Director, Operations

Company Overview

Nikkiso Clean Energy & Industrial Gases is a leading provider of cryogenic pumps, heat exchangers, process systems, services, and solutions for the LNG and industrial gases industry. We are a subsidiary of Nikkiso Company Ltd, a leading industrial manufacturer headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, with over $1.5 B in annual revenue, 8000 + employees worldwide, and publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Nikkiso ACD is an engineering and manufacturing company specializing in machinery designed to operate at cryogenic temperatures as low as – 420 degrees Fahrenheit, the boiling point of Liquid hydrogen. For over 50 years, Nikkiso ACD has specialized in centrifugal and reciprocating pumps as well as turbines for air separation. Nikkiso ACD has the most diversified product line in the industry covering nearly every application requiring pumps or turboexpanders.

Job Overview

The Director, Operations is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the manufacturing process. This role will develop and implement strategies that optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of the manufacturing operations to ensure the delivery of high-quality products on time and within budget.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement operational strategies that improve the efficiency, productivity, and profitability of the manufacturing operations for cryogenic pumps
• Ensure that manufacturing operations comply with all relevant safety and environmental regulations
• Develop and manage the annual manufacturing budget and monitor and control expenses to ensure that they remain within budgetary constraints
• Identify and implement process improvements that increase efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance product quality while reducing product cost and increase margins
• Manage and develop a large team of manufacturing professionals, providing coaching and mentoring to enable them to reach their full potential
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, design, and sales, to ensure that products meet customer requirements
• Maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders, including suppliers, customers, and outsourced manufacturing partners
• Develop and implement consistent processes and best practice strategies, policies, procedures, and goals
• Work cross-functionally with product manager, product development, engineering and project management teams to ensure company goals are met and the necessary support to deliver on time is provided  
• Lead the effort in identification, recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, training, and ongoing engagement of high-performance team members
• Monitor and analyze key performance indicators for manufacturing such as safety, quality, delivery, cost, cash and, people
• Address escalated customer issues with speed and urgency, orchestrating resources across the company as appropriate
• Identify and remove obstacles to delivering products consistently on time with the right quality

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, or Operations Management, or related field or equivalent work experience
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in a manufacturing leadership role, preferably in the rotating equipment industry
• Extensive knowledge in manufacturing that are consistent with pump products, and how they are manufactured for the cryogenic industry preferred
• Proven track record of developing and implementing operational strategies that improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability
• Experience managing budgets and controlling expenses for operations
• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements and environmental and safety regulations
• Extensive knowledge in lean manufacturing
• Strong knowledge of quality control systems and procedures
• Hands-on experience working with global manufacturing operations
• Broad knowledge of multi-functional and multi-site teams working in a global environment
• Broad knowledge working with cryogenic industries
• Hands-on experience with Problem Solving / Six Sigma
• Project Planning / Project Management experience is preferred
• Ability to communicate effectively with senior management
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Progressive experience in roles leading manufacturing operations
• High adaptability and flexibility, including the ability to manage deadline pressure, ambiguity, and change
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to connect with and positively influence leadership at all levels of the organization
• Self-motivated with extremely strong sense of urgency-act as a change agent in the organization