How to hire a director of manufacturing operations

How to hire a director of manufacturing operations, step by step

Here's a step-by-step director of manufacturing operations hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a director of manufacturing operations job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new director of manufacturing operations
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a director of manufacturing operations do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a director of manufacturing operations, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A director of manufacturing operations's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, directors of manufacturing operations from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of directors of manufacturing operations and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Director Of Manufacturing Operations	Description	Hourly rate
   Director Of Manufacturing Operations	Top executives devise strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. They plan, direct, and coordinate operational activities of companies and organizations.	$49-94
   Operations Support Manager	Operations Support Managers are employees who handle different support initiatives for the employees or operations-related departments. These support initiatives may come in people management and upskilling, IT infrastructure assistance, or process improvement, among others... Show more	$22-63
   Operations Vice President	The responsibilities of an operations vice president will revolve around overseeing business operations and ensuring workforce and workflow efficiency through evaluations and providing strategic plans that would drive the company to meet its vision and mission. An operations vice president, in adherence to the company policies and regulations, also has the power to hire and train employees, even to execute disciplinary actions such as termination or suspension when necessary... Show more	$50-119

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Continuous Improvement
   • Supply Chain
   • Lean Six Sigma
   • Lean Manufacturing
   • FDA
   • Sigma
   • Process Improvement
   • Logistics
   • Quality Standards
   • R
   • Human Resources
   • ISO
   • Direct Reports
   • OSHA

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage production schedules and supervise a group of highly skil CNC machinists.
   • Manage all aspects of CNC machining, training, and machine and facilities maintenance.
   • Manage city and OSHA compliance through efficient facilities setups including power, water, and gas.
   • Manage contract manufacturing projects, inventory control and logistics process.
   • Manage OEM manufacturer for product assembly and internal manufacturing for product customization.
   • Rely upon to represent company and handle discussions with external FDA, UL, CSA and ISO personnel.

   More director of manufacturing operations duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your director of manufacturing operations job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A director of manufacturing operations salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, directors of manufacturing operations' average salary in oklahoma is 52% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level directors of manufacturing operations earn 48% less than senior-level directors of manufacturing operations.
   • Certifications. A director of manufacturing operations with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a director of manufacturing operations's salary.

   Average director of manufacturing operations salary

   $143,280yearly

   $68.88 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level director of manufacturing operations salary

   $103,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 27, 2025

   Average director of manufacturing operations salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Colorado	$196,128	$94
   2	Washington	$159,166	$77
   3	California	$152,028	$73
   4	Massachusetts	$150,205	$72
   5	Wisconsin	$142,772	$69
   6	Pennsylvania	$141,304	$68
   7	Illinois	$140,726	$68
   8	North Carolina	$139,506	$67
   9	Maryland	$137,077	$66
   10	Florida	$136,132	$65
   11	Texas	$131,727	$63
   12	Georgia	$127,445	$61
   13	Ohio	$125,160	$60
   14	Michigan	$118,870	$57
   15	Oklahoma	$97,031	$47

   Average director of manufacturing operations salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	NVIDIA	$181,386	$87.20	8
   2	Oculus	$168,320	$80.92
   3	Oshkosh	$167,094	$80.33	25
   4	Juniper Networks	$166,700	$80.14
   5	Magic Leap	$165,997	$79.81	1
   6	International Trucks	$164,090	$78.89
   7	Navistar	$161,932	$77.85	2
   8	Formulated Solutions	$161,446	$77.62	3
   9	Harley-Davidson	$159,142	$76.51	7
   10	Emergent BioSolutions	$157,945	$75.94
   11	Hewlett Packard Enterprise	$155,953	$74.98	6
   12	IDEMIA	$155,338	$74.68	7
   13	Neocis	$155,130	$74.58
   14	Valpak	$154,457	$74.26
   15	Solecta	$152,902	$73.51	1
   16	Ron	$152,513	$73.32
   17	Precipart	$151,376	$72.78
   18	Orora	$151,330	$72.75
   19	Arcosa	$150,658	$72.43	8
   20	Fred Hutch	$150,193	$72.21	3

4. Writing a director of manufacturing operations job description

   A director of manufacturing operations job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a director of manufacturing operations job description:

   Director of manufacturing operations job description example

   Job DescriptionAssociate Director, Manufacturing Operations Associate Director-Operations Southeast US Region ( MULTI-Site responsibility)
   
   We are currently seeking an experience Operations Leader, located ideally in the VA/TN or NC area to be central to our largest plant facilities, to take on a key role as the manager of operations for 4-5 different plant locations, including direct supervision of operations, Plant Leadership etc.
   
   You will be directly responsible for managing the performance of multiple manufacturing facilities including safety, quality, environmental, production, conversion costs and compliance with divisional and other corporate policies and procedures.
   
   PLEASE NOTE- we would IDEALLY like this role to be based in the BRISTOL, TN, SALISBURY, NC or the MARION, VA plant locations, but they MUST be open to travel, which may be anywhere from 25-50% at any given time.
   
   This role will directly lead and manage Plant Managers for multiple sites based on common products, technologies, and geography, Overseeing staff and ensuring objectives are met, assisting with the hiring/recruiting efforts to identify, attract, hire, and train staff, and ultimately Identifying key talent within the organization and creates development plans for future growth opportunities.
   Some of the day to day leadership duties will include:
   "Direct reporting responsibilities for Plant Manager(s) of the assigned facilities, and working with the the site PMs on projects including the planning and coordination of specific site major projects including installation of capital, major repairs, plant layout changes, and other needs as identified.
   
   "Training Plant Managers, Production Superintendents and other key management personnel on the effective utilization and availability of plant assets, and safety programs and maintain compliance with all relevant agencies, leading Audits and ensuring the operation of the plants to meets OSHA, EPA regulations and Company standards.
   
   "LEADING Continuous Improvement projects You will lead/direct resources and ensure success of Six Sigma Projects, Profit Improvement Plans, and other cost reduction initiatives
   
   "Team Direction, leadership, evaluation and motivation via periodic performance and communication meetings with all employees to share corporate vision, plant performance status, change management, community involvement activities, training and motivational efforts.
   
   This is a SENIOR leadership role, and ideally, we would need to see candidates with the following under their belt:
   "EDUCATION - B.S. degree in Management, Engineering or comparable field Advanced degrees in management, operations, or other certifications in Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing are all a plus.
   
   "EXPERIENCE This is a SENIOR level role, and we are looking for those leaders with a track record of increasing responsibilities over time, along with a minimum of five (5) years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
   
   "MULTI-SITE leadership experience is a MUST - Given this role will manage, direct, supervise and track multiple locations throughout the SE United States, we are seeking those with previous experience in management of multiple facilities or multiple organizations.
   
   "Extensive knowledge of plant operations, product quality, cost control and business development
   
   "STRONG communication, Leadership and organizational skills&. This manager needs to demonstrate excellent problem-solving abilities, and effective management skills, as well as the ability to effectively communicate in a written and verbal manner, in person or remotely with team members and team leaders at all levels. This person must be a strong motivator, and someone able to PUMP up the team to help bring energy, and a PUSH to be their best.
   
   "PLEASE NOTE - This role will lead sites/teams in NC, VA, TN and perhaps other locations over time&&You MUST be Willing to travel on a regular basis, sometimes up to 50% as needed What's In It for YouPLEASE NOTE - this role is eligible for a competitive salary but also a comprehensive bonus program including quarterly, annual and other incentives based on a number of goals/parameters....The numbers listed in this post are salary numbers, not total package.So, if you are a "willing to travel" and multi-site Associate Director of Manufacturing with experience listed above, please apply, email and get in touch today! - Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.
   
   CyberCoders, Inc is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer
   
   All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
   
   Your Right to Work – In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find directors of manufacturing operations for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any directors of manufacturing operations they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level directors of manufacturing operations with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your director of manufacturing operations job on Zippia to find and recruit director of manufacturing operations candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit directors of manufacturing operations, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new director of manufacturing operations

   Once you've found the director of manufacturing operations candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new director of manufacturing operations. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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