The Director of Operations is responsible for safely managing all manufacturing aspects of our plant in Meridian, MS. This role will lead, inspire and motivate the manufacturing and plant operations teams to assure on-time delivery of top-quality products to satisfy demanding customer requirements in a safe and productive manner. In addition to the daily performance of the operation, the role will manage the continuous improvements of the manufacturing team, as well as drive new process initiatives for new products. The Director of Operations drives collaboration with all other Company teams to meet Company objectives while creating the vision for the future and executing plans to reach the desired state.

Essential Job Duties:

• Provide overall direction and management for safety, staffing, employee relations, purchasing, materials control, quality assurance, manufacturing, maintenance, manufacturing engineering, and personnel functions.
• Actively builds a safety culture, leads all safety processes and risk reduction, and builds strong productive partnerships with EHS personnel.
• Leads effectively through positive employee relationships to build an empowered, high-performing team focused on safety, teamwork, quality, and continuous improvement culture in collaboration and partnership with HR personnel.
• Defines short-term and long-term manufacturing plans/goals in accordance with Fairbanks Scales’ objectives.
• Recommend and support investments in equipment and technology in the manufacturing facility supported by financial analysis and consistent with the strategy of the organization.
• Responsible for preparing budgets, annual operations plans (including talent, capital, and business performance improvement) and managing performance against these plans.
• Manages lead times and product build schedules with the team, and monitors to ensure projects are completed on time.
• Completes Director level leadership standard work, including participation in daily production meetings, MDI meetings, and Gemba walks.
• Measures & monitors site KPIs and works with the site team to meet performance goals on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
• Champions the quality management system and activities and the continuous improvement efforts, providing Lean mentorship to the organization.
• Responsible for effective communications within the plant and with all business units and groups outside the plant, including monthly updates, all employee meetings, weekly messages, quarterly business reviews, reporting, and other communications channels.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Product Management, Quality, and Sales departments to assure successful new or updated products.
• Ensure compliance and adhere to all Federal, State or local laws, regulations, and company policies and procedures.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• A minimum of 10 years experience in manufacturing operations in a managerial role.
• Continuous improvement experience, including Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma experience required
• Prior experience in steel assembly, metal manufacturing

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office products – specifically Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Critical thinker with exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to effectively organize and prioritize work as well as concentrate on multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to develop and maintain business relationships
• Ability to mentor, and coach individuals
• Astute in building and leading effective teams across multiple departments and functions.
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong financial acumen, including an understanding of a P&L statement and balance sheet

Work Environment:

• General office conditions within front office.
• Typically 40-hour per week but the plant is in operation from 5:45 am -10:15 pm Monday through Friday and overtime often on weekends and oversight will be required on occasion.
• General Manufacturing environment including regular exposure to loud and distracting noises, outdoor climate and weather fluctuations including temperature, humidity, rain, etc., dust, uneven ground, exposure to hazardous equipment, and contaminants.

Physical Abilities:

• Required to talk, see and hear with correction or assistance, and able to wear safety glasses and hearing protection.
• Frequently and regularly required to sit, stand and bend at the knee and waist, crouch, stoop, kneel, reach, climb steps and ladders, and walk.
• Must be able to have repetitive wrist, hand and/or finger movement to type and work on computer.
• Must have finger dexterity and hand-eye coordination to work on computer, telephone, and related office equipment and plant machinery.
• Must be able to wear all required PPE including, hearing protection, safety glasses, safety boots with metatarsal covers, gloves, respiratory protection, and any other required protective gear in production areas.
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function.

WHO IS FAIRBANKS SCALES INC.?

For more than 185 years, Fairbanks has manufactured and provided top-quality industrial weighing equipment and dependable service through a network of Fairbanks sales and service representatives and authorized distributors. Fairbanks continues to break new ground in scale design, setting the new standard in weighing equipment and systems engineering while meeting the special needs of our customers.

Fairbanks Scales provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment. EEO/M/F/D/V