Director of Manufacturing

Talent Grid Search has partnered with a leading automotive aftermarket manufacturer to find a Site Director that will lead their plastics manufacturing site.

• Candidates must have plastics manufacturing experience to be considered.
• Candidates must be open to relocation, if not local.

The Site Director is responsible for full operational oversight of a high-volume plastics manufacturing facility. This role blends senior leadership with deep technical expertise in thermoforming (vacuum/pressure) and injection molding; sheet extrusion experience is a plus. The Site Manager will drive operational excellence by optimizing processes, improving material flow, and leading teams to meet demanding customer expectations.

• Oversee the full production lifecycle, including raw materials, sheet extrusion, thermoforming, and injection molding
• Serve as the senior technical resource for complex processing issues, cycle time optimization, and yield improvement
• Lead preventative maintenance programs for molding equipment, CNC routers, and auxiliary systems

• Design and implement efficient facility layouts to maximize throughput and equipment utilization
• Apply Lean tools (Value Stream Mapping, Spaghetti Diagrams) to identify bottlenecks and improve material flow
• Conduct capacity analyses to support new product launches and fluctuations in demand

• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, technicians, and production teams
• Manage site-level financial performance, including labor, scrap, energy usage, and capital projects
• Drive continuous improvement through Kaizen events and Six Sigma initiatives to improve OEE

• Champion a zero-incident safety culture and ensure compliance with OSHA and internal safety standards
• Ensure products meet required quality standards, including IATF 16949, and support root cause analysis for defects

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Plastics Engineering, Industrial Management, or related field; equivalent experience considered
• 5+ years of leadership experience in a high-volume plastics manufacturing environment
• Deep expertise in thermoforming and injection molding; sheet extrusion experience (TPO, ABS, PE) strongly preferred
• Strong Lean Manufacturing background;
  Six Sigma experience (Black Belt preferred)
• Proven ability to lead change, develop teams, and resolve conflict effectively
• Familiarity with ERP systems such as SAP or WMS for production and inventory management