Director, Manufacturing Operations

Job Summary

Director, Manufacturing

COSTA RICA • MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS

LOCATION

Costa Rica

WORK ARRANGEMENT

On-site

REPORTS TO

VP, Manufacturing Operations

TRAVEL

Up to 25%, including international travel

Position Overview

The Manufacturing organization is responsible for delivering safe, compliant, reliable, and efficient production while achieving the site’s safety, quality, service, cost, and people objectives.

The Director, Manufacturing is the senior operations leader responsible for establishing and leading manufacturing operations at the Costa Rica site. This role directs production execution, operational readiness, manufacturing performance, workforce capability, and continuous improvement while partnering with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, Human Resources, and Global Operations.

The Director is accountable for building a high-performing manufacturing organization and operating system that consistently delivers customer demand, product quality, regulatory compliance, cost performance, and employee engagement. The successful candidate combines strong manufacturing leadership, disciplined execution, financial acumen, talent development, and cross-functional influence.

Key Responsibilities

Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Costa Rica greenfield manufacturing organization, establishing clear priorities, governance, accountability, and daily operating mechanisms.

Lead safe, compliant, reliable, and efficient production to achieve site objectives for safety, quality, service, cost, delivery, and people.

Build, lead, coach, and develop manufacturing leaders and production teams; establish workforce plans, training systems, succession plans, and organizational capability for plant start-up, ramp, and steady-state operations.

Develop and execute production plans that align labor, equipment, materials, and support resources with customer demand and business priorities.

Own manufacturing KPIs and management routines, including output, schedule attainment, equipment utilization, process yield, line efficiency, labor productivity, scrap, downtime, and cost performance.

Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Planning, Finance, Human Resources, IT, Facilities, and Global Operations to ensure production readiness and resolve operational constraints.

Lead new production-line start-ups, capacity expansion, technology transfer, product introductions, and manufacturing scale-up in collaboration with cross-functional teams.

Ensure adherence to applicable quality-system, regulatory, environmental, health, safety, and company requirements; promote a strong culture of quality and compliance.

Drive structured, data-based problem solving and continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, standard work, visual management, root-cause analysis, and mistake-proofing methods.

Own the manufacturing operating budget and partner with Finance on labor planning, OPEX, cost-per-unit performance, productivity, forecasts, and corrective actions.

Establish effective tiered accountability, escalation, and performance-review processes that create visibility to risks, actions, owners, and results.

Foster an inclusive, engaged, and accountable workplace where employees are empowered to identify problems, improve processes, and deliver high-quality results.

Represent Manufacturing in site leadership and global cross-functional forums; communicate performance, priorities, risks, and resource needs to executive leadership.

Perform other duties and lead additional business initiatives as required.

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Business, or a related discipline required; master’s degree or MBA preferred.

10+ years pf progressive experience in high-volume manufacturing or operations, preferably in medical devices or another regulated industry.

7+ years of leadership experience with responsibility for manufacturing managers, supervisors, technical partners, and production teams.

Preferred: proven experience for direct accountability for launching or significantly expanding a greenfield manufacturing operation.

Demonstrated success leading plant start-up, manufacturing ramp, capacity expansion, technology transfer, or major operational transformation.

Experience with highly automated, discrete-component assembly and cross-functional manufacturing support organizations strongly preferred.

Working knowledge of FDA-regulated manufacturing, ISO 13485 quality systems, Good Manufacturing Practices, and production-control disciplines preferred.

Demonstrated capability in Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, daily management, structured problem solving, workforce planning, and performance improvement.

Strong financial acumen with experience managing operating budgets, labor plans, productivity, cost performance, and capital priorities.

Excellent communication, change-leadership, talent-development, analytical, and cross-functional influence skills.

Key Decision Rights

Establish manufacturing strategy, priorities, operating standards, governance, and performance expectations for the site.

Allocate manufacturing resources and adjust production priorities within delegated authority to protect safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.

Recommend workforce, technology, capacity, and capital investments based on business demand, operational risk, and financial return.

Initiate containment, escalation, and corrective-action processes when safety, quality, compliance, delivery, or cost performance is at risk.

Approve manufacturing improvement initiatives, organization plans, and operating mechanisms aligned with site and Global Operations requirements.

Required Leadership, Interpersonal Skills & Behaviors

Strategic thinker who can align supplier capabilities with business and technical objectives.

Strong communicator and collaborator across manufacturing, engineering, quality, supply chain, finance, and people teams.

Proven ability to lead, develop, and mentor high-performing manufacturing organizations.

Ability to navigate ambiguity, create clarity, and drive execution in fast-paced, cross-functional environments.

Demonstrated ability to influence decisions and outcomes across organizational boundaries.

Ability to distill information, prioritize effectively, and escalate appropriately to site and Global Operations leadership.

Commitment to continuous improvement, accountability, and disciplined project execution.

Additional Information

Able to work in a Class 8 cleanroom environment as needed and maintain regular presence in manufacturing areas.

Role is based in Costa Rica and requires a minimum of four days per week in the office.

Domestic and international travel may be required up to 25% based on business needs.



Physical Requirements

Must be able to stand and walk up to 5 hours a day

Must be able to flex work schedule regularly as the business demands – for shift coverage

Job Title:                         Director, Manufacturing

Department:                    Manufacturing Operations

FLSA Status:                      Nonexempt

Position Overview:

The Director, Manufacturing, will be responsible for the coordination of activities for the Malaysia Manufacturing Plant in Johor. The candidate in this role will monitor procedures and standards to deliver consistent high-quality products produced in an efficient manner. She/He will also be responsible for ensuring the best quality products and excellent customer service by maintaining regular quality audits, good manufacturing practices, and compliance with federal/state/local regulations along with company policies / procedures.

Responsibilities:

• Support General Plant Safety, Good Manufacturing Practices and Regulatory Compliance with an understanding that these are absolutes and are Priority #1.
• Plans and directs operations and establishes production and manufacturing priorities for products in keeping with effective/efficient process and cost factors.
• Provides direction of purchasing/procurement in coordination with production activities, maintenance, and quality control to obtain optimum production and utilization of resources, machines, and equipment.
• Reviews and analyzes production, quality control, maintenance, and operational reports to determine causes of nonconformity with product specifications and operating or production problems.
• Develops and implements operating methods and procedures designed to eliminate operating problems and improve product quality.
• Fosters a Continuous Improvement environment by improving products, service, and processes with the objective to reduce waste while striving for efficiency and profitability.
• Ensures compliance with all safety and work rules and regulations.
• Applies understanding of Lean concept, lead sustainability process and continuous improvement utilizing problem solving methodology.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Operations, Engineering, or experience in related field preferred plus 12 years’ experience in the field. A combination of education, training and experience that results in demonstrated competency to perform the work may be substituted.
• 5+ years of management experience and direct manufacturing experience in a regulated industry is required.

Preferred Skills and Competencies:

• Knowledge of safety related issues including compliance with State, Federal and Local regulations as well as knowledge of manufacturing operations/quality control assurance best practices.
• The ability to analyze data using various operating systems and programs, and to develop intra-department teams to establish goals and take corrective actions to improve performance.
• The ability to work closely in a team-based environment with all levels of employees.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, independent self-starter with highly developed analytical/ problem solving skills.
• Strong financial management and business acumen.

Physical Requirements (if applicable):

• General Manufacturing Environment: May sit and/or stand for long periods of time.

Insulet started in 2000 with an idea and a mission to enable our customers to enjoy simplicity, freedom and healthier lives through the use of our Omnipod® product platform. In the last two decades we have improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients by using innovative technology that is wearable, waterproof, and lifestyle accommodating.