Director, Manufacturing Operations

About Us: Merz is a family-owned medical device and pharmaceutical company headquartered in Germany. Our Global Technical Operations based in WI manufactures, packages and ships several innovative products so that people all over the world can live better, feel better, and look better.

A Brief Overview

As the Director, Manufacturing Operations, you’ll be the driving force behind strategic supplier partnerships, ensuring high-quality products are manufactured and delivered on time, every time. You’ll lead cross-functional teams, manage complex programs, and champion initiatives that boost efficiency, reduce costs, and maximize product impact across its lifecycle. With a sharp focus on compliance, innovation, and collaboration, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping supply operations and bringing market-ready solutions to life.

Key Responsibilities

Planning &Scheduling

• Identify and direct key activities so that approved products are manufactured and released on schedule, within quality standards and budget objectives, per plan.
• Develop and ensure updated back up plans exist to meet production targets during equipment downtime or vendor caused issues.
  
  

Oversight

• Actively manage the Master Supply Agreements and oversight to contract operations
  
  

Process Improvement

• Promote application of lean initiatives and new technology to products, processes and equipment.
• Partner with sustaining engineering to identify improvements in manufacturing equipment/process to improve productivity and quality of current and future products while expecting cost reductions.
  
  

Business Monitoring

• Ensure area and personnel MBOs, budgets, KPIs, manning levels, and other business monitoring tools are developed and achieved on an annual basis.
  
  

New Product/Process Support

• Attend and participate on product development teams for new products and processes that will require manufacturing time and manufacturing resources.
• Plan, budget, and implement initiatives for manufacturing of new products or with new processes.
  
  

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Business, or equivalent. Required
• Industrial Engineering background or training.
• Trained in and has applied Lean and Six Sigma (Green or Black belt) principles.
• Advanced training in personnel management.
• Extensive hands-on experience and supervision of manufacturing department, engineering, or quality (10+ years). Required
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience managing contract production. Preferred
• Masters Degree. Preferred
• Technical & Functional Skills
  
  

Knowledge Skills And Abilities

• Demonstrated personnel / proven record of project leadership and management skills; adherence to KPIs.
• Strong interpersonal skills, mechanical aptitude, and proven ability to implement lean principles.
• Demonstrated aptitude and ability to successfully manage production plans while meeting scheduled program/project deadlines; must be able to work both independently and with a teams and accurate planning skills and ability to implement under budget constraints.
• While not required, the ability to speak and/or understand German would be beneficial.
• Working knowledge of FDA, OSHA, ISO, and other bodies regulating requirements for manufacturing, production, and warehouse areas.
• Strong technical skills to fully understand and solve manufacturing related issues that occur in daily activities and projects/programs.
• Understanding of SAP system and operation, BOMs, Routers, COGs, etc.
• Proficient use of Microsoft Programs (ex: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project); Sharepoint; Jaber; Ariba; Axxerion, SAP, and other production related software.
• Ability to interact and work well with personnel at all levels of the organization and ability to direct staff to most effectively use their time and skills.
• Strong skills in training staff and/.or working with personnel needing to train staff on job functions and responsibilities.
  
  

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
• 20 days of Paid Time Off
• 15 paid holidays
• Paid Sick Leave
• Paid Parental Leave
• 401(k)
• Employee bonuses
• And more!
  
  

Your benefits and PTO start the date you're hired with no waiting period.