We are seeking a highly experienced
Director of Industrial Engineering
Department:Engineering / OperationsReports To:Chief Executive Officer (CEO)Direct Reports:TBD (Production Control, Process Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Corporate Managers, QA Segment Engineers, Flex Manager)
Position Summary
We are seeking a highly experiencedDirector of Industrial Engineeringto lead operational excellence, demand responsiveness, and scalable growth in a complex job-shop manufacturing environment. This role combines strategic foresight with hands-on leadership, ensuring production capabilities align with dynamic market demands while driving continuous improvement across multiple sites.
The Director will play a critical role in enhancing efficiency, cost effectiveness, and delivery performance by optimizing processes and integrating advanced manufacturing methodologies.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the evaluation, implementation, and maintenance of manufacturing systems (MES, ERP, simulation models, advanced analytics).
- Align operational capacity with market demand through data analytics, capacity models, and real-time scheduling.
- Ensure simulation and planning models reflect real operating conditions with validated data integrity.
- Optimize production flow and job routing to manage customer orders effectively while collaborating with Sales Leadership.
- Translate business strategy into actionable operational initiatives to enable scale, efficiency, and responsiveness.
- Stay ahead of industry trends in heavy manufacturing, evaluating emerging tools and technologies.
- Drive cross-site initiatives that improve enterprise-wide performance.
- Build and grow industrial engineering capabilities through mentoring, training, and knowledge-sharing.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, technical curiosity, and operational excellence.
- Partner closely with Operations, Engineering, Sales, and Plant Leadership to ensure alignment.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
- 10+ years of industrial engineering or operational leadership experience in heavy manufacturing or capital equipment.
- Expertise in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, capacity modeling, ERP/MES integrations.
- Experience with shop-floor simulation, scheduling, and data analytics platforms.
- Strong track record in continuous improvement and cross-functional leadership.
- Project management skills for scope development, timelines, and deliverables.
- Excellent communication skills with ability to lead change across multiple sites.
- Deep understanding of job shop dynamics, including short lead times and custom orders.
Freqently Asked Questions
Directors of Industrial Engineering in heavy manufacturing usually excel in lean manufacturing, capacity modeling, and advanced analytics integration. They uniquely blend operational leadership with deep knowledge of job-shop dynamics, ensuring custom orders and short lead times are managed effectively, setting them apart from other engineering directors.
Career progression often involves gaining 10+ years in industrial or operational engineering roles, mastering lean and Six Sigma methodologies, and building cross-functional leadership experience. In Spring Grove, IL, hands-on manufacturing exposure and expertise in ERP/MES systems are highly valued for this leadership advancement.
Salaries generally range from $130,000 to $170,000 annually in Spring Grove, IL, depending on experience and company scale. Enhanced Staffing’s role likely offers competitive compensation reflecting the blend of strategic oversight and operational excellence demanded by this complex manufacturing environment.
Certifications like Six Sigma Black Belt, PMP, or Lean Manufacturing credentials often enhance candidacy. In Spring Grove’s manufacturing hubs, demonstrating proficiency in ERP and MES platforms alongside these certifications signals readiness to lead complex, multi-site industrial engineering operations.
At Enhanced Staffing, the director must navigate a complex job-shop environment with fluctuating market demands, requiring agility in operational planning and cross-site coordination. The role demands balancing strategic foresight with hands-on leadership, which may be more dynamic than in companies with more standardized production lines.
Enhanced Staffing values continuous improvement and technical curiosity, encouraging leaders who foster mentoring and collaborative growth. The director is expected to champion operational excellence while nurturing cross-functional partnerships, reflecting a culture that prioritizes adaptability and innovation in manufacturing.
Spring Grove benefits from a robust heavy manufacturing sector, driving steady demand for senior engineering leaders skilled in lean processes and capacity optimization. Candidates with proven expertise in managing short lead times and custom orders are particularly sought after, reflecting local industry nuances.
Spring Grove’s suburban setting means candidates often face longer commutes from nearby metro areas, emphasizing the importance of flexible scheduling and remote coordination capabilities. Leaders balancing multi-site responsibilities should prepare for travel and adaptive work arrangements to maintain efficiency.
While both roles require engineering expertise, the Director of Industrial Engineering focuses more on operational flow, process optimization, and capacity planning across sites, whereas Director of Mechanical Engineering tends to concentrate on product design and mechanical system development.
Daily tasks often include analyzing production data, overseeing MES and ERP system integrations, coordinating with sales and plant leadership, mentoring industrial engineering teams, and spearheading continuous improvement projects to enhance throughput and reduce costs across multiple manufacturing locations.