Director of Operations- North America

Company Overview

Meridian is an automotive company and the world leader in the design, engineering and manufacturing of high-quality magnesium and aluminum die cast components. We are driven to provide lightweight, innovative, and effective solutions for our distinguished automotive clients around the globe.

Primary Purpose of Position

Reporting to the CEO, the incumbent serves as a member of the company’s senior staff and is responsible for all manufacturing activities and operations within North America. Provides leadership and drives operational, safety, people, quality, and cost and customer excellence through rigorous methodology, systems, tools, budgets and controls. Oversees plant budget plans and variance controls against standard. Leads in expansion initiatives and short & long term strategic planning process as well as any special project activities.

Major Responsibilities of Position

• Together with the Chief Executive Officer and other members of the senior staff, participates in the design and implementation of the company’s strategic direction.
• Oversees all plant managers’ manufacturing activities and disseminates best practices and standardization across the locations.
• Develops and implements annual operations budgets and oversees manufacturing operations to achieve budgeted profit results and other financial and operating criteria.
• Interacts with the company’s customers to address all significant manufacturing issues and concerns. Provides leadership and direction to assure customer satisfaction. Assures that the manufacturing operations are highly responsive to all customer quality requirements.
• Develops key indicators of manufacturing performance and organizes the manufacturing operations to meet performance and cost reduction goals. Drives continuous improvement in the manufacturing operations.
• Works cooperatively with the business development and corporate engineering function in evaluating new product initiatives and business opportunities.
• Develops and maintains a sound plan for effective organization in each facility. Establishes policies to ensure manufacturing management development and to provide for capable management succession.
• Ensures all corporate activities and operations are carried out in compliance with local, state, provincial and federal regulations and laws governing business operations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
  
  

Educational and Certification Background

• Minimum of 15 years progressive work experience including supervisory, budget, engineering, business development, manufacturing and project management experience
• Thorough knowledge of automotive manufacturing, extensive high pressure magnesium die casting experience would be an asset
• Bachelors’ Degree in Engineering, or related discipline
  
  

Personal Competencies (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, And Other Attributes)

• Demonstrated knowledge of, and familiarity with, all TPS/Lean and Six Sigma tools including but not limited to VSM, Standard Work, Pull Systems & Kanban, Cellular Manufacturing, Lean Management, 5S/Visual Management, 3P, SMED, TPM, Transactional Process Improvement, Variation Reduction & Six Sigma. Black Belt certification is desirable but not required.
• Solid root cause analysis and troubleshooting capabilities.
• Demonstrated success influencing cultural change and be a motivational leader.
• Must be proficient in presenting business case for equipment purchases and refurbishment.
• Demonstrated the execution of a company/operational strategy at a site basis, while providing linkages to performance of day-to-day operations.
• Exhibiting professional behavior with both internal/external business associates that reflects positively on the company and is consistent with the company’s policies and practices.
• Demonstrate outstanding communication skills across multicultural and expansive facilities.
• Ability to travel to all company and customer global locations as needed to assess programs, developments and support client relationships.
  
  

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