USA-IN-Albion

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Director of Operations

Job Description

Dexter is the premier manufacturer and supplier of axles, suspension, brakes, doors, venting products, trailer parts, accessories, and towing components serving the commercial trailer, RV, heavy-duty, marine, agriculture, and manufactured housing markets has an opportunity for a Director of Operations  at our manufacturing facility located in Albion, Indiana.

Headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, Dexter has manufacturing and distribution locations throughout the U.S. and Canada. Employing state-of-the-art robotics, precision welding equipment, and automated machining processes, Dexter has achieved many years of success through a commitment to the principles of superior quality, continuous improvement, and unparalleled customer service.

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

The Director of Operations, Albion serves as the senior site operations leader for Dexter’s largest and most complex manufacturing campus. This role has full accountability for safety, quality, delivery, cost, inventory, and people performance across a multi-plant, vertically integrated operation that functions as the operational backbone of the Axle Business Unit. The Director translates Axle BU strategy into disciplined execution, operational readiness, and sustained continuous improvement while ensuring safe, predictable, and scalable operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Own full site P&L and operational performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and inventory for a multi-plant campus operating as three integrated businesses (assembly, manufacturing, distribution).
• Lead and sustain a zero-harm safety culture, ensuring environmental, health, and safety compliance, proactive risk mitigation, and visible safety leadership at all levels.
• Drive operational excellence and daily management discipline, embedding standard work, performance accountability, and continuous improvement to deliver year-over-year results.
• Integrate and optimize material flow and internal supply chains, balancing high-mix, high-volume manufacturing with customization and short lead times.
• Lead Lean, Continuous Improvement, and automation strategy, ensuring waste elimination, constraint management, ROI discipline, and scalable automation deployment.
• Own site-level SIOP execution, capacity planning, and inventory management, translating demand signals into executable production and labor plans in partnership with Sales, Supply Chain, and Finance.
• Serve as the senior people leader for the campus, building leadership bench strength, developing future plant and functional leaders, and reinforcing accountability, engagement, and trust.
• Act as a senior operations partner within the Axle BU, supporting enterprise initiatives, new product introductions, footprint optimization, and long-term operational readiness.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience & Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or Business
• 10–15+ years of progressive operations leadership experience
• Proven leadership in large, complex, multi-process manufacturing environments
• Demonstrated P&L ownership and large-scale people leadership
• Deep experience in heavy manufacturing (e.g., machining, welding, stamping, assembly)

Preferred

• MBA or advanced technical degree
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent
• OSHA or industrial safety certifications
• Experience in highly integrated, vertically aligned manufacturing networks

Dexter is driven by our core values committed to Safety, Quality and Integrity:

• Execute with Determination - Be curious, work together, break new ground, find solutions, fulfill our commitments, surpass expectations!
• Connect with People – Empower employees to grow, engage and collaborate; build lasting customer partnerships; care for our communities.
• Do the Right Thing – For our people, for our customers, and for the business. 

We care for our people.  Here are some of our great, comprehensive Benefits:

• Dexter offers a competitive wage
• Full benefits package including Health, Dental, Vision, Life, STD, LTD, FSA, HSA
• 3% profit sharing in our Safe Harbor program
• 401(k) Plan with company contributions
• Opportunities for internal career development and growth

Apply now to join an industry leader and make a difference in what we do for the customers we serve!

Equal Opportunity Employer

Offers of employment are contingent upon successfully passing a background check and drug screen. Dexter Axle Company is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are considered for positions without discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, veteran status, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.