Director, Manufacturing Operations

About Pierce an Oshkosh company

At Pierce Manufacturing we build trucks that protect people and communities around the world. To our team there is no room for anything less than providing the absolute best. Since 1913 building truck bodies on Model T Ford chassis in an old converted church has evolved to creating highly customized carefully designed and engineering pumpers aerials tankers and rescue units that have no equal. Today youll find more than 30000 Pierce apparatuses on the road that are making a difference in peoples lives every day. To us every step in the process of building our trucks is personal. From innovation and expertise to the customization and service. Our trucks are designed to perform under the toughest conditions.

Director of Manufacturing Operations R38517

Pierce Manufacturing a business unit of Oshkosh Corporation is seeking a results-driven Director of Manufacturing Operations to lead and evolve our manufacturing capabilities. Reporting to the VP of Operations this individual will drive strategic initiatives optimize production efficiency and cultivate a culture of safety innovation and excellence. The role is pivotal in supporting first responders by ensuring timely delivery of high-quality fire apparatus.

YOUR IMPACT:

Safety Leadership

• Promote a safety-first culture ensuring that OSHA EPA and internal policies are strictly followed.
• Conduct risk assessments emergency preparedness drills and proactively mitigate workplace hazards.
• Lead behavior-based safety programs and embed safety into all manufacturing processes.

Strategic Leadership

• Champion Industry 4.0 initiatives by integrating smart manufacturing technologies such as IoT data analytics and automation to enhance real-time decision-making increase efficiency and maintain competitive advantage.
• Develop and execute manufacturing strategies that align with corporate goals and customer expectations.
• Champion innovation and advanced manufacturing technologies to maintain a competitive edge.
• Plan for future scalability by aligning operational capabilities with demand forecasts.

Operational Excellence

• Oversee daily production to meet or exceed schedule budget and quality targets.
• Implement lean manufacturing practices Six Sigma and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Monitor and optimize key performance indicators (KPIs) like throughput cycle times and efficiency.

Capacity Expansion & Throughput Optimization

• Identify and eliminate bottlenecks to boost throughput and reduce lead times.
• Drive capital projects for facility upgrades process automation and resource expansion.
• Leverage real-time data and analytics for decision-making and process refinement.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead with a people-first mindset inspiring a high-performing team built on trust collaboration inclusion and continuous learning.
• Invest in training and development programs that prioritize employee well-being skill advancement safety compliance and leadership growth.
• Foster a culture of accountability and support by evaluating team performance recognizing contributions and implementing strategies that enhance both productivity and engagement.

Quality Assurance and Customer Satisfaction

• Ensure rigorous quality control standards and implement root-cause analysis for defect reduction.
• Collaborate with engineering and customer service to address issues and enhance product reliability.
• Support customer-centric initiatives that strengthen Pierces industry reputation.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with engineering supply chain HR sales and quality to drive unified execution.
• Align production plans with procurement logistics and inventory strategies.
• Support business transformation and digital initiatives.

Financial Stewardship

• Develop and manage operating budgets ensuring fiscal responsibility across production.
• Drive cost-reduction initiatives and resource optimization without sacrificing quality or safety.
• Justify capital expenditures and oversee ROI tracking for key investments.

Sustainability and Compliance

• Ensure environmental compliance and implement sustainable practices that reduce waste and energy usage.
• Promote responsible material usage and contribute to corporate environmental goals.

Communication and Reporting

• Deliver comprehensive reports to senior leadership on safety performance and strategic progress.
• Foster open communication across all levels of the organization.
• Build external partnerships with vendors regulatory bodies and other stakeholders.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors degree in engineering manufacturing business administration or related field.
• 12 years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations preferably in automotive OEM or heavy equipment industries.

STANDOUT QUALIFICATIONS:

• Proven success in scaling manufacturing operations and leading large teams.
• Expertise in lean manufacturing Six Sigma and continuous improvement tools.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA regulations safety leadership and quality systems.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a strategic mindset.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs)

• Safety: Incident rate near-miss reports training completion.
• Production: On-time delivery output efficiency cycle time.
• Quality: First-pass yield defect rate customer complaints.
• Finance: Cost per unit budget adherence ROI on investments.
• People: Team engagement scores retention training outcomes.

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Pay Range:

Oshkosh is committed to working with and offering reasonable accommodation to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to disability for any part of the employment process please contact us at

Oshkosh Corporation is a merit-based Equal Opportunity opportunities are open for application to all qualified individuals and selection decisions are made without regard to race color religion sex national origin age disability veteran status or other protected characteristic. To the extent that information is provided or collected regarding categories as provided by law it will in no way affect the decision regarding an employment application.

Oshkosh Corporation will not discharge or in any manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about discussed or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge (b) in furtherance of an investigation proceeding hearing or action including an investigation conducted by the employer or (c) consistent with Oshkosh Corporations legal duty to furnish information.

Certain positions with Oshkosh Corporation require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations or the Export Administration Regulations. Applicants for these positions may need to be U.S. Persons as defined in these regulations. Generally a U.S. Person is a U.S. citizen lawful permanent resident or an individual who has been admitted as a refugee or granted asylum.