Director of Manufacturing Operations
Location: Hybrid / On-site (as required)
Reports to: COO
The Director of Manufacturing Operations is responsible for end-to-end manufacturing execution and scale for DeNova Detect’s life-safety product portfolio. This role ensures that products are built safely, on time, on cost, and in compliance, while building a resilient manufacturing ecosystem capable of supporting rapid growth across retail, commercial, utility, and legislative-driven demand.
This leader serves as the operational bridge between engineering, supply chain, quality, regulatory, and commercial teams, translating product strategy into reliable, scalable production.
Core Responsibilities
Manufacturing & Production Leadership
- Own global manufacturing strategy across internal and contract manufacturing partners
- Establish and manage production plans aligned with sales forecasts and launch timelines
- Ensure consistent achievement of cost, quality, delivery, and yield targets
- Lead capacity planning to support demand surges driven by retail promotions, legislation, or national media exposure
- Drive continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies
Contract Manufacturer & Supplier Management
- Select, onboard, and manage contract manufacturers (CMs) and key component suppliers
- Negotiate manufacturing agreements, pricing, lead times, and service-level expectations
- Implement performance scorecards for CMs and suppliers (OTIF, quality, cost, responsiveness)
- Conduct regular audits and business reviews to ensure compliance and risk mitigation
Quality, Compliance & Regulatory Readiness
- Ensure manufacturing processes comply with all applicable standards and certifications, including:
- UL /ETL (as applicable)
- State and federal life-safety regulations
- Partner with internal teams to support certifications, audits, and change control
- Ensure all NCE Quality Control metrics are met or exceeded
- Implement continuous improvement process for quality and manufacturing
- Own manufacturing-related corrective actions (CAPAs), root cause analysis, and preventive controls
New Product Introduction (NPI) & Scale-Up
- Lead manufacturing readiness for new product introductions from pilot builds through mass production
- Partner with Engineering on DFM/DFA, tooling decisions, and test strategies
- Establish production validation, ramp-up plans, and early yield stabilization
Cost Management & Margin Expansion
- Drive COGS reduction initiatives without compromising safety or quality
- Optimize labor, materials, tooling, and logistics costs
- Support margin expansion initiatives tied to volume growth and supplier consolidation
Risk Management & Business Continuity
- Identify and mitigate manufacturing risks (single-source suppliers, geopolitical risk, capacity constraints)
- Develop contingency plans for supply disruptions, demand spikes, or quality events
- Support inventory strategy decisions in collaboration with Supply Chain and Finance
Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Serve as a key operational voice in executive planning and growth discussions
- Collaborate closely with our Japan Engineering Team, Sales and Marketing
Required Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field
- 10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations, preferably in:
- Consumer electronics
- Life-safety, IoT, or regulated hardware products
- Proven experience managing contract manufacturers and global supply partners
- Strong working knowledge of regulated manufacturing environments
- Demonstrated success scaling production in high-growth environments
Preferred
- MBA or advanced degree
- Experience with UL-listed or safety-critical products
- Lean Six Sigma certification
- Experience supporting national retail or utility-driven distribution models
This role is critical to DeNova Detect’s ability to save lives at scale. As demand grows through retail expansion, legislative adoption, and national awareness campaigns, the Director of Manufacturing Operations ensures that every product shipped meets the company’s promise of safety, reliability, and trust.
