Director of Manufacturing

Dandy is transforming the massive ($200B) but antiquated dental industry. Backed by some of the world’s leading venture capital investors, we are on an ambitious mission to integrate and simplify every function of the dental practice through technology. By building the operating system for every dental office in America, Dandy is empowering dentists with technology, innovation, and world-class support to achieve more for their practice, their people, and their patients.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Director of Manufacturing to oversee the end-to-end processes associated with manufacturing dental restorations (e.g., dentures, night guards), lead various cross-functional initiatives, ensure optimal use of equipment, and enforce quality & safety adherence. This role involves driving the development and scaling of new SKUs, which includes managing novel manufacturing processes in close partnership with our R&D department, as well as transitioning production from third-party providers to our state-of-the-art, digital-only facility.

You will manage a team of 150+ technicians with varying levels of dental experience and have access to the latest technology to build out your team and drive optimization of both existing and new processes. You will be responsible for ensuring that orders are fabricated at the highest quality standards, meet customer deadlines, and achieve company-set financial targets. If you’re looking to disrupt an industry’s status quo, develop innovative manufacturing practices, and develop a team with aggressive growth targets, this is the right place for you!

What You’ll Do

• Drive results:

  • Own the site’s overall performance, including the successful development and production of new SKUs.

  • Set targets, drive execution, and hold the team accountable for meeting deadlines, quality standards, and hiring targets.

  • Manage labor and operating costs in alignment with budgets & strategic plans.

  • Drive standardization and scale-up initiatives to meet growing volume demands.

• Lead new product integration:

  • Partner with R&D to ensure seamless implementation of new processes for innovative products.

  • Oversee the insourcing of production previously managed by third-party providers, ensuring efficient knowledge transfer and ramp-up.

  • Develop strategies for scaling production volumes while maintaining quality and efficiency.

• Adapt to challenges:

  • Translate business goals from the Head of Manufacturing into actionable plans.

  • Leverage first-principle thinking to address complex challenges, particularly in the development of new workflows.

  • See problems and development areas as opportunities and foster an environment open to innovation.

  • Tackle change by leading with the “why” and inspiring buy-in & action at all levels

• Develop the team:

  • Coach and develop existing experts in the dental lab industry into leaders who will build and manage high performing teams

  • Mentor and lead direct reports.  Create a culture of regular coaching and professional development

  • Work with Human Resources to continuously onboard, motivate, and develop employees in the most efficient & effective ways

  • Motivate front line employees to see the big picture and provide daily feedback to guide them toward enabling the company’s vision

What We’re Looking For

• 10–15 years of manufacturing experience, preferably currently holding a similar role in a manufacturing environment or having increasing management responsibility

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related technical field from an accredited four-year institution.

• Strong operational experience with scaling production processes and implementing new manufacturing workflows

• Experience collaborating with R&D or equivalent technical teams to integrate product innovations into operations.

• Relentless drive for excellence and ability to  create a culture that values high performance

• Excellent people manager who can motivate and create a positive employee experience

• Energizing leader who elevates the thinking and output of everyone around them

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

• Proven analytical, evaluative and problem-solving abilities, with a keen attention to detail

  • Proficient with Excel or similar

• Is coachable - regularly solicits feedback from teammates above, below, and adjacent, and demonstrates agility by making clear behavioral changes

• Ability to be onsite at the facility daily Mon-Fri 

Bonus Points For

• MBA or advanced degree

• Strong financial acumen

• Experience in insourcing or transitioning manufacturing processes.

• Outstanding professional references to share

• APICS, CQE, Six sigma or Continuous Improvement credentials preferred

• Possess working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing techniques including: Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, Kanban, Visual Management and JIT Lean manufacturing

For full time positions, we offer a wide range of best in class, comprehensive and inclusive employee benefits including healthcare, dental, parental planning, mental health benefits, a 401(k) plan, and paid time off.

Dandy is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture that celebrates authenticity to win as one. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, or any other legally protected characteristics.

Dandy also fully complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We are dedicated to embracing challenges and creating an accessible, inclusive workplace for all individuals. If you require any accommodations for your interview or have any questions beforehand, rest assured that we will move at Dandy speed and do everything in our power to meet your needs.