Director Operational Excellence Jobs in Iowa

INTRODUCTION

The Business Operations Leader provides strategic and operational leadership for site manufacturing execution, planning, and business operations. This role ensures the effective coordination of production, planning, and administrative functions to meet customer demand while maintaining compliance with cGMP, FDA, OSHA, EPA, DEA, and company standards. The Business Operations Leader serves as the primary integrator between production execution, planning, and site leadership, ensuring that schedules, resources, and workforce deployment are aligned to business objectives. This role leads Superintendents, Planning, and Business Administration resources to drive safe, compliant, efficient, and predictable site performance. This position is accountable for optimizing operational flow, labor utilization, and cost control while developing frontline leadership capability across the site.

Responsibilities:

• Provide daily leadership oversight to Superintendents, Planning, and Administration to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient manufacturing operations
• Ensure production schedules meet customer expectations for quality, cost, and delivery
• Lead site planning and scheduling activities, balancing demand, capacity, and labor utilization
• Drive consistency in execution across shifts, units, and operational teams
• Partner with Technical Operations Leader, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, and Finance to ensure seamless site operations
• Monitor and control operational spending, including labor, overtime, and discretionary costs
• Review and analyze site KPIs related to productivity, throughput, utilization, and overtime
• Ensure adherence to FDA, OSHA, EPA, DEA, cGMP, and company standards
• Support investigations, corrective actions, and audit readiness related to operational activities
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on yield, productivity, waste reduction, and cost optimization
• Champion Lean, Six Sigma, and operational excellence methodologies
• Develop and coach Superintendents, planners, and admin personnel
• Promote a culture of accountability, psychological safety, and continuous development
• Ensure effective performance management and succession planning for operational leadership roles
• Represent Operations in site business reviews, customer meetings, and audits as needed
• Communicate operational performance clearly to site leadership and corporate stakeholders
• Support digital and systems improvements in planning, reporting, and execution
• Ensure alignment between workforce deployment, production priorities, and business objectives

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong leadership capability in regulated manufacturing environments
• High-level operational and business acumen
• Strong planning, scheduling, and resource optimization skills
• Ability to influence cross-functionally without direct authority
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Data-driven decision-making capability
• Ability to develop frontline leaders
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Business, Operations Management, or related field required
• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing, operations, or regulated production environments
• Demonstrated leadership experience over supervisors or managers
• Experience in pharmaceutical, chemical, or life sciences manufacturing strongly preferred
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt preferred
• Strong financial knowledge related to manufacturing operations