Director, Manufacturing Strategy and Execution

The Strategy & Operational Excellence team is on a mission to improve both our customer and employee experience by transforming how we plan, buy, make, and distribute products in Waters Global Operations. Our four pillars of focus include: Strategy, Processes and Systems, Continuous Improvement, and Insights.

As a Director, Manufacturing Strategy and Execution, you will be responsible for developing our manufacturing network and automation strategies, and driving execution of the pivotal initiatives to deliver the strategy. This will require you to collaborate with, and influence colleagues across our global network, drawing on both your own domain knowledge and the knowledge of functional teams across Global Operations and external partners. This role will report to the VP, Strategy & Operational Excellence.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead a cross-functional team with expertise in manufacturing and automation.
• Lead development of manufacturing network and automation strategies.
• Engage with leaders at all levels to build alignment around the strategic direction.
• Engage with and benchmark industry leading organizations for critical inputs to both manufacturing network and automation strategies.
• Collaborate with partners outside of Global Operations to ensure alignment with the overall enterprise.
• Lead execution of strategic recommendations/initiatives related to manufacturing.
• Lead the strategy, deployment, and support for critical manufacturing capabilities.
• Enable changes with appropriate metrics, communication, training, and documentation to ensure impact is sustained.
• Develop and attract top talent that strengthen process excellence capabilities and feed a continuous improvement attitude.

Qualifications

• 12+ years dynamic experience in strategic planning and manufacturing roles.
• Proven record of applying analytical, structured problem-solving techniques to address strategic questions in manufacturing.
• Confirmed experience developing business cases and gaining partner buy-in and senior management approval for proposals.
• Financial acumen: Understanding of manufacturing site financials, ability to quantify opportunities financially and prepare comparative analysis of scenarios.
• Automation: Experienced in identification and clarification of manufacturing automation opportunities and solutions across a broad range of processing technologies.
• Digitalization: Experience with guiding and leading the development of digital roadmaps for manufacturing sites.
• Proven project management skills (PMP or similar qualification preferred).
• Strong influencing skills, shown ability to work across organizational boundaries motivating change and harmonization across a global organization.
• Collaborative, listens and assimilates other viewpoints to come up with a better solution.
• Agile and adaptable, able to prioritise multiple priorities, act with vitality, and lead ambiguity.
• Results oriented, takes ownership and operates with high sense of urgency.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• BS Degree in a Manufacturing, Engineering, or Supply Chain subject area. Master’s Degree preferred.

Company Description

Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT), the world's leading specialty measurement company, has pioneered chromatography, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis innovations serving the life, materials, and food sciences for over 60 years. With approximately 8,000 employees worldwide, Waters operates directly in 35 countries, including 15 manufacturing facilities, with products available in more than 100 countries.

Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our core values at Waters Corporation. It is our responsibility to actively implement programs and practices to drive inclusive behaviour and increase diversity across the organization. We are united by diversity and thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, our customers and our community. Waters is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer.