About this role
CSP is the industry leader in the formulation and molding of lightweight, advanced composite components for the transportation industries. As an innovative, full-service Tier One supplier, we offer an entrepreneurial environment where you’re only limited by your own imagination. In addition to our team-focused environment, we provide industry-leading benefits, called BENEfits4U. Our comprehensive offering includes: affordable medical, dental, and vision care; flexible spending accounts; life insurance; 401k with company match and much, much more. Job Description Essential Job Functions:
• Partner with the VP of Manufacturing to develop and execute annual manufacturing strategies, operational priorities, and multi-year continuous improvement roadmaps. • Translate organizational manufacturing objectives into measurable improvement initiatives across the manufacturing network. • Collaborate with Regional Directors of Operations to align plant-level improvement priorities with enterprise manufacturing objectives. • Support the evaluation and prioritization of capital investments, operational improvement opportunities, and resource requirements.
• Represent Manufacturing in cross-functional strategic discussions with Finance, Engineering, Supply Chain, and other corporate functions, as delegated. • Prepare and present manufacturing performance analyses, strategic recommendations, and operational updates to executive leadership. • Identify opportunities to standardize manufacturing processes, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen performance accountability across facilities. • Lead consolidated manufacturing budget tracking, financial performance reporting, and variance analysis across all manufacturing facilities in partnership with Finance. • Collaborate with plant leadership and finance to identify cost reduction opportunities, productivity improvements, and operational efficiencies. • Develop and maintain financial business cases for continuous improvement initiatives and proposed capital investments. • Establish processes to quantify, validate, and track cost savings associated with manufacturing improvement projects. • Analyze manufacturing cost drivers and recommend corrective actions to address unfavorable performance trends. • Support annual budgeting and capital planning activities through operational analysis and financial recommendations.
• Partner with Finance to ensure consistency and accuracy in reporting improvement-related financial benefits. • Establish and maintain a standardized manufacturing performance management framework across all facilities. • Define and standardize key performance indicators, including Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), scrap, downtime, throughput, productivity, quality, and safety. • Partner with Operations, Engineering, and IT to establish consistent manufacturing execution system (MES) reporting and data integrity standards. • Develop dashboards and reporting tools that provide visibility into manufacturing performance and improvement opportunities. • Lead weekly and monthly manufacturing performance reviews in collaboration with regional and plant leadership. • Identify underperforming facilities and coordinate structured root-cause analysis and corrective action planning. • Monitor progress against established performance targets and escalate significant performance risks and resource constraints to the Vice President of Manufacturing. • Promote data-driven decision-making and accountability for measurable operational improvements.
• Develop and deploy standardized continuous improvement methodologies, tools, and operating practices across the manufacturing network. • Establish expectations for the application of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), and other operational excellence principles. • Provide functional leadership, technical guidance, and coaching to plant-level Continuous Improvement Managers. • Establish and facilitate a network-wide CI community of practice to promote training, knowledge sharing, and consistency in improvement methodologies. • Review and prioritize plant-level continuous improvement project pipelines based on operational impact, financial return, and alignment with organizational objectives. • Evaluate improvement initiatives to ensure appropriate project discipline, measurable results, and sustainability. • Facilitate the replication of successful manufacturing practices across multiple facilities. • Identify organizational capability gaps and recommend appropriate training, resources, or process improvements. • Partner with plant leadership to embed continuous improvement practices into daily manufacturing operations.
• Build effective working relationships with Regional Directors of Operations, Plant Managers, and corporate functional leaders to align improvement priorities. • Lead cross-functional improvement initiatives involving Operations, Engineering, Quality, Finance, Supply Chain, and Human Resources. • Drive organizational adoption of standardized manufacturing processes, reporting requirements, and performance management practices. • Influence operational decisions through data analysis, financial justification, and collaborative problem-solving. • Facilitate alignment and resolve competing priorities across facilities while respecting established operational reporting relationships. • Promote a culture of accountability, employee engagement, and continuous improvement throughout the manufacturing organization.
• Provide coaching and developmental support to plant-level CI Managers through functional leadership and established reporting relationships. • Assess continuous improvement capabilities across the manufacturing network and recommend development initiatives. • Support leadership development through exposure to enterprise manufacturing strategy, operational performance, and cross-functional decision-making. • Participate in strategic manufacturing initiatives and executive-level discussions as directed by the Vice President of Manufacturing. • Maintain an understanding of regional manufacturing challenges and operational differences to support enterprise-wide decision-making.
Qualifications:
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in manufacturing operations, continuous improvement, or operational excellence. • Demonstrated experience in plant-level operational leadership, preferably at the Plant Manager or Operations Manager level. • Experience leading complex manufacturing improvement initiatives and delivering measurable operational and financial results. • Demonstrated experience with manufacturing budgeting, financial analysis, cost modeling, and capital investment justification. • Experience utilizing manufacturing execution systems, performance dashboards, and key performance indicators to manage operational performance. • Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence operational leaders without direct reporting authority. • Experience developing and implementing standardized processes and improvement methodologies within a manufacturing environment.
• Advanced knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, and structured problem-solving methodologies. • Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production systems, and operational performance management. • Demonstrated financial acumen, including budgeting, variance analysis, cost reduction, and return-on-investment analysis. • Ability to analyze complex operational data and translate findings into actionable improvement strategies. • Strong strategic planning, project management, and organizational change management capabilities. • Ability to establish accountability and influence decisions across multiple organizational levels. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex information to executive leadership. • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build collaborative relationships across geographically dispersed manufacturing facilities. • Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and lead initiatives across a complex manufacturing network. • Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and manufacturing performance reporting systems.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification or equivalent demonstrated expertise. • Experience in a Tier 1 automotive manufacturing environment. • Previous responsibility for continuous improvement or operational performance across multiple manufacturing facilities. • Experience leading organizational change across geographically dispersed operations. • Demonstrated success in both plant-level operational leadership and corporate or network-level manufacturing initiatives. • Experience supporting executive-level manufacturing strategy, capital planning, and financial performance reviews. • Familiarity with automotive quality management systems and manufacturing industry standards, including IATF 16949.
Education:
• Master’s degree in business administration, engineering, operations management, or a related field. • Equivalent combinations of education and relevant experience may be considered.
If you enjoy innovation, and an opportunity to learn and contribute to a growing organization, CSP is the place for you!