Director of Manufacturing - Skid Production

Kurita America is part of the Kurita Group, one of the leading water solutions providers in the world. Established in 1949, the Kurita Group is comprised of an international network of approximately 8000 employees located in 18 countries.

Located in Minneapolis, MN, Kurita America brings innovations to market through a holistic water management approach, incorporating state-of-the art equipment, chemistries, engineering, and services to conserve natural resources for a better, more sustainable world.

Kurita’s  corporate philosophy is to study the properties of water, master them and create an environment in which nature and humanity are in harmony

The Director of Manufacturing is responsible for leading the factory department that fabricates skid and modular systems and for achieving safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity objectives. In alignment with business plans and customer requirements, this position optimizes manufacturing strategy, staffing, equipment utilization, production flow, shipping/receiving, and inventory control to maintain a stable and efficient operation.

This role works cross-functionally with Sales, Engineering, Quality, Production Control, Supply Chain, and EHS to lead operations from planning through shipment. Through performance analysis, continuous improvement, talent development, and risk management, the Director of Manufacturing builds a high-performing organization capable of delivering consistent results.

Title: Director of Manufacturing

Leadership of the Skid Fabrication Department

• Develop the department’s long-range strategy, annual goals, budget, and workforce plan in alignment with overall business objectives.
• Establish production plans and fabrication priorities based on order demand, engineering release status, material availability, and plant capacity to meet customer delivery commitments.
• Lead performance management for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity metrics, and direct timely corrective action when performance gaps or risks are identified.
• Continuously improve production processes, plant layout, equipment utilization, material flow, and outsourcing strategy to increase capacity, efficiency, and operational flexibility.
• Oversee quality assurance and quality control systems to ensure products conform to drawings, specifications, customer requirements, and internal standards, and lead efforts to prevent recurrence of nonconformances.
• Lead, coach, and develop managers, supervisors, and team members within the manufacturing organization, including organizational design, succession planning, performance management, and employee engagement.
• Partner with Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Production Control, Sales, and EHS to resolve cross-functional issues and support smooth execution through shipment.
• Ensure manufacturing operations comply with EHS requirements, applicable regulations, and company policies, with accountability for preventing serious safety incidents and significant quality issues.
• Primary work location is the manufacturing facility, with occasional travel to other company sites, suppliers, and customer locations as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervises manufacturing managers, supervisors, and direct and indirect staff within the manufacturing organization. This role customarily and regularly directs the work of two or more full-time employees or the equivalent and participates in hiring, performance management, discipline, promotion, and other employment decisions.

Other Duties

• Provide regular updates to executive leadership regarding department performance, risks, and improvement plans.
• Support and lead continuous improvement initiatives such as Lean, 5S, standardization, and automation.
• Make decisions on critical operational issues within the scope of the role and support broader business decisions as needed.
• Lead special projects and cross-functional initiatives assigned by executive leadership.
• Perform duties with a high level of integrity, professionalism, and compliance awareness.
• Escalate significant operational issues and risks to senior leadership in a timely manner and request support when necessary.
• Travel up to 10% to 20% may be required based on business needs.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, quality standards, and safety requirements.
• Promote a culture that maintains a safe, organized, and orderly work environment.
• Respond promptly to critical issues such as production interruptions, delivery delays, significant quality defects, safety concerns, and cost overruns, and communicate impacts to relevant stakeholders.

Scope of Essential Functions

• Demonstrated strategic planning, organizational leadership, financial acumen, analytical capability, negotiation skill, decision-making ability, problem-solving skill, interpersonal communication, change leadership, customer focus, discretion, and time management.
• Working knowledge of factory manufacturing, skid assembly, welding, piping, quality assurance, safety management, equipment maintenance, and supply chain concepts, with the ability to lead optimization across the full department.

Education & Experience

• Management experience in a manufacturing organization producing industrial equipment, process systems, packaged units, skids, modules, or similar products.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
• Ten or more years of manufacturing-related experience and five or more years of leadership experience managing teams and supervisors are strongly preferred.

Tools & Equipment

• Personal computer, printer, standard office equipment, and plant communication devices.
• Software proficiency with Windows, Microsoft Office applications, ERP/MRP systems, production planning tools, quality systems, and data analysis tools.
• Ability to read and interpret drawings, specifications, and process documentation and apply that information to manufacturing decisions and cross-functional problem solving.

Certifications/Licenses

• Valid driver’s license preferred.
• Professional certifications in manufacturing, quality, supply chain, or Lean methodologies are a plus.
• Training or working knowledge in safety management and EHS practices is preferred.
• Experience supporting customer audits and quality audits is preferred.
• Certifications such as PMP, Lean Six Sigma, or APICS/ASCM are desirable

Equal Opportunity Employer, including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities