Director of Operations

Carpigiani is seeking an experienced Director of Operations to lead manufacturing and operational performance at our High Point, North Carolina facility.

This position is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations while driving improvements in efficiency, quality, safety, cost control, production performance, and employee engagement. The Director of Operations will provide leadership across manufacturing, purchasing, inventory management, production planning, maintenance-related purchasing, and continuous improvement initiatives.

The successful candidate will combine strong manufacturing and technical knowledge with effective people leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to translate business priorities into measurable operational results.

Working closely with the President and leaders across the organization, the Director of Operations will help establish operational strategies, improve processes, support growth initiatives, and ensure teams remain aligned with company goals.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Manufacturing Leadership

• Provide leadership and direction for day-to-day manufacturing and operational activities.
• Oversee production involving sheet metal fabrication, machining, welding, electrical components, and manual assembly.
• Coordinate production activities to support the efficient manufacturing of industrial equipment.
• Partner with the Master Scheduler to establish effective production schedules and manufacturing plans.
• Establish best practices based on product mix to maximize productivity and crated dollars per labor hour.
• Ensure established production, cost, and schedule goals are achieved.
• Support the implementation of new products and engineering design changes.

Continuous Improvement & Lean Manufacturing

• Apply Lean Manufacturing principles to improve operational performance.
• Identify opportunities to improve quality, productivity, safety, cost, customer satisfaction, employee relations, and on-time delivery.
• Establish and monitor plant performance measures and visual management tools.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing operations.
• Evaluate existing workflows and production practices to identify opportunities for greater efficiency.
• Promote a culture of accountability, problem-solving, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Purchasing & Cost Management

• Establish cost-effective purchasing strategies for fabrication, final assembly, and Service Parts.
• Identify opportunities to improve purchasing practices and control manufacturing costs.
• Determine cost-effective approaches for internal maintenance and MRO purchasing.
• Evaluate make-versus-buy opportunities and make decisions that improve cost performance.
• Assist with the purchase of fixtures, tooling, and equipment calibration.
• Support cost-reduction and operational efficiency initiatives.

Production Planning & Inventory Management

• Develop inventory management plans that align inventory levels with production requirements.
• Collaborate with production planning, purchasing, and other departments to maintain appropriate inventory levels.
• Improve processes that support material availability while controlling excess inventory.
• Utilize SAP, Microsoft Office, and manual tools to calculate, record, and analyze operational data.
• Ensure transaction data accurately reflects shop floor activity and supports continuous improvement goals.

Project & Performance Management

• Apply project management techniques to operational initiatives and improvement projects.
• Establish and manage project milestones, costs, schedules, and performance expectations.
• Monitor progress and address operational challenges that could affect project objectives.
• Ensure operational initiatives are completed according to established cost and schedule goals.
• Collaborate across departments to support new products, design changes, and other business initiatives.

Safety

• Establish and maintain an effective workplace safety program.
• Develop and support a continuous safety improvement plan.
• Promote safe work practices throughout manufacturing operations.
• Integrate safety into operational planning, decision-making, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Supervise and manage direct and indirect employees, including full-time and temporary personnel.
• Establish clear expectations and accountability across operational teams.
• Foster a collaborative culture focused on teamwork, engagement, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Support employee performance and development.
• Communicate effectively across departments to ensure operational priorities are understood and supported.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or another relevant technical field preferred.
• Minimum of six years of related technical and supervisory experience.
• MRP/ERP expertise.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications.
• SAP experience preferred.
• CNC sheet metal and machining training.
• CPIM or APICS certification is helpful.

Preferred Skills & Abilities

• Strong leadership and management capabilities.
• Ability to make sound decisions with minimal oversight.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and manage expectations.
• Ability to consistently deliver tasks and projects on time.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly motivated and self-directed approach to work.
• Experience and proficiency with SAP.
• Bilingual proficiency in English/Spanish or English/Italian preferred.

What Success Looks Like

The ideal Director of Operations is a strategic, collaborative, and results-oriented leader who can balance long-term planning with the day-to-day needs of a manufacturing operation.

Success in this position requires strong teamwork, adaptability to changing business needs, a customer-focused mindset, and a commitment to quality.

The Director of Operations will play an important role in strengthening operational performance while building an environment centered on safety, quality, cost management, on-time delivery, productivity, and employee engagement.