Senior Manufacturing Leader @ Stuller

Senior Manufacturing Leader

We are seeking a dynamic Senior Manufacturing Leader to drive operational excellence across manufacturing, supply chain, procurement, and broader business operations. This leader will shape and execute strategic direction while remaining deeply engaged in day-to-day activities, enabling agility, scalability, and consistent product quality. The role requires hands-on leadership that delivers measurable results and reinforces a culture of accountability and innovation.

Our manufacturing operations are optimized to meet the complexity and demands of a dynamic market. We operate with a dual-model strategy: high-volume fabrication with frequent changeovers, rigorous tooling discipline, and the ability to scale production from tens to thousands of units efficiently. High-mix continuous-flow work cells, where flexible manufacturing, rapid responsiveness, and precision investment casting (via injection-molded and 3D-printed patterns) enable a broad daily product mix.

As we modernize our operational footprint, this role will serve as the architect of our future manufacturing capabilities. We're seeking a forward-looking change agentsomeone who brings strategic foresight, challenges legacy norms, and leads bold transformation. This leader will anticipate the capabilities we need in the coming years and build the teams, systems, and processes required to get us there, inspiring high performance and driving meaningful evolution across the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Direction & Architecture
  • Define and drive a long-term manufacturing strategy that positions the organization for future scale, agility, and customer demand.
  • Challenge the status quo by identifying legacy processes that must evolve and championing innovative, sometimes controversial, transformation initiatives.
  • Translate emerging industry trends, technologies, and operational models into actionable roadmaps.
• Transformational Leadership & Team Development
  • Provide forward-thinking, inspirational leadership that encourages innovation, accountability, and continuous learning.
  • Develop the next generation of manufacturing talent by instilling a future-focused mindset across the organization.
  • Recruit, grow, and mentor high-performing teams equipped to support both current operations and long-term transformation.
• Operational Excellence & Modernization
  • Lead the modernization of manufacturing processes through digital tools and advanced technologies.
  • Own and analyze KPIs with a focus on identifying systemic improvement opportunities, not just near-term fixes.
  • Champion a continuous improvement culture focused on increasing capacity, reducing waste, and elevating production flexibility.
• Cross-Functional Influence
  • Partner with engineering, design, supply chain, and global manufacturing teams to architect an end-to-end, future-ready production ecosystem.
  • Influence senior leaders and peers to align operational evolution with broader business strategy.
  • Build a global perspective by collaborating with international facilities to optimize our worldwide manufacturing footprint.
• Culture, Safety & Quality
  • Foster a culture where safety, quality, and innovation coexist as core operating principles.
  • Ensure operational excellence is deeply embedded into daily behaviors, long-term planning, and decision-making.
  • Maintain full compliance with industry, regulatory, and internal quality standards.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, or related field
• 10+ years of senior leadership experience
• Demonstrated success leading strategic change, operational transformation, and future-focused initiatives
• Proven ability to influence across organizational levels and drive adoption of new ideas
• Strong communication and relationship-building capabilities
• Experience engaging directly in operations with a hands-on, empathetic leadership style
• Ability to develop and execute long-term operational strategies
• Results-oriented mindset with a commitment to product quality and on-time delivery
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally
• Background leading modernization initiatives in complex or high-mix/high-volume environments