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About the job

Imagine how your ideas and expertise can change a patient’s life. Our Global Operations & Quality team plays a central part in ensuring our products are delivered to patients with cardiovascular disease. You’ll partner cross-functionally with manufacturing operations and sales teams, delivering thoughtful solutions to complex challenges all while developing your knowledge of the medical device industry. Whether your work includes strategic inventory planning, labeling, warehouse management, material handling, or any of our other supply chain opportunities, you will be making a meaningful contribution to our team and to patients all over the world.

The Senior Director, Plant Operations is accountable for end-to-end site performance, leading all manufacturing, engineering, and site support functions to deliver on safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.

This role serves as the site leader with full ownership of daily execution, workforce development, operational strategy, and engineering integration. The leader ensures stable and compliant operations while building a high-performing, engaged culture and a strong foundation for future site growth.

How you'll make an impact:

Lead overall plant operations, ensuring safe, compliant, and uninterrupted manufacturing execution

Own delivery of core metrics: Safety, Quality, Delivery (MPS/PvA), Cost (absorption), Inventory, and Capacity

Drive execution of production plans, ensuring line capacity, staffing alignment, and schedule adherence

Establish daily management systems to identify and resolve operational issues rapidly

Maintain full accountability for site performance, escalation, and recovery execution

Lead both operations and engineering organizations as one integrated system

Ensure engineering provides: Daily manufacturing support and issue resolution

Process stability, capability, and compliance

Continuous improvement through yield, cycle time, and cost optimization

Ensure strong execution of RCA, CAPA, validation, and change control processes

Build technical depth across teams, including operators, technicians, and engineers

Ensure site readiness to support growth, product transfers, and operational scaling

Balance short-term execution with long-term capability building

Lead site-level portfolio of strategic initiatives (e.g., BEx, TOPP, Site relocation, NPI introduction, automation)

Identify risks early and implement mitigation plans across cross-functional teams

Drive a Lean / Six Sigma / EPS-based culture of continuous improvement

Implement and sustain value stream thinking and waste elimination

Own plant financial performance, including: Cost management and productivity

Capital planning and deployment

Budget adherence and expense prioritization

Optimize resource allocation across labor, equipment, and materials

Ensure alignment between financial targets and operational plans

Build and lead a high-performing, engaged organization across operations and engineering

Establish strong technical training programs for operators and engineers

Drive a culture of accountability, inclusion, and continuous learning

Provide coaching, feedback, and performance management across all levels

Partner with Quality, Supply Chain, Maintenance, and PEGs to ensure alignment

Align with other plants to drive standardization and best practice sharing

Ensure full compliance with regulatory, quality, and EHS requirements

Champion a zero-injury, safety-first culture

Maintain readiness for audits, inspections, and regulatory reviews

Ensure environmental compliance and sustainable operations

Direct oversight of: Manufacturing Operations

Manufacturing Engineering / Process Engineering

Production Support functions (as applicable)

Manage through managers/supervisors with selective direct reports

Balance hands-on leadership with strategic direction

What you'll need (Required):

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field

Progressive experience in manufacturing leadership (operations + engineering)

Demonstrated success leading plant operations or equivalent functional scope

Strong financial acumen and track record of delivering operational results

What else we look for (Preferred):

MBA or Master's degree in Engineering Management

At least 14 years of related experience

Experience working in a regulated industry, medical device industry

Experience working with Metals

Proven leadership of cross-functional manufacturing organizations

Expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and production systems (EPS)

Strong financial and operational decision-making capability

Excellent communication and stakeholder influence at all levels

Ability to lead in a dynamic, scaling environment

Edwards is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer including protected Veterans and individuals with disabilities.