Director Chemical Engineering R&D Jobs in Bozeman, MT

Are you looking for an opportunity to make a difference? At Mesa Labs we’re passionate about protecting the vulnerable by enabling scientific breakthroughs, ensuring product integrity, increasing patient and worker safety, and improving quality of life around the world.

At Mesa Labs we offer competitive wages, including potential bonus opportunities, equity awards, commission, and a comprehensive benefits package based on the position.

Base Compensation Range: $154,500 - $215,000
*In addition, you qualify for:

• Annual bonus opportunity of 22% based on company performance
• Annual equity award of $30,000

Outstanding Benefits and Perks
We are proud to offer a variety of benefits that meet the diverse needs of our employees:

• Eligible for benefits the first day of the month after you start
• Tiered Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance options, Health savings (HSA), healthcare & dependent care flexible spending (FSA) accounts
• Company paid short term and long-term disability (unless covered by a state disability plan)
• Company paid life insurance and AD&D
• Flexible Time Off Policy
• Paid sick leave of 48 hours per calendar year
• Eligible employees may receive four (4) weeks paid Care Giver leave after 1 year of service or in accordance with state leave laws
• 401(k) plan that provides a 4% Safe Harbor company match on a 4% employee contribution that begins on Day 1
• Employee Wellness and Financial Assistance Resources through Cigna and NY Life
• Nine (9) paid company holidays per year

Sterilization and Disinfection Control division manufactures and sells biological and chemical indicators that assess the effectiveness of sterilization and disinfection processes for pharmaceutical, healthcare, and dental industries.

Job Summary

The Operations Director is the senior operational leader for Mesa Labs’ Bozeman manufacturing facility, accountable for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and team capability. This role requires a handson, gembafocused leader who spends meaningful time where the work happens, coaching teams, reinforcing standard work, and building problemsolving capability at the point of impact.

The successful candidate will bring a strong lean foundation, scientific agility, and experience operating in a regulated manufacturing environment. They will be a builder of people and culture, capable of developing strong leaders, deep technical capability, and sustained operational excellence while maintaining a relentless focus on customer needs.

Duties/Responsibilities

Lead From the Front

• Lead primarily at gemba, observing processes, engaging employees, and reinforcing daily management and problemsolving behaviors.
• Model the behaviors expected of leaders at Mesa: curiosity, humility, accountability, and followthrough.
• Create visibility and trust by being present, accessible, and consistent.

Operational Excellence & Lean Leadership

• Own plant performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and morale.
• Deploy and sustain lean daily management practices, visual management, and factbased problem solving.
• Drive continuous improvement by focusing on root cause, eliminating waste, and strengthening process capability.
• Ensure improvements are sustained through standard work, training, and leadership routines.

Scientific & Technical Agility

• Lead a sciencebased manufacturing operation where product performance, process control, and compliance are tightly linked.
• Quickly learn and apply underlying scientific and technical principles to guide operational decisions.
• Partner effectively with Quality, Engineering, and Technical teams to ensure robust, compliant processes.

Talent Development & Culture

• Build a strong leadership bench through coaching, mentoring, and intentional development.
• Develop managers who can lead independently, solve problems, and grow their teams.
• Create an environment where employees are empowered to identify issues, test improvements, and take ownership of results.
• Actively manage talent—developing high performers, coaching solid contributors, and addressing performance gaps.

Quality & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with applicable regulatory and quality system requirements (e.g., ISO, GMP, FDAregulated environments).
• Lead with a qualityfirst mindset, integrating compliance into daily operations rather than treating it as an overlay.
• Support audits, investigations, and corrective actions with transparency and rigor.

Customer Focus & Collaboration

• Maintain a strong external and internal customer orientation, ensuring operational decisions reflect customer impact.
• Collaborate closely with crossfunctional partners (Quality, R&D, Supply Chain, Engineering, HR) to achieve shared outcomes.
• Translate customer requirements into operational priorities and execution.

Experience/Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10-15 years of progressively responsible experience in operations management, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.

Knowledge and Skillsets Required

• Proven track record of managing large teams and cross-functional projects. Strong leadership, interpersonal, and team-building skills.
• Deep knowledge of operational methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or Agile. Certification in Six Sigma (Black Belt/Green Belt) is a plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and translate it into actionable strategies.
• Strong financial management skills with experience in budgeting, forecasting, and cost control.
• Familiarity with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, etc.), CRM tools, and business intelligence software (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively present complex ideas to senior executives and stakeholders.

Physical Demands:

• Sitting: Often for extended periods at desks or meetings.
• Standing or walking: Occasionally for meetings or office tasks.
• Using computers: Typing and using office equipment.
• Lifting: Light, less than 10 pounds.
• Repetitive motions: Frequent use of keyboard and mouse.

Environmental Conditions:

• Workspace: Climate control (air conditioning or heating) to ensure comfort.
• Lighting: Adjustable lighting to reduce eye strain.
• Noise Levels: The noise level is moderate, with occasional interruptions from phone calls and conversations. Use non-canceling headphones if necessary.
• Ergonomics: Workstations with desk and adjustable chairs to support good postures.
• Ventilation: Good ventilation to ensure a comfortable working environment, though this can vary depending on the building.

Mesa Labs is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Mesa Labs prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment against applicants or employees based on age, race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, disability, military status, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable state or local law. Please note that Mesa Labs conducts criminal background checks upon offer acceptance.