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Director Manufacturing Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Lonza

Associate Director, Manufacturing

Houston, TX · On-site

Associate Director (Manu) Houston, TX The actual location of this job is in Houston, Texas, USA ... manufacture medicines to the highest quality and safety standards. What you will get: * An agile ...

OpenAI

Account Director, Manufacturing

$189K - $240K/yr

As an Account Director focused on Manufacturing, you will own executive-level relationships with leading manufacturers and help them safely and effectively deploy OpenAI's technology across their ...

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Director Manufacturing information

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$69.5K

$141.9K

$209.5K

How much do director manufacturing jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for director manufacturing in the United States is $141,872.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $111,500.00 and $167,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a director manufacturing do?

A Director of Manufacturing oversees all aspects of the production process within a manufacturing organization. They are responsible for ensuring that manufacturing operations run efficiently, meet quality standards, and achieve production targets within budget constraints. Their duties often include developing strategies to improve productivity, managing teams and resources, implementing safety protocols, and collaborating with other departments such as engineering and supply chain. Additionally, they analyze production data to identify areas for improvement and ensure compliance with industry regulations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director manufacturing?

To thrive as a Director of Manufacturing, you need expertise in production management, process optimization, and a strong background in engineering or manufacturing, often supported by a relevant degree and leadership experience. Familiarity with ERP systems, lean manufacturing methodologies, and certifications such as Six Sigma are typically required. Exceptional leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills help drive team performance and foster continuous improvement. These competencies ensure efficient operations, high product quality, and achievement of organizational goals in a competitive manufacturing environment.

What is the difference between Director Manufacturing vs Production Manager?

AspectDirector ManufacturingProduction Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees entire manufacturing operations, strategic planning, and long-term goalsManages daily production activities, schedules, and team supervision
Required CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field; extensive experienceBachelor's in Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field; experience in production roles
Work EnvironmentExecutive office, plant oversight, cross-department collaborationFactory floor, production lines, team management
Industry UsageCommonly used in large manufacturing firms and corporationsUsed across manufacturing plants of all sizes

The main difference between a Director Manufacturing and a Production Manager lies in scope and strategic focus. The Director Manufacturing oversees overall manufacturing operations and long-term planning, while the Production Manager handles daily production activities and team supervision. Both roles require relevant technical credentials, but the Director position involves higher-level decision-making and broader responsibilities.

What are the primary challenges a director manufacturing might face when scaling production operations?

A Director of Manufacturing often encounters challenges such as maintaining product quality while increasing output, ensuring supply chain reliability, and managing workforce scalability. Balancing cost efficiency with innovation and compliance to safety regulations can also be demanding, especially during rapid growth phases. Effective communication and collaboration across departments—such as engineering, procurement, and quality assurance—are critical to successfully scaling operations and meeting organizational goals.
More about Director Manufacturing jobs
What cities are hiring for Director Manufacturing jobs? Cities with the most Director Manufacturing job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Manufacturing jobs? The most popular types of Manufacturing jobs are:
What states have the most Director Manufacturing jobs? States with the most job openings for Director Manufacturing jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Director Manufacturing jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Director Manufacturing jobs are:
Director Manufacturing jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Manufacturing job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $141,872 per year, or $68.2 per hour.

Director Manufacturing Operations

Gateway Recruiting

Happy Valley, OR • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 19 days ago

Job description

Position Summary:

The Director of Manufacturing Operations is a senior leadership position responsible for overseeing all aspects of semiconductor laser assembly production. This role ensures operational excellence by managing strategic planning, production execution, and cross-functional collaboration to achieve world-class standards in quality, delivery, efficiency, and safety. The director drives continuous improvement and innovation, supporting the company's growth and competitiveness in both military and commercial markets.

Responsibilities:

  • Manages strategic and tactical aspects of semiconductor laser assembly production for medium-to-high-volume production of ruggedized military & commercial products
  • Establishes production schedules with planning and business groups and executes against schedule to meet goals for revenue, on-time delivery and lead-time
  • Provides supervision and leadership to direct reports including employee performance management, motivating and facilitating continuous learning and development, conducting annual performance appraisals, and providing timely feedback and recognition.
  • Meets aggressive, world-class goals on quality, cycle time, yield and cost
  • Leads global multi-disciplinary teams to deliver new products, sustaining engineering, and NPI of laser-based product lines as part of key strategy in vertically integrated organization.
  • Analyzes bottlenecks and establishes sufficient capacity to cost-effectively meet production demands
  • Drives continuous improvement opportunities and yield metrics utilizing wide variety of analytical techniques (such as FMEA, SPC, DOE, Gage R&R, 8D), lean manufacturing, and six sigma concepts.
  • Coordinates with facilities, including maintenance and buildouts, for optimal uptime and cost
  • Interfaces with senior leadership and various support functions such as Supply Chain, Development Engineering, Quality, Finance, HR, and IT as required to establish plans and execute against them
  • Collaborates with R&D to analyze competition, market trends, emerging technology and drives strategic engineering projects into production as capable products & processes.
  • Ensures strong safety program in place
  • Manages and motivates direct staff
  • Builds upon ISO9001:2000 certified quality management system in place

Qualifications:

  • Requires a BS in Engineering (Optical, Physics, Electrical, Chemical, Mechanical) and 10+ years high-tech manufacturing experience with at least five years in a managerial role, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
  • MS in Engineering or Business is preferred.
  • 8+ years of experience in product & process development, NPI or process control of laser systems/photonic components
  • 8+ years of experience working for company providing products for US Defense and/or Government Contracting.
  • Working knowledge of FAR/DFAR requirements, and ITAR-compliant operations
  • Skilled in implementing and utilizing lean manufacturing, SPC, ERP, and MRP systems
  • Strong business and people skills, including strategic thinking, executive communication, and basic business financial acumen
  • Strong record of developing and transferring products and processes related to laser systems and photonic components
  • Strong record of effective judgement and decisiveness, clear thinking, problem solving through structured methodologies
  • Strong situational leadership skills, record of developing great teams and strong hires
  • Sets very strong culture of accountability, disciplined thinking, integrity and expectations, leads by example
  • APICS CPIM experience is preferred, but not required
  • Six Sigma Black Belt is preferred, but not required
  • Strong communication skills
  • Excellent team player
  • Demonstrated ability to protect confidential and proprietary information and exercise discretion.
  • Ability to travel up to 15%