Director of Manufacturing

Are you passionate about leading manufacturing operations and driving process improvements? Do you enjoy mentoring diverse teams and ensuring high-quality production standards?

MANA is the world’s leading contract and private label cosmetics manufacturer of color cosmetics, skincare, and hair care. We’re looking for a proactive Director of Manufacturing to join our team. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in managing batching and mixing operations for both liquid and powder products.

What you will do

As the Director of Manufacturing, you will oversee our production operations, develop strategic production plans, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. You will lead a team of supervisors, optimize manufacturing processes, and drive continuous improvement initiatives to meet production targets and quality standards.

The ideal candidate will have at least 15 years of experience in manufacturing management, with a strong background in managing batching and mixing operations for both liquid and powder products. Additionally, they should ensure that equipment is properly maintained and failures are investigated. The candidate must also demonstrate a proven track record of effectively managing diverse teams.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of supervisors across pre-weighing, chemical batching, grinding, equipment maintenance, and powder batching operations.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performance culture, ensuring alignment with company goals and objectives.
• Provide guidance, support, and professional development opportunities to team members from diverse backgrounds.
• Develop and implement strategic production plans (with the Planning Team) to meet production targets, quality standards, and customer demands.
• Continuously assess and optimize manufacturing processes to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and improve overall productivity.
• Utilize lean manufacturing principles and methodologies to drive operational excellence and cost-effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards for cosmetics, skincare, and OTC product manufacturing, including cleaning and sanitization procedures.
• Partner with Quality to establish qualification and validation protocols that follow industry best practices and meet FDA requirements while reflecting factory equipment capability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including quality assurance, research and development, and regulatory affairs, to address quality-related issues and drive continuous improvement.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure manufacturing performance and operational efficiency.
• Monitor production metrics, analyze data, and generate regular reports to track progress, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
• Proactively identify areas for improvement and implement corrective actions to optimize manufacturing processes and achieve business objectives.
• Ensure quality and timeliness of root cause analysis and effective corrective actions in support of investigations.
• Interact with customers as required during new product development.
• Maintain GMP standards and documentation practices within the facility in compliance with FDA and MoCRA regulatory requirements.
• Maintain inventory accuracy through a combination of management practices and cycle counting.
• Identify opportunities for capital expenditure on equipment, tooling, and supplies to enhance production efficiency and maintain state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to direct reports, fostering their professional development, enhancing their skills, and supporting their career growth within the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Operations Management, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in batch manufacturing management within the cosmetics, skincare, OTC/drug, or related industries. Contract manufacturing experience preferred.
• Extensive knowledge and hands-on experience with liquid and powder compounding equipment, including but not limited to mixers, blenders, homogenizers, and pulverizers, ensuring optimal operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Strong knowledge of lean manufacturing principles, blending, and mixing processes.
• Proven leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire, motivate, and develop diverse teams.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to drive change, lead continuous improvement initiatives, and achieve operational excellence.
• Solid understanding of quality assurance standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices in powder and liquid batch manufacturing.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with a focus on innovation and quality.
• Background in a manufacturing environment utilizing an ERP system to manage workflow and control inventory.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams, including Quality, Engineering, R&D, and Project Management.