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Freudenberg Group

Global group manufacturing seals, cleaning, textiles

Director Operations

Manufacturing & Production OperationsConfirmed live in the last 24 hours
Full-timeCarpinteria, CA, USA$120k - $150k /yrIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

  • A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, or Business is required.
  • At least 10 years of experience in manufacturing operations, including at least 5 years in a senior leader capacity.
  • Deep knowledge of global regulatory requirements, including FDA, ISO 13485, EU MDR, and CFDA.
  • Proven success leading multi-shift teams in a regulated production environment.
  • Advanced business and financial acumen, with experience managing operational budgets and capital expenditure projects.
  • Strong cross-functional leadership, decision-making, and stakeholder management skills.
  • Proficiency in enterprise resource planning systems; SAP is preferred.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office and data-driven performance management.
  • Frequent walking and standing in a manufacturing environment.
  • Ability to occasionally lift up to 30 pounds.
  • Ability to work in controlled manufacturing environments, including cleanrooms and personal protective equipment/gowning areas.
  • Ability to support occasional off-hours, weekend production needs, or emergency escalations.

Responsibilities

  • Lead all manufacturing operations for the site, including production, scheduling, and support functions, to achieve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and continuous improvement targets.
  • Oversee department-level planning, goal setting, and performance management across multiple shifts or production units.
  • Direct and develop an Operations team to ensure a strong leadership pipeline and succession planning.
  • Collaborate with Strategic Business Unit functional leaders in Product Development, Quality, Regulatory, and Finance to ensure operational readiness and alignment with business objectives.
  • Drive operational excellence through lean manufacturing, process improvement initiatives, and employee engagement programs.
  • Ensure compliance with global regulatory and quality standards, including ISO 13485, FDA, EU MDR, and applicable country-specific requirements.
  • Lead operational input into site-level budget planning, cost management, and capital investments.
  • Monitor and report on operational key performance indicators and recommend actions to improve output, quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

Desired Qualifications

  • A graduate degree in Operations, Engineering, or Business, or a related field.
  • Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
  • Experience in medical device, life sciences, or other regulated industries.
  • Experience with SAP enterprise resource planning systems.

About the Company

Freudenberg Group

Global group manufacturing seals, cleaning, textiles

Freudenberg Group is a German family-owned technology company with a diversified portfolio across seals, consumer cleaning products, technical textiles, and filtration. It develops and sells high-tech components and sealing systems for automotive and industrial use, as well as consumer brands like Vileda, O-Cedar, and Wettex, and provides nonwovens and filtration solutions for automotive, construction, and medical applications. It stays different from competitors through family ownership and broad diversification across markets and products, which reduces dependence on any single cycle. Its goal is to grow by offering a wide, globally distributed range of technically informed products while preserving long-term ownership and stability through diversification.

Company size
10,001+
Company stage
Not listed
Total funding
Not listed
Headquarters
Weinheim, Germany
Founded
1849

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