Director of Manufacturing

WHO WE ARE
Level99 is a real-world gaming venue designed for adults, featuring over 50 mental and physical challenges in artistic environments. Games range from ninja warrior obstacle course style challenges to mental logic puzzles, and everything in between. Each challenge is quick—just 1 to 4 minutes—and Players can do the same room over and over again, or they can move on to something new. Like a video game, Players earn rewards, climb the leaderboard, and make progress – each time a Player comes back, the game remembers where they left off.  
Alongside the games, Level99 offers a full-service bar and award-winning restaurant – featuring scratch-cooking, local craft beers, handmade cocktails, and a variety of event spaces. Level99 has locations in Natick, MA, Providence, RI, and is opening in Tysons, VA, West Hartford, CT, and Disney Springs, FL. Level99 is backed by Act III Holdings, led by Panera founder Ron Shaich, and we have a talented team that has worked on successful entertainment projects ranging from 5 Wits to Walt Disney Imagineering. Visit www.level99.com for more details. 
OVERVIEW
The Director of Manufacturing will lead LEVEL99’s production operations, overseeing multi-disciplinary fabrication, strategic scheduling, and financial performance as a unique business unit. This role is responsible for managing the production department’s Profit & Loss (P&L), prioritizing the fabrication of previously designed challenges as well as the design and production of new challenge first articles. The Director will own the Master Production Schedule (MPS), develop lean processes, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality results on accelerated timelines. The ideal candidate is an experienced production leader with a proven ability to manage complex operations, drive profitability, and foster a high-performance team culture. All LEVEL99 employees are passionate about getting the details right, anticipating staff and guest needs, and advancing the LEVEL99 brand. The Director of Production embodies honesty, integrity, a positive approach to challenges, humility, and acts as though they are the Owner and Operator of each LEVEL99 venue.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Team Leadership & Development:
• Organize, grow, and manage the LEVEL99 production team, including departments such as wood shop, metal shop, CNC, paint, scenic/art, integrated technology (including low-voltage tech), and shipping & logistics.
• Identify staffing needs, write job descriptions, participate in hiring and interviews, and onboard new team members.


• Production Operations & Prioritization:
• Own and maintain the Master Production Schedule (MPS) to track, predict, and plan for the production team’s utilization & output across all core activities
• Estimate labor and material costs for projects pre-build, ensuring accurate budgeting and resource allocation.


• Financial and Business Management:
• Own the production department’s Profit & Loss (P&L), treating it as a standalone business unit responsible for profitability and financial performance.
• Develop and manage budgets, monitor costs, and implement cost-control measures to maximize profitability while maintaining quality.
• Analyze production efficiency, material usage, and labor costs to identify opportunities for financial improvement.


• Collaboration and Prototyping:
• Partner with the LEVEL99 Creative and Engineering departments (collectively the Design team) to create rapid prototypes during the workshopping phase of challenge development, ensuring designs are production ready.
• Participate in drawing & schematic reviews during the design phase to ensure manufacturability and alignment with production capabilities.
• Read and comprehend engineering shop drawings, ensuring the production team’s accurate execution of designs.


• Process and Technology Integration:
• Implement and maintain industry-standard software, including Microsoft Excel, Google Suite, Wrike (project management), Jira (used by Tech and Support teams), time tracking & HR software, ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, or Epicor), and Bluebeam (construction collaboration software).
• Identify and adopt technologies to enhance production efficiency and speed.

MUST-HAVE SKILLS

• 8+ years of experience in production management, with at least 5 years in a leadership role overseeing multi-disciplinary production teams (e.g., wood shop, metal shop, CNC, paint, scenic/art, technology, and shipping & logistics).
• Proven track record of accelerating p