Director, Manufacturing Strategy and Execution

Overview

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, e.g., with respect to enterprise strategies
• Lead execution of strategic recommendations / initiatives related to manufacturing
• Lead the strategy, deployment, and support for critical manufacturing capabilities (e.g., globally deployed processes, systems, and analytics solutions)
• 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. Experience of working with 3rd party automation solutions providers or engineering consultants preferred
• Digitalization: Experience with guiding and leading the development of digital roadmaps for manufacturing sites. Understating of available solutions and prerequisites for EBR (Electronic Batch Records), MES, process data analytics and repetitive process automation
• Proven project management skills (PMP or similar qualification preferred).  Shown success in being responsible for the planning and execution of large/ global projects with successful business outcomes
• 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 prioritize multiple priorities, act with vitality, and lead ambiguity
• Results oriented, takes ownership and operates with high sense of urgency. Consistent record of solving problems, breaking down barriers and delivering results ahead of schedule
• Ability to think strategically while also being highly diligent to details
• 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. Our team focuses on creating business advantages for laboratory-dependent organizations to enable significant advancement in healthcare delivery, environmental management, food safety, and water quality.   

Working at Waters enables our employees to unlock the potential of their careers. Our global team is driven by purpose. We strive to be better, learn and improve every day in everything we do. We’re the problem solvers and innovators that aren’t afraid to take risks to transform the world of human health and well-being. We’re all in it together delivering benefit as one to provide the insights needed today in order to solve the challenges of tomorrow. 

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 behavior 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. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or protected Veteran status. 

Key Words