. Engineering preferred, MBA or relevant master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years' experience in increasing levels of responsibility in Manufacturing, Supply Chain, OPEX, and/or Quality for a global manufacturing leader in a similar scope/scale role. Plant manager and multi‑site management experience preferred.
• Knowledge of current technologies in manufacturing (assembly, machining, and fabrication), engineering, materials management/inventory control, distribution and logistics, purchasing, quality assurance systems processes and practices. Full knowledge and understanding of SAP manufacturing environment preferred.
• Demonstrated success in strategic efforts to drive safety, quality, consistent performance and productivity.
• Ability to work cross functionally with internal teams (Commercial, Marketing, HR, Finance, Engineering) and external customers.
• Strong leadership skills that inspire team confidence and respect, while empowering and motivating team members in a creative and effective manner.

Preferred Skills And Abilities

• Desire for achieving excellence in customer satisfaction, process, product quality and reliability.
• Track record of successful leadership, performance results, organizational development, and operational improvement.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Office environment. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/​or ability required.

Travel Required

Estimated 25%.

Seniority level

Director

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Management and Manufacturing

Industries

Machinery Manufacturing