Director of Operations - Assembly bei DexKo Global Inc

Director of Operations - Assembly

We are searching for an experienced Director of Operations - Assembly at our Plant 61-Elkhart-IN facility. 

Dexteris the premier manufacturer and supplier of axles, suspension, brakes, doors,venting products, trailer parts, accessories, and towing components serving thecommercial trailer, RV, heavy-duty, marine, agriculture, and manufacturedhousing markets has an opportunity for a Director of Operations - Assembly at ourmanufacturing facility located in Elkhart, Indiana.

Headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, Dexter has manufacturing and distribution locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Employingstate-of-the-art robotics, precision welding equipment, and automated machiningprocesses, Dexter has achieved many years of success through a commitment to theprinciples of superior quality, continuous improvement, and unparalleledcustomer service.

Formore information about our company, access Dexter's web site at www.dextergroup.com.

Role Purpose

The Director of Operations Assembly BU provides leadership and strategic oversight of Dexter’s Assembly business units, ensuring operational excellence, safety, and customer responsiveness. This role partners with the Vice President of Operations, Axle, to align plant operations with Dexter’s mission: to manufacture and distribute quality engineered products and differentiated services with the highest level of safety and customer satisfaction.  

This leader is accountable for driving continuous improvement and innovation through Lean Six Sigma practices, optimizing supply and demand alignment via SIOP, and embedding Dexter’s “Courage to Care” safety culture at every level.

This role is critical in developing the business unit’s leadership capability, ensuring that current and future leaders are prepared to sustain Dexter’s position as the industry leader while delivering world-class quality, delivery, and cost performance.

Scope & Scale

·         Oversees multiple axle assembly plants across Dexter’s U.S. manufacturing footprint.

·         Lead axle manufacturing operations across assigned plants/business units, aligning objectives with the VP of Assembly BU.

·         Responsible for operations including automation strategy, material handling, logistics, and customization processes.

·         Full accountability for P&L, cost structure, operational performance, and SIOP integration within the area of responsibility.

·         Partners with corporate Safety, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Sales to align operations with customer requirements and corporate strategy.

Key Accountabilities

·         Safety – Courage to Care: Champion a safety-first culture where every employee takes ownership for their own and others’ wellbeing. Ensure the highest standards of environmental, health, and safety performance.

·         Operational Leadership: Deliver excellence in safety, quality, delivery, and cost across assembly operations.

·         Lean Six Sigma: Drive continuous improvement and waste reduction through the disciplined use of Lean tools, Six Sigma methodologies, and automation.

·         SIOP (Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning): Lead SIOP execution to ensure alignment of demand, supply, and capacity planning across the business unit.

·         Strategic Execution: Develop and implement operational strategies to expand capacity, improve throughput, and enhance customer responsiveness.

·         Talent: Build critical leadership capability across Span of control, building high-potential leaders and individual contributors and ensuring a sustainable pipeline of talent.

·         Customer Alignment: Ensure assembly operations deliver customized, on-time, high-quality solutions with short lead times.

·         Financial Performance: Optimize cost structure and asset utilization while making informed make-versus-buy and outsourcing decisions.

·         Innovation & Growth: Support capacity expansion, automation, and new product integration within span of control.

Leadership Expectations

·         Embody Dexter’s Core Values: Execute with Determination, Connect with People, Do the Right Thing

·         Champion the Courage to Care safety philosophy as a personal and organizational priority.

·         Lead by example in deploying Lean Six Sigma principles to drive a culture of problem solving, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement.

·         Serve as a visible leader and key member of Senior Staff, aligning Assembly operations with enterprise strategy.

·         Develop and empower the next generation of leaders across the business unit to ensure long-term success and organizational resilience.

Measures of Success

·         Zero harm achieved through sustained safety performance and employee engagement in Courage to Care.

·         Safety: Drive continuous improvement through the DuPont Model and Courage to Care philosophy; lead consequence thinking sessions; expand ergonomic risk mitigation; increase employee participation in incident and near-miss reporting

·         Year-over-year improvements in operational KPIs (safety, quality, delivery, cost, and inventory).

·         Effective execution of Lean Six Sigma initiatives, resulting in measurable productivity and efficiency gains.

·         Continuous improvement initiatives delivering measurable cost savings and productivity gains.

·         A strengthened leadership pipeline with demonstrable improvements in employee engagement and retention.

·         Contribution to Dexter’s growth, profitability, and reputation as the premier manufacturer.

·         Lead cultural evolution to empower employees and build high performance teams.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or Business required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Certifications:

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or related experience (Black Belt preferred).

OSHA safety certification preferred.