Jobloria
Director of Industrial Engineering
Food Management Search
Location : Spring Grove, IL, 60081
Job Type : Full Time / Part Time
Date Posted : 1 December 2025
Gain a partner as committed to your business goals as you are. Food Management Search is where experience meets success.
Back To ListDirector of Industrial Engineering
We are seeking a highly experienced
The Director will play a critical role in enhancing efficiency, cost effectiveness, and delivery performance by optimizing processes and integrating advanced manufacturing methodologies.
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.
Key Responsibilities
- Stay ahead of industry trends in heavy manufacturing, evaluating emerging tools and technologies.
- Drive cross-site initiatives that improve enterprise-wide performance.
- 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.
- 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
In the Spring Grove area, certifications such as Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and PMP are highly valued for a Director of Industrial Engineering. These credentials demonstrate expertise in process optimization and project management, aligning with local manufacturing industry's focus on efficiency and quality control.
Spring Grove's industrial sector has moderate demand for directors of industrial engineering, with competition driven by manufacturing firms emphasizing operational excellence. Candidates with strong cross-site leadership experience and advanced manufacturing knowledge often gain an edge in this localized job market.
Unlike general engineering directors, a Director of Industrial Engineering focuses heavily on optimizing manufacturing processes, integrating lean principles, and managing capacity in complex job-shop environments. This role demands strategic foresight combined with hands-on operational improvements across multiple production sites.
Proficiency in lean manufacturing and Six Sigma enables the director to identify inefficiencies, reduce waste, and enhance quality metrics systematically. This specialized knowledge supports sustainable cost savings and scalable growth, which are crucial in job-shop manufacturing settings requiring agility and precision.
Advancement from this role often leads to executive positions like VP of Operations or Chief Engineering Officer, especially within heavy manufacturing sectors. Experience in cross-functional leadership and enterprise-wide performance initiatives broadens strategic influence, paving the way for senior operational leadership.
Food Management Search emphasizes aligning the director’s leadership with client-specific business goals, focusing on scalable growth and operational excellence. Their approach integrates cutting-edge manufacturing methodologies with a culture that values continuous improvement and technical innovation.
The position demands fostering synergy between engineering, operations, and sales teams across various locations, ensuring unified strategies that enhance overall production efficiency. This collaborative leadership style drives enterprise-wide improvements and responsiveness to fluctuating market needs.
Salaries for this position in Spring Grove typically range from $130,000 to $160,000 annually, reflecting the high level of expertise required. Compensation varies based on experience with lean manufacturing, project management, and multi-site operational leadership within the industrial engineering domain.
Spring Grove benefits from its closeness to Chicago’s robust manufacturing hub, providing directors with access to advanced technologies and a diverse talent pool. However, regional cost of living and commute options shape recruitment dynamics, often requiring flexible scheduling and competitive benefits.
Directors must navigate short lead times and custom order complexities typical of job-shop environments while coordinating multiple site operations. Balancing demand responsiveness with continuous improvement initiatives requires strategic agility tailored to the local heavy manufacturing landscape.
Spring Grove, IL