Director of Operations/Engineering

About the Client

Metric Geo is partnered with a leading manufacturer of advanced water filtration and separation technologies serving industrial, commercial, and high‑purity applications. The company operates a vertically integrated manufacturing facility and is known for its strong engineering capabilities, quality standards, and growing presence within the water treatment and specialty materials market.

About the Role

The Director of Operations will lead all site operations, overseeing manufacturing, engineering, and supply chain functions within a fast‑paced production environment. This role is responsible for driving safety, quality, productivity, and continuous improvement while ensuring alignment with company objectives. The position requires a strong, hands‑on leader who can manage and develop teams, optimize operational efficiency, and build structure within a growing organization. A key component of this role is overseeing and mentoring an engineering team while ensuring alignment between engineering and production. This role reports directly to senior leadership and is fully onsite in Camden, NJ.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations across manufacturing, production, and engineering functions, ensuring performance, quality, and delivery targets are met
• Manage and develop a team of engineers, production leadership, and plant personnel
• Drive a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with environmental and regulatory standards
• Develop and execute production plans aligned with customer demand and business objectives
• Monitor and report on key operational metrics, identifying opportunities for efficiency and cost improvement
• Partner with engineering teams to support process improvements, equipment optimization, and new product introduction
• Provide leadership and mentorship to engineering staff, supporting project execution and technical development
• Oversee supply chain coordination, inventory management, and material planning through ERP/MRP systems
• Ensure adherence to quality standards, SOPs, and process controls across the facility
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on throughput, cost reduction, and operational excellence
• Support capital projects, facility improvements, and long‑term capacity planning
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Senior Leadership

Qualifications

• 10+ years of leadership experience within manufacturing or plant operations
• Proven experience managing and developing engineering teams within a production environment
• Background in one or more of the following:
  • Water treatment or filtration manufacturing
  • Plastics or polymer processing (injection molding, extrusion, etc.)
  • Medical device or regulated manufacturing
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, engineering integration, and plant performance
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Oracle, Sage, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams in a hands‑on, fast‑paced environment
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field preferred