JOST International · 1 month ago
Director of Operations, NA
Grand Haven,MI,US
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
10+ years expJOST International is a global leader in the commercial vehicle and agricultural industries, committed to innovation and quality. They are seeking a Director of Operations for North America, responsible for driving operational excellence across multiple manufacturing sites, ensuring safety, quality, and efficiency in processes while leading a high-performance team.
AutomotiveIndustrialManufacturing
Responsibilities
Lead all operations across North America with full P&L accountability for manufacturing performance (safety, quality, delivery, cost, and inventory)
Build and maintain a disciplined operating system including daily management, tiered accountability, and standardized leader work
Drive operational stability, repeatability, and adherence to robust processes, ensuring that improvements sustain
Serve as the senior champion for Lean, Operational Excellence, and waste elimination across the region
Lead Kaizen events, value-stream mapping, standardization, and deployment of lean tools consistent with TPS-based methodologies
Embed CI culture into every department with measurable gains in productivity, cost reduction, and quality
Drive simplification of processes and organizational design to improve flow, reduce lead times, and optimize working capital
Ensure a world-class safety culture built on proactive hazard identification, mitigation, and employee engagement
Strengthen quality systems and lead systemic problem solving using structured methodologies (8D, PDCA, A3)
Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements, internal standards, and customer specifications
Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing operational leadership team across all sites
Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and cross-functional collaboration
Demonstrate humility, emotional intelligence, and strong interpersonal skills—leading without ego and enabling others to succeed
Promote talent development, succession planning, and leadership pipeline growth at all levels
Develop and implement long-term manufacturing strategies aligned with Americas and Global business objectives
Lead footprint optimization including capacity planning, automation/digitization initiatives, vertical integration opportunities, and local-for-local sourcing
Participate in capital planning and capital appropriation requests (CAR) with strong business case development and ROI methodology
Support M&A integration including operational due diligence and post-closing synergy realization
Collaborate closely with Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Logistics to ensure on-time material availability, supplier performance, and efficient flow of product
Improve S&OP maturity, forecasting accuracy, and production scheduling discipline
Optimize transportation, inventory levels, and warehouse operations to improve cost and service
Engage with OEM and Tier-1 customers to support audits, business reviews, capacity analyses, and launch readiness
Partner with Engineering and Program Management to ensure flawless new product introduction (APQP, PPAP, launch readiness)
Support Sales and Commercial teams in customer negotiations by providing accurate operational cost models, manufacturing scenarios, and capacity plans
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field
10–15+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience within Tier-1 automotive, commercial vehicle, heavy equipment, or industrial manufacturing environment
Demonstrated success leading large multi-site operations
Proven track record of end-to-end lean transformation—not just incremental improvements
Expertise in implementing structured operating systems (lean/TPS, LSW, tiered meetings, Gemba leadership)
Strong experience with safety programs, quality systems, and regulatory compliance
Demonstrated capability to lead automation, robotics, and digitization initiatives
Financial acumen with experience managing multi-site budgets, CapEx, inventory, and operational KPIs
Exceptional leadership presence—confident yet humble, disciplined yet collaborative
Preferred
MBA or MS preferred
U.S. and Mexico experience strongly preferred
Experience with high-mix, medium-volume manufacturing; metal fabrication, welding, machining, or complex assemblies is highly beneficial
Company
JOST International
JOST International is a manufacturer of parts for the heavy-duty trucking industry.
501-1000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageRecent News
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