Position Overview
This is not a traditional plant operations role.
Sapphire is seeking a hands-on operations leader who has helped scale complex engineered products from low-volume production into scalable, industrialized manufacturing operations. The mandate is to help build the operational engine required to support aggressive growth over the next several years, including manufacturing scale-up, contract manufacturing, supply chain development, production readiness, and operational execution.
The products are highly engineered electro-mechanical systems requiring operational sophistication, cross-functional integration, and disciplined manufacturing scale-up—not high-volume commodity production.
This role is best suited for someone who has operated in high-growth manufacturing environments where products, processes, teams, and operational infrastructure were being built in real time—not simply maintained within mature operations.
The successful candidate will have experience building structure, processes, and operational discipline within fast-growing manufacturing environments while balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution.
Position Overview
The Operations Leader will oversee manufacturing operations, supply chain, production planning, contract manufacturing relationships, quality systems, and operational scale-up initiatives.
This individual will partner closely with Engineering and executive leadership to industrialize production, improve operational readiness, strengthen supplier and manufacturing capabilities, and support the transition into significantly higher production volumes.
The role requires a leader capable of integrating manufacturing, sourcing, operations, and engineering into a scalable operating model capable of supporting rapid commercial growth.
Requirements
Key Responsibilities
Manufacturing Scale-Up & Industrialization
- Build scalable manufacturing operations supporting rapid
growth of complex engineered systems.
- Lead production readiness, throughput planning,
operational ramp-up, process development, and manufacturing
scalability initiatives.
- Establish operational processes and infrastructure
required to support higher-volume production.
Contract Manufacturing & Supply Chain
- Lead contract manufacturing strategy and outsourced production
relationships, including supplier selection, readiness, quality,
delivery performance, and cost management.
- Build and strengthen supply chain capabilities supporting
increasingly complex material and production requirements.
- Develop sourcing and operational risk mitigation
strategies aligned with long-term growth objectives.
Operational Expansion & Execution
- Support production line build-outs, manufacturing expansion
initiatives, and operational scaling efforts.
- Help establish scalable manufacturing workflows,
operational systems, staffing structures, and production processes.
- Drive operational discipline, execution cadence, and
performance accountability across the organization.
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Partner closely with Engineering to ensure
manufacturability and successful transition from product
development into scalable production.
- Work cross-functionally with executive leadership, program
management, and commercial teams to align operational
execution with customer requirements and growth objectives.
- Help build the operational structure, leadership
capability, and organizational discipline required for scale.
Quality & Operational Systems
- Implement and strengthen quality systems, manufacturing
KPIs, operational reporting, and process controls.
- Support development of scalable operational disciplines
across manufacturing, planning, supply chain, and production.
Operational Expansion & Execution
- Build a scalable manufacturing and operational roadmap aligned
with aggressive growth targets.
- Strengthen contract manufacturing and supplier
capabilities to support production scale-up.
- Improve operational readiness, throughput planning,
execution discipline, and manufacturing scalability.
- Establish operational structure and processes capable of
supporting rapid commercial growth.
- Become a trusted operational leader capable of driving
execution in a fast-moving, high-growth environment.
Qualifications
Candidate Profile - Experience & Background
- 15+ years of operations, manufacturing, industrialization, or
supply chain leadership experience within complex manufacturing
environments.
- Demonstrated success scaling manufacturing operations
during periods of rapid growth, commercialization, or
operational build-out.
- Experience launching or expanding manufacturing
operations, production lines, or major capacity expansion initiatives.
- Strong experience leading contract manufacturing,
outsourced production, or global manufacturing partnerships.
- Background within complex electro-mechanical systems,
industrial equipment, power systems, energy technology,
thermal management, automotive-adjacent manufacturing, or
other engineered products environments.
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical
field required.
Technical & Operational Competencies
- Strong understanding of manufacturing scale-up,
industrialization, production planning, throughput optimization,
and operational readiness.
- Experience integrating manufacturing, supply chain,
sourcing, and engineering functions within high-growth environments.
- Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, operational
excellence, and quality systems.
- Experience with ERP systems, operational metrics, and
manufacturing process improvement.
- Experience supporting medium-volume production of highly
engineered systems strongly preferred.
Leadership Profile
- Hands-on builder comfortable operating in entrepreneurial and
rapidly changing environments.
- Able to balance strategic leadership with tactical execution.
- Strong communicator and cross-functional partner capable
of building alignment across technical and operational teams.
- Demonstrated ability to build teams, operational
processes, and organizational structure during periods of
scale-up and growth.
Benefits
We offer a competitive benefits package designed to support the
health, well-being, and financial security of our employees.
Eligible team members receive paid vacation, paid sick time,
comprehensive health benefits, and participation in a 401(k)
retirement plan with company match. This role is based in a
fast-paced manufacturing environment where teamwork, reliability,
safety, and attention to detail are essential to success.
The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive
list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow
any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as
assigned, by their supervisor. Management reserves the right to
change, rescind, add or delete the duties and responsibilities of
positions within this job classification at any time.
Sapphire Technologies is an equal opportunity employer and
prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national
origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical
or mental disability, or veteran status. This policy applies to
recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations,
compensation and benefits and also states that retaliation against
any employee who files a complaint regarding possible violations
of this policy will not be tolerated.