Director of Manufacturing Operations – Custom Machine Builds - Greater Chicago area, IL

--> Free Resume Review Designed to Help You Land More Interviews *Mention Steve* <-- Home About Clients Candidates Network Jobs Steel to Circuits Director of Manufacturing Operations | Custom Machine Builds Addison, Illinois (Greater Chicago Area) $190K-$210K Direct Hire | Onsite, 5 Days | No Relocation: Chicagoland Candidates Only Lead manufacturing operations for the North American arm of a global precision machine tool manufacturer. The shop builds custom, engineered-to-order equipment for industrial, semiconductor, optics and advanced materials customers, one machine at a time to customer specification. You will report to the General Manager, North America, and sit one step from the top. The company is moving into a new state-of-the-art facility in Addison and expanding from one shift to two, and you will lead the operational side of both while production keeps running. The team is strong and well staffed. What the business needs is structure and rhythm around scheduling, labor planning and capacity. This is not a turnaround. It is a build-on-a-good-foundation role for someone who brings operational discipline. This is a hands-on role. You will be on the floor and engaged in daily execution. Anyone who manages exclusively through others will struggle here. The Environment Global precision machine tool manufacturer with a compact North America operation of roughly 15 people across production, machining, warehouse and skilled trades Machinists, machine builders, electricians and quality inspection, supported by two in-house application labs Low-volume, high-mix: custom builds, standard orders and new product introductions run in parallel, so the schedule is the constraint, not the capacity Small-company speed inside a global organization, with no layer of bureaucracy between you and the work Non-union, currently one shift, Monday through Friday What You’ll Own Manufacturing operations: All manufacturing and operational functions, including machining, assembly, production planning, inventory control, logistics and facilities. Set operational strategy, establish KPIs and drive continuous improvement that measurably moves productivity, quality and delivery. Keep Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Project Management, Sales and Service aligned. Scheduling, labor planning and project execution: Own production scheduling, resource planning, inventory management and material availability so custom builds, customer orders and NPI work are delivered to commitment. Establish disciplined labor planning and capacity management, coordinate priorities across concurrent builds, and address bottlenecks, supplier risk and forecast requirements before they become problems. Facility transition and shift expansion: Lead the operational side of the move, including equipment relocation, layout and workflow design, and sequencing the transition to protect delivery. Plan and execute the expansion to two shifts, including staffing, supervision coverage and shift handoff practices. Quality, continuous improvement and financial performance: Ensure compliance with customer requirements and quality standards. Lead Lean, 5S, Six Sigma and root-cause problem solving. Manage the departmental P&L, operational budgets, labor utilization, manufacturing costs and capital investment in support of gross margin. Leadership and organizational development: Build and develop the operations team through accountability, collaboration and safety. Develop organizational capability, succession plans and workforce strategy. Health, safety and compliance: Champion safety and operational discipline. Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental regulations and industry standards. Background Needed Manufacturing operations leadership in a machine tool, custom machine build, engineered-to-order, capital equipment, industrial machinery or automation environment. Candidates whose experience is exclusively high-volume or repetitive production will not be a fit. 10+ years of progressive manufacturing and operations leadership, including responsibility for production, planning, inventory, supply chain and workforce management Demonstrated strength in production scheduling and labor planning. This is the central requirement of the role. Strong command of Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Six Sigma, ERP/MRP systems, inventory management and manufacturing financials Experience leading in a small to mid-size shop, roughly 10 to 75 people on the floor, and comfort operating without a large support staff Highly organized, strong multitasker, comfortable hands-on Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Business or a related field Located in, or willing to commute to, the Chicago area. Relocation is not available. Also Valuable Plant startup, facility relocation or site consolidation experience Experience scaling an operation from one shift to two Integration experience supporting acquisitions Background with CNC machining, mechanical assembly, precision grinding, lapping, honing or finishing equipment Experience in job shop or project-based manufacturing rather than line production Interested in this open position? Submit your resume today! Copyright © 2026 SteveRecruiter, LLC - All Rights Reserved. Powered by This website uses cookies. We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data. Accept Not Looking? That’s When the Best Moves Happen. Most roles I fill never hit a job board. Send your resume and answer 5 quick questions, and you’ll hear from me first when the right search opens. Submit My Resume