Director of Manufacturing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at Safe Air Technology LLC
Job Description
Baton Rouge, LA | Full-Time | On-Site
About Us
Safe Air Technology is a rapidly growing manufacturer of mission-critical and explosion-proof HVAC systems. We take pride in building high-quality, precision-engineered equipment and are looking for skilled individuals who take pride in their workmanship.
Position Summary
Safe Air Technology is seeking an experienced, results-driven Director of Manufacturing to lead and oversee all aspects of our manufacturing operations. This is a senior leadership position responsible for driving production performance, operational efficiency, quality, safety, and workforce accountability across our manufacturing facilities.
The ideal candidate is a strong, hands-on manufacturing leader with extensive experience managing complex production environments, developing high-performing teams, and implementing processes that support rapid growth and increased production capacity.
Reporting directly to the Vice President of Manufacturing, this individual will provide strategic and operational leadership to ensure manufacturing objectives are achieved while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
Key ResponsibilitiesManufacturing Operations & Production Leadership
- Direct and oversee daily manufacturing operations across all production departments, ensuring alignment with company goals and production schedules.
- Lead production managers, supervisors, and department leaders to achieve manufacturing targets and operational objectives.
- Establish clear performance expectations, accountability measures, and production standards throughout the organization.
- Ensure effective coordination between manufacturing departments to maintain consistent workflow and eliminate production bottlenecks.
- Monitor production schedules, capacity, labor utilization, and output to ensure on-time delivery of customer orders.
- Partner with the VP of Manufacturing to develop and execute operational strategies supporting business growth and increased production demand.
- Oversee the successful implementation and management of multiple shifts as production requirements evolve.
Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, efficiency, quality, cost reduction, and operational performance.
- Identify manufacturing inefficiencies, process gaps, and workflow constraints, implementing sustainable corrective actions.
- Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), including production output, labor efficiency, schedule attainment, rework, and on-time delivery.
- Implement standardized processes, procedures, and performance expectations across manufacturing departments.
- Apply Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies to optimize production operations.
- Develop scalable manufacturing processes that support increased production volume without compromising quality or safety.
Leadership & Workforce Development
- Provide leadership, coaching, and development to production managers, supervisors, and manufacturing personnel.
- Build a culture of accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
- Partner with Human Resources to identify staffing needs, workforce development opportunities, succession planning, and leadership development initiatives.
- Evaluate organizational structure, staffing levels, and supervisory coverage to ensure appropriate resources are in place.
- Establish clear expectations for employee performance, attendance, productivity, and adherence to company policies.
- Develop strong frontline leadership capable of independently managing daily production activities.
Quality, Safety & Compliance
- Promote a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with company safety policies, OSHA regulations, and applicable manufacturing standards.
- Partner with Quality and Safety leadership to reduce defects, rework, incidents, and operational risks.
- Ensure manufacturing processes consistently meet engineering specifications, quality requirements, and customer expectations.
- Drive accountability for workmanship, quality standards, and adherence to established procedures.
- Support root cause analysis and corrective action initiatives to prevent recurring quality or production issues.
Financial & Resource Management
- Manage manufacturing performance with a strong focus on labor costs, overtime, productivity, and operational efficiency.
- Monitor resource utilization and recommend improvements to optimize manufacturing costs.
- Partner with Finance and executive leadership to support manufacturing budgets, labor planning, capital expenditures, and cost-control initiatives.
- Evaluate equipment, facility, staffing, and technology needs to support operational growth.
- Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing profitability through better resource allocation, process improvements, and increased productivity.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Strategic Execution
- Collaborate closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Project Management, Human Resources, and Finance to ensure alignment of manufacturing priorities.
- Partner with Supply Chain to address material availability, inventory constraints, and production readiness.
- Work with Engineering to resolve technical challenges, improve manufacturability, and minimize production disruptions.
- Provide regular manufacturing performance updates, operational risks, and improvement recommendations to the VP of Manufacturing and executive leadership.
- Support facility expansions, production transitions, new product introductions, and other strategic manufacturing initiatives.
- Translate company objectives into actionable manufacturing plans with measurable results.
- Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred. Equivalent experience will be considered.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including at least 5 years in a senior management or director-level role.
- Demonstrated experience overseeing large-scale manufacturing operations with multiple departments, production teams, and supervisory personnel.
- Proven success improving production output, operational efficiency, labor productivity, and manufacturing performance.
- Strong understanding of production planning, capacity management, manufacturing cost controls, and operational KPIs.
- Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement initiatives, and standardized production processes.
- Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth manufacturing environment with changing priorities and demanding production schedules.
- Experience with ERP systems and manufacturing reporting tools.
- Experience in HVAC manufacturing, industrial equipment, electrical integration, engineered-to-order products, or complex industrial manufacturing.
- Experience managing multi-shift manufacturing operations.
- Background in manufacturing environments involving mechanical assembly, electrical systems, refrigeration, fabrication, and equipment testing.
- Demonstrated success scaling manufacturing operations during periods of significant business growth.
- Experience supporting facility expansions, operational restructuring, and manufacturing process improvements.
- Lean Six Sigma certification or related continuous improvement training.
Success in this role will be measured by the ability to:
- Production Performance: Consistently achieve established manufacturing output and delivery targets.
- Operational Efficiency: Improve labor productivity, throughput, and manufacturing capacity.
- Quality: Reduce rework, defects, and production-related quality issues.
- Safety: Maintain a safe working environment and strengthen safety accountability.
- Leadership: Develop effective production managers and supervisors who consistently deliver results.
- Cost Management: Control labor expenses, overtime, and manufacturing costs while supporting production demand.
- Continuous Improvement: Implement measurable process improvements that support long-term operational growth.
The Director of Manufacturing must be a visible, engaged leader who takes ownership of shop performance. This individual should be comfortable spending time on the manufacturing floor, addressing challenges directly, making timely decisions, and holding leaders accountable for results.
We are looking for someone who can balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution, build strong teams, and bring the structure, discipline, and leadership necessary to support Safe Air Technology's continued growth.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Safe Air Technology is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law
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