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Hartson-Kennedy

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Director of Manufacturing

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Description

Formica is a name people know. Our laminate was introduced in Cincinnati more than a century ago, and our products are found in homes and businesses around the world. Today we are a global leader in building products and surface materials, and part of Broadview Holding alongside sister companies Trespa, Arpa, and Westag.

Our 1-million-square-foot Evendale site is in the middle of a transformation, and we are looking for a Director of Manufacturing to lead it. This is not a role for someone who wants to maintain the status quo. It is for an action-driven leader who wants to roll up their sleeves, raise the bar, and build a plant that performs at a best-in-class level and stays there.

About the Role

Reporting to the Vice President of Operations, the Director of Manufacturing leads day-to-day operations at Evendale, with direct accountability for health, safety and environment; quality; production; maintenance; engineering; production planning; and warehousing. You will be a key member of the Operations leadership team and the person who sets the pace for change on the floor.

What You’ll Do

  • Lead the site’s transformation: develop and carry out the strategy and operating plan that moves Evendale to best-in-class performance
  • Bring urgency and energy to the floor, and build a culture of accountability, ownership, and follow-through at every level
  • Drive safety, quality, and performance to clear targets, including zero recordable injuries, 98% first-pass yield, OEE above 80%, and OTIF above 96%
  • Lead Lean and continuous improvement, including 5S, visual management, Gemba walks, Kaizen, 80/20, and Six Sigma
  • Build a clear maintenance strategy that keeps improving equipment reliability
  • Own the annual budget, including capital projects and improvement savings
  • Coach and develop leaders, and build succession plans for critical roles

What You Bring

  • 10–15 years of progressive experience leading operations in a medium- to large-sized manufacturing organization
  • A demonstrated track record of change leadership: you have lifted a site or operation, identified challenges, changed the culture, and made the results last
  • Hands-on leadership across safety, quality, maintenance, and production
  • Deep, practical experience with Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement
  • A history of staying, building, and seeing the work through
  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, or in Business with an Operations Management focus

Strongly preferred: experience leading an organized labor workforce, including union contract negotiations, and a background in process manufacturing or building products.

How You Lead

  • Transformation leader: You have led real change and are energized by closing the gap between where things are and where they need to be.
  • Action driver: You turn plans into action, follow through, and expect the same from your team.
  • Direct and assertive: You bring a clear point of view and hold it, while listening to others.
  • Constructive negotiator: You find common ground and reach agreements without creating conflict.
  • Developer of people: You have grown successors and build leaders who bring the same energy.

Why Formica

Ask people at Formica why they work here and many will tell you the answer is simple: they love the brand, the company, and the products. We are a collaborative community of independent thinkers, and we back our people with real tools for growing their careers.

We offer a competitive package, including base salary and an annual incentive opportunity, plus medical, dental, and vision coverage; a 401(k) with a company match of up to 4%, immediately vested; 15 days of PTO from your start date plus 11 paid holidays; and company-paid short-term disability and life insurance.

Candidates in Ohio and the Cincinnati region are preferred. Strong candidates from other areas are welcome.

Skills

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